News

Search dogs are training at the Otaniemi campus 31 August

In the exercise organised by the Espoon Pelastuskoirayhdistys (Search Dog Association), the dogs and handlers are searching for individuals in the vicinity of Otakaari 8. The harnesses of the rescue dogs read "pelastuskoira."
Forest
Photo: Aalto University/Anni Kääriä

On Saturday 31 August 2024, at the Otaniemi campus, you may see rescue dogs and their handlers practicing the search for a person lost in the terrain. The dogs and handlers participating in the exercise, organised by the Espoon Pelastuskoirayhdistys (Search Dog Association), will be searching for individuals in the nearby terrain of Otakaari 8.

Other campus users are expected to behave as they normally would when on campus.

Otaniemi is one of the locations where the participants will visit during the day, as they will visit multiple locations in Espoo. In Otaniemi, the dogs will be practicing between the hours of 9:00-10:00, 10:30-11:30, 14:00-15:00, 15:30-16:30, and 17:00-18:00.

All the dogs participating in the exercise are approved search dogs by the authorities. Search dog training is a hobby that takes several years. The individuals participating in the exercise will be wearing Volunteer Search and Rescue Service vests, and the dogs will have "pelastuskoira" written on their harnesses.

For some participants, Otaniemi is an exotic location for a search, as searches in other parts of Finland are largely conducted in forests. Searches in a location such as Otaniemi are typical exercises for those in the capital region. In a forest, a dog can detect a human scent from several hundred meters away even in good weather or track a human's trail from the ground after hours of walking, but the situation is quite different in urban areas.

More information
Espoon Pelastuskoirayhdistys ry (in Finnish)

  • Published:
  • Updated:

Read more news

Kampuksen uudet ulkokalusteet
Campus, Studies Published:

Vote for the best idea! How do we spend 14 000 euros on student wellbeing?

In autumn 2024, students were asked to come up with ideas on how the university should spend 14 000 euros to improve student wellbeing on campus. Now it's time to vote for the best idea to be implemented during spring 2025.
Otakaari 4
University Published:

Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering is the new name of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

The name change was confirmed as part of the update to the School of Engineering bylaws.
Tuomas Savolainen presenting telescope research
University Published:

Tuomas Savolainen: In astronomical research we often navigate in uncharted waters

'As a researcher, you must constantly tolerate uncertainty. You also have to remember that there would be no point in researching if we were always sure of everything. And first, you always have to convince yourself.'
A lit motorway crossing the sea, with buildings and sky visible
Cooperation, Press releases, Research & Art, University Published:

Finland is strongly investing in AI and establishing an ELLIS Institute to accelerate research and attract talent

Public and private sector investment are coming together to launch ELLIS Institute Finland.