In the coming years, our material world will change dramatically. The overuse of existing raw materials cannot continue and global consumption must decrease. However, our need for materials will not disappear: also in the future, materials will come to nurture us, cover us, comfort us, delight us, as well as keep us alive. This means that we need many new ideas, collaboration across all borders and hard work to replace our existing material systems and consumption habits with more sustainable ones.
If used wisely, wood- and plant-based materials offer one possible pathway towards a more sustainable material world: they come from renewable sources, can be modified on a chemical level, and can be used for recyclable or biodegradable products.
Nordic Biomaterials by CHEMARTS (CHEM-E0165) inspires students to combine design and material science for new cellulose-driven concepts and ideas. Combining natural materials with advanced technologies offer new possibilities for sustainable development within existing and emerging industries.
This graduate-level course teaches students with varying backgrounds (design, science, engineering, business) to combine design with material research. It introduces a broad spectrum of biomaterials, especially wood-and plant-based. During the course, students familiarise themselves with practice-based material research, experience how interdisciplinary material research happens in practice, and explore how raw materials could be turned into innovative business ideas in the context of circular economy.
The course includes three phases: self-paced pre-work including Laboratory Safety course, two intensive workshop weeks and an individual post-work assignment.
31 July - 4 August: Pre-work (online)
7-18 August: Intensive weeks (on-campus)
by 31 August: Post-work (online)
The total course workload of 160h (6 ECTS) is divided as follows:
The course is graded pass/fail.
The passing of the course requires active participation individually and in teamwork, and a report of the working process.
The course accepts applications from exchange students, Aalto degree students and professionals and other lifelong learners. The minimum requirement is a finished Bachelor's degree.
Prepare to attach the following to your application:
The tuition fee for external students is 1600€ (including VAT 24%). The tuition fee is to be paid by credit card or a Finnish online bank. If the fee is not paid by the due date, the application will be considered lapsed.
No tuition fee for:
Reduced tuition fee (-30%):
The programme fee for all students except Aalto degree students is 300€ (including VAT 24%). The programme fee is to be paid by credit card or a Finnish online bank.
The programme fee includes:
In the case of cancellation:
CHEMARTS is a long-term strategic collaboration between two Aalto University schools, the School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM) and the School of Arts, Design and Architecture (ARTS). The schools merged their forces with the aim to invent new ways to harness wood and cellulose. The idea is to research the performance and design of advanced cellulosic materials for innovative uses.
The main objective is to inspire students and researchers to explore biomaterials together and to create new concepts for the future use of cellulose and other biomaterials.
‘The best part of this course was we were able to get practical knowledge about biomaterial practicalities as well as exploring a sustainable mindset and learn about sustainable entrepreneurship. Moreover, we could test our ideas in the laboratory with different biomaterials and tools.
We had various guest speakers from several different industries, such as the forest industry, entrepreneurs, investors and artists. We got the opportunity to ask questions and discuss with them – some of my classmates even got to pitch their ideas.’
Mariko Yoshida, master student at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture and alumna from this summer’s Nordic Biomaterials course.
The Aalto University Summer School course Nordic Biomaterials in collaboration with CHEMARTS gathered students from Sweden, the USA, Germany, Norway and Belgium for a summer course on campus for the first time since the pandemic.
In the coming years, our material world will change dramatically. The overuse of existing raw materials cannot continue, and global consumption must decrease.
Nordic Biomaterials by CHEMARTS inspires students to combine design and material science for new cellulose-driven concepts and ideas.
Fun social program is a key part of the Aalto University Summer School experience.
We offer multidisciplinary academic summer courses for students and professionals with completed undergraduate degrees.
Use this form to apply to Aalto University Summer School graduate courses