The world’s lightest revolution
Green hydrogen promises to turn Europe into an energy heavyweight, make traffic emission-free and replace carbon in steel manufacturing. But can it actually deliver – and how?
Aalto University
Aalto University Magazine
Aalto University's stakeholder magazine focuses on science and art, technology and business – we describe how they converge and write about the people behind our stories. The magazine comes out twice a year.
Printed copies are distributed to our Aalto Alumni Circle members and other stakeholders.
Facsimile copy of the latest issue
A selection of Aalto University Magazine articles
Oops: A curious discovery
During doctoral researcher Fereshteh Sohrabi’s master’s project, curiosity turned a failing experiment into a new research avenue.
Opening up the world of science
Aalto University Junior provides free study visits for groups from primary and secondary schools. Aalto students earn work experience credits by running the workshops.
Arto Nurmikko to receive honorary doctorate
Arto Nurmikko works as a professor of engineering and physics at Brown University. His research covers multiple fields, including microelectronics, nanoscience and photonics, and developing cutting-edge technologies that can be applied to the physical and life sciences field. One of Professor Nurmikko’s current areas of interest is neuroengineering, where he employs his expertise to create devices that could be directly connected to the human brain.
Artificial intelligence assists in dental care and jaw surgery
A model locates nerve canals in the lower jaw quickly and precisely, helping radiologists and dentists save time and effort.
Each issue has its theme presented by the main story
How does trust occur in our networked everyday lives? What happens when we exceed the limits of the body? What is wise failure like? We have covered these themes in the issues of Aalto University Magazine. In the main story, the reader is introduced to the theme of the magazine by an interesting group of experts from different fields.
Urban planning in an intersection of a thousand wishes
How can we make a city flourish when one resident hopes for more forests and another wants parking lots? Data and keen listening can help, say urban planners and researchers.
Artificial intelligence to assist the brain
Neuroscience and neurotechnology are gaining a fresh ally in the form of artificial intelligence, which can assess dementia risk and enhance the effectiveness of depression treatments.
Four years and lots of tears – three experts tell how they succeeded in making the change
Many entrepreneurs and researchers set their goals based on a realisation that something needs to be done differently. The change they envision might be a new product or material, or it can be a new way to do things. Implementing change isn’t always easy, however, and it demands a stomach for uncertainty, say Professor Michael Hummel and entrepreneurs Annu Nieminen and Richard Nordström.
The builders of digital trust
A society gone online needs encrypters, white hats and appropriately suspicious citizens.
Weak signals bring messages from the future
Weak signals help us see the present more precisely and build better futures.
Try, fail, try again, fail better
Failure is an unavoidable part of life, but does failure have to be all bad? How about failing upwards and forwards?
Aalto’s alumni tell their career stories
Every year, 2 000 students graduate from Aalto University. Where do they end up in their careers? In each issue of the magazine, we interview an interesting alumnus/alumna who tells, ‘how I became me’.
Returning to the roots
Arnevi Rautanen and Juha Utriainen gave up their careers to take up farming in the village of Joroinen in Eastern Finland. At their family farm, values are more than just empty words — they are principles that the couple lives by every day.
Alumna Maija Jokela's work is displayed around town
The construction industry is more diverse than its reputation, realised Ramboll Finland’s Managing Director Maija Jokela during her first summer job.
Designer Lincoln Kayiwa wants to create heirlooms
Finland seemed a bit like destiny for this Ugandan-born entrepreneur and Aalto alumnus.
Alumna Sini Merikallio and the makings of an astronaut
Veterinarian and former space researcher turns her gaze back to the stars.
Conquering the world with refurbished phones
Sami Marttinen bought a phone through an online flea market, but never actually got the device. This incident spurred the creation of used iPhone refurbisher and seller Swappie, which is growing rapidly across Europe.
Investigating the secrets of neural networks
Researcher Miika Aittala applies AI tools known as neural networks on graphics problems at MIT in Boston.
Design emissary
It is possible to cooperate with any and every person, Kari Korkman believes. The founder of Helsinki Design Week is inspired by brainstorming.
For her beloved Baltic Sea
As a little girl, Tiina Tuurnala would take her family’s motorboat around nearby islets to catch ship wakes. Now, she is at the helm of the Finnish Shipowners’ Association and is steering the maritime industry towards a low-emission future.
Alumna Ksenia Avetisova is a human at the heart of technology
Ksenia Avetisova moves around the virtual world as part of her job, but what brought her to Finland was a live rock gig.
On the go
Our feature story takes you on a journey.
A human-friendly, giant insect hotel emerged in the middle of the city
Alusta, built from clay and populated by plants, is a sanctuary for pollinators and a meeting place for all living things
A lighter path to exercise
The psychology of motivation coupled with mixed reality games can get kids moving
Researchers develop the perfect recycled fertilizer for forests - saves 88% of energy normally used but still not legal
Finnish forests are typically nourished with fertilisers containing energy-intensive nitrogen and phosphorous mined in Morocco. Researchers have now developed an ecological alternative with ingredients sourced from a waste processing plant. It is good for forests and the environment – but legislation has to change first.
A sport for gentleman thugs
Rugby is a tough contact sport that requires players to absorb constant hits while maintaining absolute trust in their teammates in every situation – not unlike research work.
Anything but an ordinary greenhouse
A wood-structured windowless greenhouse consumes only half as much energy as a traditional glass greenhouse. In addition to producing food, Pasi Herranen’s invention could generate electricity and excess heat in the future.
Aalto alumna returned to the university bench - 'The discussions held at lectures were amazingly smart and beneficial'
Aalto alumna Riikka-Leena Leskelä returned to the school bench to find new directions for her management work. One thing she learned was that she’d been doing exactly the right things all along.
Everyday choices
This column focuses on the personal choices experts make related to their field of research.
Everyday choices: Russell Lai, what do swordsmanship and cryptography have in common?
Assistant Professor Russell Lai wields mathematical symbols and German longswords.
Everyday choices: Eliisa Lotsari, do you ever go ice swimming?
This academy research fellow and assistant professor delights in cold water, both in nature and in the lab.
Everyday choices: Ayush Bharti, can AI fix a dropped Wi-Fi connection?
This postdoctoral researcher boosts wireless communications with signal interaction models.
Everyday choices: As an expert of lifewide learning, what skill did you learn most recently, Laura Sivula?
The Head of Aalto's Summer School and an expert of life-wide learning is constantly trying to learn new things.
Everyday choices: Kaie Kubjas, why does mathematics feel safe?
For a professor of mathematics, logical thinking is as important as the provability of results.
Everyday choices: How would you fill waste land, Tuukka Saarimaa?
Whether land gets used to build a park or a high-rise, this Professor of Urban Economics would ensure that any solution is the result of careful consideration.
Everyday choices: Nitin Sawhney, how do we cooperate in times of crisis?
Professor of Practice Sawhney examines the role of technology and cooperation in crisis using transdisciplinary human-centered design practices.
Everyday choices: What’s your favourite gadget, Caterina Soldano?
Professor Soldano wants to develop less intrusive devices, but believes that the best way to manage electronics overuse is to turn off your smartphone’s notifications.
Everyday choices: What are arts teachers needed for, Marja Rastas?
The world contains a void in art education, says Lecturer of Visual Arts Pedagogy.
This is how science can revolutionize our daily lives
The science stories shed light on current top-level research at Aalto.
Avatars and genuine interaction
Aalto University’s researchers are contributing to the creation of redesigned maternity and child health clinics and positive childbirth experiences in their research projects. The visions seize the potential of technology, such as childbirth simulation in a 3D-video conference using an avatar, a virtual character. On the other hand, the researchers would also like to hold on to the best practices from the past, such as the traditional child health clinic card, genuine human interaction and the rotina tradition, visits by family and close-ones to meet the newborn and bring foods as a gift.
Smart buildings make life easier and use less energy
In a smart building, the lighting system learns how occupants move throughout the building, transport robots talk to lifts, and users are guided to available workspaces by a mobile app. A new doctoral school at Aalto University is set to boost development in the field of smart buildings.
Material can be trained like a Pavlov dog – Professor Olli Ikkala and his team develop new materials
The sharpest tip of materials science is coming up with answers to questions such as can materials ‘learn’ new properties or how to keep a cancerous tumour alive outside the body.
Quantum literacy for all
What do computers, cell phones and GPS navigation have in common? And what about digital cameras, solar panels and fibre optics? The answer is that the functioning of these devices is based on quantum phenomena.
Technology to guide rehabilitation patients by the hand
Smart gloves, virtual goggles and artificial intelligence will be part of the health care of the future.
Precision solutions for healthcare
Biodesign Finland projects utilise biomaterials to repair tissue damage and support the recuperation of mental health patients with environmental design. Identifying needs correctly forms the point of departure for all this.
Creating zero-energy houses, non-toxic glitter and fossil-free glue with wood
Building wisely with wood is an efficient way to combat climate change. It’s possible to build almost anything with wood if we develop our expertise and adjust our attitudes, an expert says.
A layer just a few atoms deep can work wonders
The atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique developed by Tuomo Suntola revolutionised information technology in the 2000s. Now researchers are using it to make better catalysts, solar cells of record efficiency and hybrid materials that transport medicines and generate electricity from bodily waste heat.
Two experts, the same object of passion
Sharing the interest makes a good conversation.
Art challenges established truths in the health and social sectors
Professor Susanna Helke looks at health and social services through the lens of a filmmaker, Laura Arpiainen as an architect and professor. Both are concerned about the crisis in the care sector in Finland.
Launching autonomous vessels in our waters
In years to come, autonomous ships could reshape the entire maritime industry, say marine technology experts Mashrura Musharraf and Sauli Eloranta.
Women's networks build on many strengths, from having a clear focus to an absence of masculine energy
A professor and an entrepreneur talk about what women's networks can offer: inspiration and advice, peer support, and even help landing a new job.
Insulation from old jeans, walls from waste concrete – less guilt and more solutions are needed for construction
The biggest environmental act would be not building at all. But a circular economy can also mitigate the environmental impact of construction.
Parallel paths: Designer and materials scientist conjure up glimmering colours out of wood
Designer Noora Yau and materials scientist Konrad Klockars have used wood to conjure up a colour, which is transparent yet glows like a copepod in shallow water. The pair’s good chemistry and open attitude towards asking silly questions is a great help in their work.
Ironing tunes
Technology can make an instrumentalist out of anyone. The brain loves music, but you need to be careful with the ears.
Themes and published issues
Read the facsimile copies at issuu.com
32 Aspirational actions, April 2023
31 Living spaces, October 2022
30 Bodily boundaries, April 2022
29 The art of change, October 2021
28 Trust in the digital world, April 2021
27 Leaving a trace, October 2020
26 Trial and error, April 2020
25 University as an influencer in society, October 2019
24 Continuous learning, April 2019
23 Artificial intelligence, October 2018
22 Sustainability, April 2018
21 Human-centered living environments, January 2018
20 Game changers and the new work, October 2017
19 Multidisciplinarity, April 2017
18 Art and creative practices, December 2016
17 Entrepreneurship, October 2016 (in Finnish only)
16 Materials research, May 2016
15 Global business dynamics, December 2015
14 Health technology, October 2015
13 Aalto University five years, May 2015
12 Research, December 2014
11 Educating game changers, October 2014
10 Big data, March 2014
09 Health care, December 2013
08 Energy, October 2013
07 Creativity, May 2013
06 Entrepreneurship, March 2013
05 Housing and living environments, December 2012
04 Bioeconomy, October 2012
03 Time – solutions of a new generation, May 2012
02 Wellbeing, February 2012
01 Risks, October 2011
More info & contact details
Aalto University, Communications
PO Box 18000, FI-00076 AALTO
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Managing editor
Paula Haikarainen
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tel +358 50 314 1545
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Illustration & photos
Students and alumni of Aalto University
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Finnish edition 30 000 copies,
English edition 4 000 copies
ISSN 2489-6772 (print)
ISSN 2489-6780 (online)