Aalto University Summer School

Nordic Biomaterials

The use of materials today is not sustainable for the environment and our future. Take action and learn how to create new concepts for sustainable material development by combining design, technology and natural materials science in the context of circular economy.
Nordic Biomaterials artwork by Aron Sajavaara
Laboratory work by Nordic Biomaterials student Aron Sajavaara. Photo: Rainer Paananen

Teaching period:

-

Application period:

1.2.2023 – 31.5.2023

Course format:

Campus

Duration:

2 weeks full-time

Course level:

Graduate Doctoral Professional

Field of study:

Technology and Engineering

Credits:

6 ECTS

Organiser:

School of Chemical Engineering

Tuition fees:

1600€ non-degree students, 0€ Aalto students and nominated exchange students

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.

Two Aalto University Summer School students in lab coats with the text CHEMARTS on the back experimenting in the lab.
CHEMARTS aims to inspire students to explore biomaterials and create new concepts for their use.

What is CHEMARTS?

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. 

Mariko Yoshida in a red jacket standing in the forest, smiling directly into the camera.

Course alumni

‘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.

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Information for Summer School Applicants
Student in a white lab coat and blue plastic gloves photographed from the back while experimenting in the CHEMARTS lab smashing green pine needles into a white mortar while looking at recipes from the CHEMARTS cookbook.

Nordic Biomaterials with CHEMARTS – a crucial course for future-changers

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.

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Project by Yu Chen & Chia-wen Hsu. Photo: Eeva Suorlahti

Nordic Biomaterials with CHEMARTS – Small steps for change are valuable

In the coming years, our material world will change dramatically. The overuse of existing raw materials cannot continue, and global consumption must decrease.

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Four students taking a look at one's coursework, plant based biomaterials

Summer School Alum Story: "Nordic Biomaterials is ideal for getting inspiration and new ideas for projects"

Nordic Biomaterials by CHEMARTS inspires students to combine design and material science for new cellulose-driven concepts and ideas.

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