MoA’12, which has expanded to include the entire Aalto University, is a month-long exhibition and stage centered around the theme Our Future is (a) Present. The professionals of the future projects all have one thing in common, a desire to create a better, fairer and more smoothly functioning world.

The students’ projects examine a multitude of different matters, such as the kinds of architectural solutions that would support Finland’s role as mediator of peace, how a bicycle can be built from recycled materials and how knitwear can be used as a user interface. The Kanto sauna is a Master’s thesis project that allows the public to bathe in a sauna on the grounds of the harbour warehouse every Saturday afternoon.

In addition to being an introduction of recent graduates, MoA’12 is also a pedagogical entity. From its start to end MoA’12 is a reflection of the students that put it together. Experts from Aalto University’s different fields have taken part in putting together the graphics and visuals, the architecture and the marketing for MoA.

The location of the festival is a 100-year-old harbour warehouse designed by Lars Sonck. However, before the location could be used, the students responsible for the architecture needed to construct toilet facilities.

The MoA’12 exhibition is divided into four themes: Arcadia and Utopia, New Spaces, Daily Life, as well as Shearing Beauty, Memories, Dreams and Images. Maaretta Jaukkuri, a Professor for the Art and Common Space programme at the NTNU University in Trondheim acts as the curator of the exhibition.

− I hope that visitors will come to see something that is telling of the present and the worries, but also the opportunities we all share.  These types of experiences make us more sensitive to beauty and hope, Ms. Jaukkuri said.

MoA'12 offers dozens of events

In May, MoA also invites visitors to participate in public events, seminars, film screenings and workshops. The subjects of these events shall centre on Aalto University’s fields of expertise ranging from nautical technology to urban planning and from sustainable development to change management. The MoA’12 programme will include the first ever TEDxAalto event on 12 May as well as the SLAM science debate on Wednesday 16 May.  All events are free-of-charge.

The MoA’12 festival location in Jätkäsaari (Rantamakasiini L3/Tyynenmerenkatu 6) will be open to the public daily from 9 May to 3 June (Monday to Friday 12 pm - 8 pm, Saturday to Sunday 12 pm - 6 pm). Guided tours every Saturday 4 pm - 5 pm (in Finnish and English). 

Take a look at the professionals of the future and MoA’s programme at moa.aalto.fi. You can also create your own MyMoA event calendar at the website.

MoA is a joint venture realised by the following organisations and businesses: the City of Helsinki and Unigrafia as well as Antalis, Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, Biolan, BMW, Fatboy, the Hjelt Foundation, Iittala, Martela, RGB, Sadolin/AkzoNobel, Sato, Stora Enso, Sub, Suomen Kuitulava Oy, UNICEF Finland, Viking Line and Yeseco.

MoA’12 is part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme and included in Aalto University’s Design Capital Living+ programme.  

Photographs of the Master's thesis projects

Press photographs of the exhibition

Further information:
Event Producer Katri Winqvist
tel. +358 50 591 4314
katri.winqvist@aalto.fi

Exhibition Producer Tarja Peltoniemi
tel. +358 50 532 3817
tarja.peltoniemi@aalto.fi

Mechatronics is a discipline that combines mechanics with knowledge from the fields of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology. The aim of the mechatronics learning environment is to offer the students hands-on activities that are based on theory combining a number of different disciplines, for ex. programming, automatic control engineering, servo technique, and mobile hydraulics.

The students preparing projects in mechatronics have a background knowledge worth of 80 credits as they begin to put together their demonstrations.

Watch the video of the impressive piece of works!

Video: Mikko Raskinen

Event information (eng.aalto.fi)

The list of accepted students can be found here: http://studies.aalto.fi/en/admissions/admissionresults/

Please note that the list contains the names of only those applicants who have given the permission to publish their admission decision on the web pages.

The applicants can also check their own admission result in the online application system https://apply.aalto.fi.

A Letter of Acceptance will be sent to the admitted students by mail.

More information:
Aalto University Admission Services
admissions@aalto.fi

"A friend of mine recommended this contest to me. Renewable sources are close to my heart, so coming up with the idea was quite easy.", says Tijana Dzodzo.

The winner and their idea per category are:

Arts & Design: Saara Järviö, Turku, Finland with the idea No 385 "Simple poetry in streets, walls, traffic sings and stairs. Drawn either permanently or possibly with chalc. Beautiful, relaxing, widening our perspectives."

Business: Maarit Eskola, Sipoo, Finland with idea No 419 "Web-based service for exchanging talents - real-life network for people interested in self-development to gain new friends and skills without expensive courses."

Technology: Tijana Dzodzo, Belgrade, Serbia with the idea No 421 "Solar panels integrated in bus stations could give power for advertisement and enough heat for people who r waiting for bus to come during the winter time."

The university challenged young people, with ability and a willingness to make a difference in the world, to submit new ideas during 10 January-31 March 2012. Over 500 ideas were posted in categories Art&Design, Business, and Technology on the ideas.aalto.fi website using virtual post-it notes. Each winner is rewarded with the sum of 1,000 euros. The ideas were to be a maximum of 160 characters, therefore the idea needed to be fine-tuned and to the point.

Selection process

The winners were selected in two phases. The first phase was a public vote, based on Facebook likes, from which the TOP 20 in each category were chosen. Out of these shortlists, the Jury chose the final three innovations to win the contest.

The contest was part of this year's student recruitment campaign Realise your dreams. Read more on the campaign on the Ideas site (ideas.aalto.fi)

Ideas contest to improve the quality of life, news January 10

In 2011, Aalto University received approximately 15,600 applications.

Number of applications to bachelor-level programmes remained the same

The application period for the bachelor-level programmes ended at the beginning of April and attracted 12,056 applications. The number of applicants remained at the same level as in 2011 in all fields of study.

A total of 4,854 applicants sought admission to the Helsinki or Mikkeli unit of the Aalto University School of Economics for a bachelor's degree in economics and business administration. The schools of technology attracted a total of 4,513 applications.

The applications to the School of Arts, Design and Architecture are still being processed. The exact number of applicants will be available by April 27. A total of 2,689 applicants submitted an electronic application to the bachelor-level degree programmes.

The School of Arts, Design and Architecture will publish the names of those accepted to its bachelor-level degree programmes on 21 June 2012. The names of those accepted to the schools of technology and the School of Economics will be published on 6 July 2012.

Growth in the number of applicants to master’s degree programmes

The master’s degree application period ended at the end of February. A total of 4,023 applicants sought direct admission to the master’s degree programmes of Aalto University. There was a 13 per cent increase in the number of applicants compared to 2011. Applications were received from 93 countries.

The names of the students accepted to the master’s degree programmes will be published on April 27 at the earliest.

46 per cent increase in the number of applicants to the master’s degree programmes of the School of Economics

A total of 1,311 applicants from 82 countries sought direct admission to the master’s degree programmes of the Aalto University School of Economics. The number of applicants increased by 46 per cent compared to 2011.

After Finland, the largest number of applications came from China, Pakistan, Russia and Ghana.

The most popular master’s degree programmes of the School of Economics were the International Business Management and the Information and Service Management programme.

The master’s degree programmes of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture popular among Chinese and South Korean applicants

A total of 1,043 applicants from 63 countries applied for the master’s degree programmes of the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. The number of applicants increased by approximately 8 per cent compared to 2011.

The largest number of foreign applications came from China, South Korea, Pakistan and Russia.

The most popular programmes were Industrial and Strategic Design, Art Education, and the English Master’s Degree Programme in New Media.

The master’s degree programmes of the schools of technology and the Department of Architecture attracted applicants from 87 countries

A total of 1,669 applicants from 87 countries applied to the master’s degree programmes of the Aalto University School of Engineering, School of Chemical Technology, School of Science, School of Electrical Engineering and Department of Architecture of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. The number of applicants remained at the same level as in 2011.

After Finland, the largest number of applications came from China, India, Pakistan and Iran.

The most popular programmes were the Master's Programme in Communications Engineering − Networking Technology and the Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering of the School of Electrical Engineering and the Master's Programme in Mobile Computing − Services and Security of the School of Science.

The master’s degree programmes in the tuition fee trial increased their popularity

Aalto University’s nine English master’s degree programmes that are part of the national tuition fee trial attracted over 850 applications out of which 525 came from outside the EU and the EEA. Compared to 2011, the number of non-EU or non-EEA applicants increased by 26 per cent. The largest number of these applications came from China and India.

The greatest increase in the number of applicants, 96 per cent, was experienced in the International Business Communication programme of the School of Economics. The programme was also popular among EU and EEA applicants: their share more than doubled compared to last year.

The number of non-EU and non-EEA applicants increased in eight programmes. In comparison to the number of applicants in 2011, the greatest increase was experienced in the Mobile Computing programme of the School of Science, the Environmental Art programme of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, and the International Business Communication programme of the School of Economics.

Over 240 students are applying for the scholarships of the tuition fee programmes. This is 100 students more than last year.

Further information:
Saara Maalismaa, Head of Admission Services
Aalto University Admission Services
Tel. +358 50 362 8880
saara.maalismaa@aalto.fi

Anneli Lappalainen
Head of Student Services
Tel. +358 50 301 3800
anneli.lappalainen@aalto.fi 

Eva-Lena Wakonen, Planning Officer
Tuition fee programmes
Tel. +358 50 367 6199
eva-lena.wakonen@aalto.fi

"We are looking for ways to improve teaching with the help of information and communication technologies. Robotics is one of the tools of technology education", Tiina Korhonen, Vice Head Master of Koulumestari School, explains. Together with the Learning Center Innokas, the school co-ordinates the Robotti Ruttunen project, which includes schools, universities and other institutes throughout the country.

A pilot study is under way in a couple of Espoo schools. Two Aalto students are involved: Tomi Pieviläinen runs a robot club at Vanttila School, and Matti Leinonen does likewise at Tähtiniitty School.

Sumo wrestling and robot senses 

Hectic preparation for April's RoboCupJunior competition is under way at Vanttila School. The pupils have formed three groups, whose robots compete for Finnish championship titles in sumo wrestling. Each robot fights another in an autonomous manner – when within the sumo ring, the robot is not allowed to be guided or touched.

“How the robot attacks or defends itself is based on the children's ideas. The robot must, among other things, stay within the sumo ring: in other words, it must be able to recognize the border lines of the ring. We program the robot to conform to this kind of requirements”, Tomi explains.

The club of Tähtiniitty School does not participate in the robot competition; thus get-togethers there are more informal.

“In addition to programming and building with Legos, we have familiarized ourselves with various sensors. These function as the robot’s senses on which its operation is based. Programming determines how the robot reacts, for example, to sound or how it estimates distances with the help of ultrasound”, Matti explains.

Learning by playing 

"While playing with robots, children subconsciously learn, as they wonder how the things work", Matti tells.

"Programming teaches one to consider cause-effect relationships: for example, how code modification in a computer program affects a robot's behaviour", Tomi continues.

According to Tiina Korhonen, use of robotics is not limited to natural sciences, but can penetrate all study subjects.

In these clubs, we can learn inference, group work and problem solving. Also how to perform and how to present one's own work are practiced. As a technology, robotics is a tool and not an end in itself", she explains.

Teaching improvement and pastime activities 

"I want to provide meaningful teaching for the most advanced students. They want to learn things that are more demanding than the time allows in normal hourly-based teaching", Tomi points out.

Tomi and Matti want to provide the children with an opportunity for technology practice.

"In schools and outside them, many different kinds of clubs, for example clubs related to arts or physical exercise, are offered to children. However, availability of pastime activities related to technology or mathematics is very limited", they explain.

"I myself would have liked to attend this kind of club as a child", Matti admits.

Robotti Ruttunen returns the visit to Aalto University on Thursday, the 3rd of May. At the TUAS house (Otaniementie 17) there will be an event where the most advanced robot club members will present their know-how. Also robots built by the Department of Automation and Systems Technology will be there. The event welcomes the staff of Aalto University, students and also all outsiders who are interested in the activities.

Text: Anni Aarinen. Photos: Tähtiniitty pupils, photographer Matti Leinonen

Robotti Ruttunen is a part of the Innokas project that brings creativity and innovativeness to schools with the help of technology education.  

The objective is to improve and spread operation models with which schools, teaching methods and sense of community can be developed in a varied manner with the help of information and communication technologies. Learning and inspiration in innovative schools happens through playfulness, co-operation and investigation.  

The project participants are Aalto University, Media Centre of the City of Helsinki Education Department, Teknokas - University of Oulu, University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland, Robocup Junior organization, SciFest and Finnish Parents' League.  

There are 37 schools from different parts of Finland participating. The project is co-ordinated by the Learning Center Innokas and Koulumestari School in Espoo.

RoboCupJunior (RCJ) is an international robotics tournament for children and young people. Competition takes place in three different domains: soccer, dance and rescue. In addition, Finnish RCJ hobbyists can try their skills also in robot sumo wrestling. The RCJ organization organizes competitions locally, nationally and internationally.

RoboCupJunior Finnish Championship will take place between 19^th and 21^st of April 2012 in Joensuu in connection with the SciFest event. In 2013 the championship will be held in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

The theses and participants of MoA’12 have now been announced at moa.aalto.fi. The almost 100 Aalto University graduates have decided to conquer the challenges of the future.

The common theme in the projects presented in MoA’12, is creating a better, more equal and more functioning world.

The topics discussed at the theses include everything from architectural structures supporting peace mediation to building wells in Burkina Faso, and from bicycles made of recycled materials to knitting as a user interface.

Jätkäsaari hosts 30 seminars, project presentations and workshops from different fields of Aalto University

MoA’12 offers a wide variety of events in Helsinki, in May. The international seminar Zombie innovations or true development organised by UNICEF Finland on 11 May, discusses effective ideas for global wellbeing.

The event presents results from the co-operation between UNICEF Finland and Aalto University about their project of developing sanitation systems for schools in Uganda and tells us more about the department of innovation at UNICEF in New York. Aalto University is UNICEF’s first partner university in Europe.

The seminar Designing for a Sustainable Future on 29 May, showcases how to design more liveable and sustainable living environments. Among the speakers addressing the seminar will be Toshiko Mori, architect and professor at Harvard University.

MoA’12 is supported by the City of Helsinki, Unigrafia, Antalis, Biolan, BMW, RGB, SubTV, Suomen Kuitulava, UNICEF, Viking Line, Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, Iittala, Hjelt Foundation, Martela, Sato, Sitra and StoraEnso.

MoA’12 is open daily from 9 May to 3 June 2012 in Jätkäsaari, Helsinki (Harbour warehouse L3/Tyynenmerenkatu 6). Free entrance.

Check out the participating masters and the programme for MoA’12 at moa.aalto.fi. Online you can also curate your personal MyMoA event calender.

MoA’12 is part of Aalto University’s Living+ programme to celebrate the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.

Further information:
Producer Katri Winqvist
tel. +358 50 591 4314
katri.winqvist@aalto.fi

Producer Tarja Peltoniemi
tel. +358 50 532 3817
tarja.peltoniemi@aalto.fi

From left to right: Juho Rousu, Tuula Teeri, Sami Torstila, Janne Tienari
(photo: Heli Sorjonen)

Juho Rousu
"Predicting structured data"" (youtube.com)
School of Science, Department of Information and Computer Science

Juho Rousu´s presentation  (pdf)

Janne Tienari
"Gender and diversity: Analytical lenses for understanding management and organizing" (youtube.com)
School of Economics, Department of Management and International Business

Janne Tienari´s presentation (pdf)

Sami Torstila
"Behavioral finance" (youtube.com)
School of Economics, Department of Finance

Sami Torstila´s presentation (pdf)

See also

The Tenured Professors' Installation Lectures at Aalto University 28.3. (news, March 16)

 As a part of the gradual shutdown of the activities, entry issues will not be handled in the mission after 1 March 2012.

We know this raises a lot of questions - this is what the embassy pages currently say about the situation:

Entry permit applications can be submitted to other Finnish Embassies in the region, such as Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, where applicants have legal entry.

Finland is negotiating with another Schengen country to reach an agreement on representation in visa matters in Pakistan. Information about the outcome of these negotiations and entry arrangements will be provided later.

Please follow the Embassy's web page news for updates on this matter.

If you wish to leave feedback on the issue, please do so by contacting the Embassy and/or the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (contact details)

News article on the website of the Embassy of Finland in Islamabad.

Otakaari 1 will house both teaching facilities and services, such as student services, a language centre, and support services for the development of teaching.

New facilities to help in creating a new operational culture

Otakaari 1, the former main building of the Helsinki University of Technology, is currently undergoing major renovations.

− Building the main campus and planning the new facilities for the bachelor-level studies will result in more than just new facilities and infrastructure. It will contribute to creating Aalto University's new operational culture: how specialists, teachers, other members of staff and students from different fields work together and create new learning environments. Working together and using our differences as a resource provide Aalto University with a unique opportunity, says Vice President Martti Raevaara.

From 2013 onwards

The bachelor-level education provided by the schools of technology will begin in the renovated facilities in autumn 2013. The aim is that the bachelor-level students of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture could begin their general studies in Otaniemi at the beginning of the autumn term 2014. All the activities of the school will be transferred to Otaniemi when the new building is completed in 2015.

The facilities needed by the bachelor’s degree programme of the School of Economics will be finished December 2014. Therefore, the bachelor-level students of the school will begin their studies in Otaniemi in autumn 2015. 

 − Offering bachelor-level studies in Economics and Business Administration at the Otaniemi Campus will generate new kinds of creative opportunities for implementing multidisciplinary Aalto cooperation. It is also important to us that the new facilities will support the education provided by the School of Economics, its special features, and the identity of its students, says Vice Dean Arto Lindblom from the School of Economics.

Environmentally friendly design

The project will encompass a current construction and design venture in Kruunuvuorenranta, Laajasalo, and students will be given the task of coming up with ideas for the area that are in line with sustainable development. The project will consist of clean technologies, waste water engineering and transportation planning, and it will strive to employ alternative methods, for example, for the area's energy production and waste management.

The NEPTUNE network (Network for Environmental Projects in Technology, United in Europe) will bring students from France, Italy, Slovenia and the Netherlands to Otaniemi. The students have prepared for the task in their home countries by completing preliminary assignments. In Otaniemi, the students will be divided into groups that will have just over a week to develop their design for the residential area. The designs will be presented, assessed and the winner will be announced at the final seminar for the project.

The project is being headed by Professor Stefan Winter and hosted by the Clean Technologies research group from the School of Chemical Technologies. The Clean Technologies group is headed by Professor Olli Dahl, and its task is to teach management of environmental aspects in industry. Over the past few years the group has focused on development of teaching. It has joined the NEPTUNE Network, which has offered the group new methods for work and teaching. Each year, the network organises group projects in which international and multidisciplinary student groups complete assignments related to the environmental field.

Students enthusiastic about international work

The groups are busy working. One of the research groups designing the residential area is made up of students Stytse Van Der Molen (the Netherlands), Juho Purhonen (Aalto University), Palash Sarkar (Aalto University), Pauline Fatiga (France) and Gianmaria Vitale (Italy) as well as two Slovenian students. They are now looking into how to make the neighbourhood as environmentally friendly as possible.

"We have worked together on planning the area, but we have also divided work within the group by the area's themes such as water, energy and waste management," explains Mr. Sarkar. Next the group will consider public facilities and how to divide the total energy consumption permitted for the area.

There is plenty of work to complete before Friday's 15 minute presentation and assessment. "For us winning the competition is not what is most important, but rather working in an international group and finally seeing the ideas other groups have come up with," states Gianmaria Vitale.

The students believe that design of the area will follow the same format in all the groups. According to Juho Purhonen, the greatest differences will be in whether groups concentrate on the whole or selected details and small innovations during their short presentation. "We will place an emphasis on the area's design as a whole, but we will also pay attention to details in some amount", Mr. Sarkar summarises.

The students are enthusiastic about the project, although for some, it does not correspond with their line of studies. For example, while Mr. Vitale will graduate as a civil works engineer, Mr. Purhonen's major is paper technology. All the group members emphasise the importance of this experience for its social and international aspects. In the evenings, students forget about their design work and get to know one another as well as the culture and foods of other countries. The project has brought some of these students to Finland for the first time. "It is fantastic here, but terribly cold," Mr. Vitale and Ms. Fatiga exclaim in chorus.

Co-operation makes the project possible

"The organising team would like to thank the partners of the project for their great assistance and co-operation in making the current project possible", says Mikko Martikka from Neptune organising team. Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority provided an insight into wastewater treatment technology. Suburb 2072 and Aalto 365 Wellbeing project in Aalto University School of Arts, Design And Architecture as a part of the Helsinki World Design Capital 2012 shared valuable information in urban planning projects from the resident and designer points of view.

The other partners to thank for are Maa- ja vesitekniikan Tuki registered association, Helsinki – City Planning Department, Helsinki Regional Transport and Design Museum Helsinki. "And last but not least we want to thankvVice President Martti Raevaara for inspiring ideas and encouragement in support of pedagogical development within Aalto University", says Martikka.

Neptune organising team is: Mao Ono, Gary Watkins and Mikko Martikka

Further information: blogs.aalto.fi/neptune and facebook.com/neptune2012helsinki

The list of the ten most popular master’s programmes at Aalto consists of one programme in the field of Art and Design, three programmes in the field of Economics, and six programmes in the field of Science and Technology. At the moment, majority of applications have been sent to the target programmes for academic evaluation. The admission results will be published on 27 April 2012 at the earliest.

Top 10 target programmes (number of applications)

1. Master's Programme in Communications Engineering - Networking Technology (217)
2. International Business (205)
3. Management (175)
4. Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering (141)
5. Information and Service Management (133)
6. Master's Programme in Mobile Computing - Services and Security (129)
7. Master's Programme in Mechanical Engineering (124)
8. Industrial and Strategic Design (122)
9. Master's Programme in Communications Engineering - Radio Communications (112)
10. International Business Communication (110)

The jury found their work to be a pleasing combination of design, business, and technology - it even had a very "Aalto feel" to it, with a touch of humour. Lemmenlehti and Groenewolt will be rewarded with the Grand Prize of 5 000 €, pre-seed funding from Aalto (up to 50 000 €) and a ticket to the Cambridge VentureCamp.

Two other teams were also awarded by Cambridge VentureCamp. The second proposal, called a Float, by Pekka Laurila and Tuukka Mattila, which is a levitating scaled model of the Aalto-1 satellite.  

Soroush Moradi Zavie  Kord and Anahita Rashidfarokhi Fathabadi were awarded by their Hi Look, which is a portable Kite Aerial Photgraphy device, which glides and climbs to the different altitudes with an on-board camera providing elevated view of earth.

Aalto Gift program was a two months intensive program to develop new design based start-ups for corporate gift markets. Aim was to get new corporate gifts for Aalto University and coach ideas towards viable businesses.

The coaches for the program were Professor, CEO, Industrial Designer Hannu Kähönen, Professor Kalevi Ekman and Serial Entrepreneur Moaffak Ahmed. The jury was Jussi Tuurnala from ACE, Hanne Haapoja from Aalto Communications and Natalie Gaudet from Aalto Venture Garage.

Aalto Gift has been part of the Aalto University Living+ program (living.aalto.fi) creating better and more sustainable living environments.

Further info:

Teemu Seppälä
teemu.seppala@aalto.fi
tel. 050 3011192

Light Pill on Facebook

The application deadline is 3 April 2012.

Aalto University offers altogether approximately 40 target programmes during the application period 2012. The language of instruction is Finnish or Swedish in most programmes. Bachelor's programmes in English are available only in the field of Economics in some degree programmes.

More information about the application process:
studies.aalto.fi/en/admissions/ and admissions@aalto.fi

Link to the online national application system:
yliopistohaku.fi

Aalto University offers altogether approximately 40 target programmes during the application period 2012. The language of instruction is Finnish or Swedish in most programmes. Bachelor’s programmes in English are available only in the field of Economics in some degree programmes.

• More information about the application process: http://studies.aalto.fi/en/admissions/ and admissions@aalto.fi

• Link to the online national application system: www.yliopistohaku.fi

The exhibition showcases the thesis projects of nearly 120 Master’s Degree graduates from the School of Arts, Design and Architecture, the School of Economics and the schools of technology, all presented in Jätkäsaari in a 100-year-old waterfront warehouse designed by Lars Sonck.

The entire MoA’12 venue will be built by students who are responsible for the architecture, visual identity, marketing, social media presence and photography of the event. The working group is very international, including members from India, Mexico, and Japan.

Maaretta Jaukkuri who is a Professor in the degree programme Art and Common Space at the NTNU University in Trondheim, will curate the exhibition. Jaukkuri has also worked as an intendant at Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, and has acted as a curator or jury member in several international exhibitions.

– While preparing for MoA, I have seen that nearly everything done at the Aalto University is future-oriented, Jaukkuri says. – In other words, everything focuses on how small changes can be used to make daily life and the world better, more functional and more beautiful, but also to raise awareness and consciousness.

The MoA theme is the future: Our future is (a) present. Aalto University graduates look to the future with confidence. After all, those who will build it are already present.

In addition to the exhibition, in May MoA invites visitors to participate in public events, seminars, film screenings and workshops.

MoA is part of the Aalto University Living+ programme for the World Design Capital year.

Follow MoA at www.moa.fi

Further information:
Producer Katri Winqvist
tel. +358 50 5914314
katri.winqvist@aalto.fi

The 4-part lecture series, which gathered nine international speakers and also included two workshops, explored the role of artists and designers in developing future human bodies.

"We use design to shape the imagination. It's all about providing alternatives and something we might not otherwise imagine", Fiona Raby said.

The designer's own Evidence Dolls project (from 2005), for example, made shoppers confront genetic manipulation in a real "Would I buy this?" sort of way.

"Design asks questions that allow others to get involved. This is particularly important in the science context, where complex details are difficult to see and understand. The speculative process of imagining things is important because technologies are complicated — not black and white. There are trade-offs, and design lets us see that", Raby concluded.

Raby described her work as being about strategic thinking more than research or a final product. Design makes it possible to scan what kinds of directions could things take.

From simulation to tolerance

Professor Riitta Hari from the School of Science's Brain Research Unit also talked about simulation: seeing handwritten letters, even if written by someone else, activate the brain's motor cortex.

"We can understand each other because our brains aren't as private as we think."

Smell artist and designer Sissel Tolaas discussed similar issues in her talk. Tolaas works with smell that "conveys information about navigation, tolerance and awareness". For Adidas she researched new and used sneakers to create a smell logo for the brand.

"My projects are always about adding information beyond what you see. It's never just a perfume added on top. With me customers see that you don't have to hide reality. You can use it", Tolaas noted.

Wired and hacked bodies

The lecture series ended with a talk by Stelarc, an artist most famous for having an extra ear implanted on his arm. The third ear will eventually be connected to wifi in order for people to be able to listen in on Stelarc wherever he is.

"Increasingly people are becoming portals for others over the internet. This opens interesting possibilities, but of course, a wired body can also be a hacked body."

According to the artist, things small enough can soon be incorporated into our bodies to detect tumors, for example. Nanoscale sensors and machines will be able to colonize the body.

"We don't have an adequate internal system for the body at the moment. Currently bodies are infected by micro-organisms, and if they don't breathe for a few minutes they die. How are we going to design future bodies? Or do we just accept this very inadequate body?"

Text: Vuokko Aro

More information at humandesign.mlog.taik.fi

The attractiveness and reputation of the Aalto University School of Economics received the maximum score of 10. Aalto received a 9 for rapid progress of studies and international accreditations, among others.
Aalto topped the comparison in the teaching resources section, which listed the number of teaching staff and the facilities and equipment of the university, and in the salary level of graduates from the School of Economics.

Aalto also obtained an excellent score for attractiveness in the comparison between university units in the field of science and technology. The salaries of graduates from the Aalto University schools of technology were higher compared to graduates from other universities. Teaching resources and the employment percentage of graduates were also rated as good.

According to the ranking performed by Talouselämä, the fields of education at Aalto University included in the comparison showed some room for improvement in terms of the number of scientific publications. In addition, there would be room for growth in the number of higher level university degrees, such as doctoral degrees.

The ranking included a total of ten units from the field of economics and seven units from the field of science and technology. All units included in the comparison were Finnish.

The magazine compared the units to each other using indicators based on reference figures obtained from the databases of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish National Board of Education, research reports by the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates (SEFE) and the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK), data from Statistics Finland and international university comparisons.           

Talouselämä's article on the higher education review (in Finnish, talouselama.fi)

Students Marianne Huotari, Laura Merz and Pauliina Varis and textile artist and art pedagogue Laura Isoniemi, the leader of the project, got to choose their sources of inspiration from the top ten Kalevala Jewelry best-sellers. According to Isoniemi, the project sparked great enthusiasm among textile artists. The project had a tight and intensive schedule as the commission was received in mid-December and the exhibition was opened already on 9 February. Nevertheless, the artists created more works than are on display in the exhibition.

“We have so much material that we are planning to hold a larger exhibition in the autumn. Commissions from companies are rarely this artistic and unlimited,” Isoniemi says gratefully.

Jewelry tells a story

The works in the exhibition convey, on one hand, aspects of the Finnish culture, melancholy and Northern conditions; on the other hand, they portray myths, storytelling and mythology. Three of Laura Isoniemi's designs on display are based on the Halikko necklace: the patterns in her works are the same as those in the jewelry. Isoniemi thinks that jewelry can inspire a textile artist in many ways.

 “What Kalevala Jewelry and textile art have in common is decorative patterns, ornamentation and storytelling. Each piece of Kalevala Jewelry is based on a small story.”

Isoniemi says that Kalevala Jewelry and Aalto University began their cooperation already in 2009 when students of fashion and clothing design designed clothes that go well with Kalevala Jewelry.  In addition, last spring the partners carried out a service design project in which a store concept was developed for Kalevala Jewelry.

The textile art on display now was made using the traditional method of serigraphy and digital printing. The selected artworks are on display until 3 March at the Kalevala Jewelry shop at Unioninkatu 25, Helsinki. The shop is open on weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm.

Text: Tea Kalska
Photos: Matti Pärssinen