Research project turns waste into sound-absorbing solutions with biodegradable foam
Team plans expansion while adhering to circular economy principles
The transformative power of creativity
Creativity is not just some extra little fun thing, but a key element in the development of both individuals and societies. Creativity is the foundation of science, art, and economy - all new ideas - and therefore so crucial also in the academic world.
Creativity enables first the formulation of the right questions and then acts as a catalyst in developming of solutions to global issues.
Until now, the world has changed relatively slowly; new skills could be learned from books. In our current everyday life, however, things, circumstances, and phenomena change rapidly. Technology is evolving so quickly that sometimes even experts struggle to keep up. The thought and action patterns of creativity help to tolerate – even embrace – uncertainty and ambiguity. Creativity pushes us to progress even in an occasionally inevitable stalemate: because there is no single specific goal, there are always multiple directions to move in.
Reading textbooks teaches us standard models of things. Creativity, too, can be learned, but it requires challenging oneself and boldly taking action. Embracing a new way of thinking requires openness and questioning one's own assumptions. Creativity springs from uncertainty and vulnerability.
Here at Aalto we foster a culture of experimentation. We strengthen and encourage not only students but also researchers and our partners to break boundaries and create new perspectives alongside routines.
Creativity at work
Explore what creative, norm-defying thinking can accomplish. Here are some examples of how our students and researchers make creativity visible in their respective fields.
BIOSUOJA project is saving lives by developing bio-based fire retardant coatings
A talented group of young researchers is making these non-toxic coatings out of wood.
'It's amazing that something crafted with my own hands will one day soar into space' – Aalto University students are building the third student-made satellite
The Aalto-3 student team participated in the European Space Agency's (ESA) ESA Test Opportunities testing programme
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.
From periphery to business core
Sustainability was an unusual, if not odd, research topic in business schools in the early 1990s. The most radical changes are, however, yet to come, says Professor Minna Halme.
Researchers at Aalto develop a new technology to let immobilized patients control devices with their brain
A new project at Aalto University is developing techniques that will enable immobilized patients to control devices using their brain activity. The project builds on the multi-locus transcranial magnetic stimulation (mTMS) technology developed at Aalto, adapting it into a brain–computer interface (BCI) that can help patients with neurological conditions.
Significant new funding to investigate the impacts of human actions on the water cycle worldwide
Researcher Miina Porkka's ERC-funded research project AQUAGUARD investigates how human actions modify the water cycle and how these changes affect life on Earth.
Cutting the carbon out of concrete
The Radical Ceramic Research Group is pioneering potentially transformative alternatives to traditional concrete, the world’s second largest source of emissions.
Unlocking the mysteries of super black materials: A novel wood-based solution
In the ever-evolving world of science and technology, there are certain phenomena that continue to captivate the minds of scientists, artists, and the general public alike. One such phenomenon is the enigmatic world of super black materials.
Transparent wood-based coating doesn’t fog up
Coatings made from a wood by-product can keep our glasses and windshields clear
Billions of individuals depend on security protocols crafted by Professor Emerita Kaisa Nyberg
Kaisa Nyberg's career has taken her from radio encryption algorithms to international standardisation work and finally to professor at Aalto University. According to Nyberg, the biggest contribution of her career lies in her role as a mentor to students
Novel solutions for cross-sector collaboration: exploring Artpreneurship
Aalto researchers collaborate with businesses and creative professionals in a research project aimed at finding solutions to growth challenges.
Aalto University students combine an open microprocessor with an AI accelerator
In the recent past, Aalto students implemented a simple processor. Now, they have further refined its structure and combined it with an AI accelerator.
How to see trees and plants in a whole new light
A hyperspectral snapshot captures all the light in a scene, not just colours or infrared light. The extra information is useful in many applications, from agriculture and conservation to forensics and food safety.
Highlights from the past decades – PwC commission
Students mapped current players and future solutions in the field of natural language processing (NLP)
Support the creativity
At Aalto we foster creative solutions that contribute to making the world a better place for all of us. Today's students are tomorrow's professionals. We must tackle the skills shortage of the future now, and ensure education that equips young people with the necessary tools and skills for success. Simultaneously, we will bolster Finland's competitive edge and position in the global marketplace.
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