Dr. Olle Järv is an Academy Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki's Department of Geosciences and Geography. As Docent in Human Geography and holder of a joint PhD from University of Tartu and Ghent University, his research focuses on leveraging big data sources like mobile phone records and social media for analyzing human mobility patterns across European cross-border regions. Key research areas: Spatial segregation, urban diversity, transnationalism, and pandemic-induced mobility changes Current projects: BORDERSPACE (2020-2025) – Mapping transnational spaces through mobility data MOBI-TWIN (2023-2026) – Regional mobility patterns in twin transitions WinWin4WorkLife (2024-2027) – Sustainable cross-border remote work His methodological innovations include developing tools for analyzing social media data and mobile phone records to study urban dynamics. Recent recognitions include the 2024 Research Council of Finland Award and 2021 Best Paper Award from Journal of Location Based Services.
Hilda Ruokolainen is a Senior Lecturer at Åbo Akademi University, affiliated with the School of Business and Economics. Her work focuses on misinformation as a social phenomenon, particularly within asylum seeker contexts, using qualitative methodologies like semi-structured interviews and empirical research. University: Åbo Akademi University School: School of Business and Economics Email: hilda.ruokolainen@abo.fi ORCID: 0000-0003-2521-4390 Her research spans information science, social sciences, and migration studies, emphasizing collaborative qualitative practices and the creation process of data. Recent publications analyze official misinformation, methodological approaches, and network effects in information research. Key trends in her work include social dynamics of misinformation, empirical studies on service workers, and the intersection of information practice with computer science. She advocates for embracing complexity in collaborative research frameworks.
Tuuli Toivonen is a Professor of Geoinformatics at the Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki. She leads the transdisciplinary Digital Geography Lab , which addresses human-scale spatial analytics for sustainable societies. She serves as Vice-Director of Geography Degree Programs (post-2022) and previously held the Director role (2020-2022). After receiving the ERC Consolidator Grant in 2022, she continues advancing open science through active memberships in HELSUS and URBARIA . PhD in Geography (University of Turku, 2006) Specialist Vocational Qualification in Leadership (2023) Life Member, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge (since 2021) Her research focuses on Human-Place Interactions through accessibility/mobility lenses, combining Open Data , Machine Learning , and Spatial Analytics . Key application areas include Urban Geography , Conservation Science , and Governance Policy . Recent publications address Dynamic Cities (2018), Social Media for Conservation (2019), and Environmental Exposure During Travel (2021). Her lab produces datasets like the Helsinki Region Travel Time Matrix series (2014-2023). Scientific Awards: European Open Data Champion (2017) Open Science Price (2017) University of Helsinki Geography Award (2018) She supervises Master's thesis work and serves as Opponent for doctoral defenses across Europe. Her teaching portfolio includes Advanced Geoinformatics and Digital Geographies courses.
Marketta Kyttä is a Professor of Land Use Planning at Aalto University's Department of Built Environment. She holds a PhD in Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology (2004) and leads the Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering Master’s program. Research Interests: Child- and age-friendly urban environments SoftGIS methodology for participatory mapping Social sustainability and urban health Public participation in planning Activity space modeling Scientific Awards: Lea Pulkkinen award Tapio Nummenmaa award Geospatial World Forum's WebGIS Innovation Award (2010) Oskari Vilamo award (2020) Oppikirja-palkinto for urban planning literature Methodological Contributions: SoftGIS (PPGIS innovation) Commercialization as Maptionnaire software International Collaborations: Affiliated with universities in Italy, Australia, and the US. Her work spans 80+ countries through Maptionnaire’s global adoption.
Professor Ida Koivisto from the Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki specializes in administrative law, constitutional law, and global administrative law. Her research focuses on transparency in digital governance, automated decision-making in public administration, and the intersection of law with digital technology. Key research themes: Digital transparency, legal automation, EU administrative law Active in multidisciplinary projects like DARE (Digital Administration Redesigned for Everyone) and AlgoT (Algorithmic Transparency) Recent publications explore ethical dimensions of AI in governance, legal personhood in digital systems, and paradoxes of transparency. Her work appears in journals like Artificial Intelligence, Humans and the Law and Critical Analysis of Law . International collaborations include academic visits to the University of Toronto, University of Hong Kong, and European University Institute. She contributes to policy through expert statements for Finland's Constitutional Law Committee and other public institutions.
Turkka Keinonen is a Professor of Industrial Design at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, serving as Vice Dean of Research and Head of Doctoral Education. His career spans academic leadership, industry roles in Finnish technology sectors (shipbuilding, medical equipment), and a visiting associate professorship at National University of Singapore. He specializes in human-centered design, product concept design, and ethical considerations in design. Keinonen’s research emphasizes public sector innovation, digital service development, and the intersection of technology with societal needs. His work bridges theory and practice, focusing on how design can foster equity, civic engagement, and sustainability. Recent projects explore libraries as digital innovation hubs, smart home technologies’ ethical implications, and volunteer-based IT services. He has authored influential books including Mobile Usability (2003), Product Concept Design (2006), and Designers, Users and Justice (2017), alongside over 100 publications. Keinonen’s research trends reflect a shift toward relational design in public sectors, emphasizing stakeholder collaboration and systemic change. His articles analyze digital literacy initiatives, quasi-public service models, and design’s role in mediating technological control. He advocates for ethical frameworks that prioritize user autonomy and societal justice in design processes. Labs/Teams: Active in Aalto’s design innovation networks, particularly in public service design and human-centered design methodologies. Collaborates with industry partners (e.g., Nokia Research Center) and Nordic institutions on applied design research.
Riikka Koulu is an Associate Professor of Social and Legal Implications of AI at the University of Helsinki, holding joint appointments at the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences. She serves as Director of the University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab, an interdisciplinary research hub focused on law, technology, and society, and is an affiliated researcher at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society in Berlin. In 2025, she will be an academic visitor at Oxford University. Education: Doctor of Law (OTT), University of Helsinki (awarded November 17, 2016) Title of Docent (digitalisation of law), University of Lapland (2020-present) Riikka Koulu is a socio-legal scholar specializing in the interconnections between law, technology, and society. Her research focuses on understanding law's role in shaping and being shaped by digitalized societies. She combines doctrinal and theoretical legal analysis with empirical research from a public law perspective. Her current work examines digital public administration, AI policy and regulation, European technology regulation, and the impact of digital technologies on legal decision-making. She is particularly interested in human oversight mechanisms and interface design in automated systems. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on the legal implications of digital transformation, with particular attention to automated decision-making in public administration, algorithmic governance, and the changing nature of legal procedures in digital environments. Her work spans theoretical explorations of legal concepts in digital contexts and practical analyses of how technology is reshaping justice systems and public administration. Scientific Recognition: Title of Docent (digitalisation of law), University of Lapland (2020) Affiliated researcher, Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society, Berlin (2019-present) Riikka Koulu actively supervises doctoral researchers through the Doctoral Programme in Law and has secured significant research funding for multiple projects. Her current research portfolio includes the ADM-Gov project (2022-2026) on automated administration governance, the REPAIR project (2022-2025) on algorithmic system maintenance, and the DARE project (2021-2026) on inclusive digital administration design. These projects involve collaboration with international partners and interdisciplinary teams. As Director of the University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab, Koulu leads an interdisciplinary research hub that is part of the Network of Centers (NoC). The lab serves as a focal point for research on the intersection of law, technology, and society, bringing together scholars from legal studies, computer science, social sciences, and design disciplines to address pressing challenges in digital governance.
Henrikki Tenkanen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Built Environment at Aalto University, specializing in Geoinformatics. His research focuses on geospatial analysis, urban planning, transportation accessibility, and open data applications for sustainable development. His primary research interests include Geospatial Analysis , Urban Planning , Transportation Accessibility , and Population Dynamics . Tenkanen's work integrates mobile phone data, social media, and open geospatial sources to understand urban environments, accessibility patterns, and carbon emissions. His research contributes significantly to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to sustainable cities and communities. Tenkanen's recent publications demonstrate strong trends in high-resolution spatial analysis of urban environments, with particular emphasis on transport equity , carbon emissions mapping , and rural population representation . His work combines advanced geocomputing techniques with practical urban planning applications, often developing open-source tools to enhance reproducibility and accessibility of geospatial research. As an active member of the academic community, Tenkanen serves as a peer reviewer for journals including Big Data & Society and Environment and Planning B, and participates in conference committees such as the International Conference on Location Based Services. His research has garnered significant attention, with multiple publications featured in news outlets and academic platforms. Tenkanen leads several major research projects including Geo-R2LLM (developing geographic large language models), Geoportti (open geospatial infrastructure), MAPICO (mapping commute-related carbon emissions), and LIH: Location Innovation Hub. His work bridges academic research with practical applications for urban planning and sustainable mobility.
Sandra Reimann is a Professor of German Philology at the University of Oulu's Faculty of Humanities, leading the German Language and Culture department. She holds a habilitation in linguistic studies of online self-help communication and has held visiting professorships at institutions like Karl Franzens University in Graz. Her career includes roles at the University of Regensburg since 2001 and radio journalism since 1992. Her research focuses on applied linguistics, media communication, business communication (including advertising), and health communication. She investigates technical language in medicine/psychology, emotional linguistics, digital corpus analysis, and interdisciplinary communication challenges. Key projects include leading the Regensburg Advertising Research Archive and exploring sustainability messaging in cross-cultural contexts. Reimann's recent work examines gender language in job advertisements, sustainability communication strategies, and online health information quality. Her publications span 40+ years of advertising analysis, from historical radio spots to modern digital campaigns. She contributes to both academic conferences and practitioner-oriented research through the Regensburger Verbund für Werbeforschung network. Her professional service includes roles as spokesperson for the Regensburg Advertising Research Network and oversees the advertising archives. Though no formal awards are listed, her extensive research collaborations across European universities highlight her disciplinary influence. She actively bridges academic and corporate sectors through applied linguistic studies in branding, health communication, and technical language mediation.
Salla Sariola is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Department of Sociology. She leads research initiatives at the Helsinki One Health and Helsinki Inequality Initiative. Her work focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), global health ethics, and the sociocultural dimensions of health systems. Key areas include microbial ethics, LGBTQ+ youth healthcare, and the intersection of inequality with healthcare access. She supervises doctoral students in the Doctoral Programmes in Social Sciences and Gender, Culture, and Society. Research Organizations: Helsinki One Health, Helsinki Inequality Initiative Projects: AMR CoE (Antimicrobial Resistance Excellence Center), Nordic Network for the Social Study of Microbes, Centre for the Social Study of Microbes Her recent publications address microbial ethics frameworks, antibiotic use in rural communities, and LGBTQ+ youth healthcare. She has contributed to global health policy discussions, including AMR management in West Africa and ethical engagement in clinical research. Sariola’s work bridges sociology, medical anthropology, and policy analysis, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration in global health challenges.
Miloš N. Mladenović is an Associate Professor at the Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering Group , affiliated with the Department of Built Environment under the School of Engineering at Aalto University. He also serves as a Vice Dean and leads the MSc program Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions . His work bridges academic research and practical policy, with a focus on governance and ethical dimensions of emerging mobility technologies. Education: BSc in Transport Engineering, University of Belgrade MSc and PhD in Civil Engineering, Virginia Tech His research centers on: Societal Impact of Emerging Mobility Technologies , such as Mobility as a Service and automated vehicles Decision-Support Systems for urban transport planning Sustainable Transportation and accessibility frameworks Ethics in Transport Policy , including projects like EVA-HEL (electric scooters) and BATS (mobility solutions) Analysis of his recent publications shows: Development of open-source models for urban transport equity Focus on cultural governance in Finland Interdisciplinary approaches combining social sciences and engineering Scientific Recognition: 2024 Moshe Givoni Prize from Transport Reviews 2024 Linkki Pin Permit award Academic Leadership: Editorial Board Member, European Transport Research Review (2019-2024) Organizing Chair, Aalto University Summer School on Transportation (ASTRA) His work connects directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable cities and climate action.
Mari Kaarina Vaattovaara is Professor of Urban Geography at the University of Helsinki, where she serves as Director of both the Helsinki Institute of Urban and Regional Studies (Urbaria) and the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS). Affiliated with the Department of Geosciences and Geography within the Faculty of Science, she supervises doctoral students in two doctoral programs: the Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Change and the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences. Professor Vaattovaara's research spans social and economic geography, urban studies, and sustainability science, with particular focus on neighborhood dynamics, housing policy, and urban development patterns. Her work examines how physical environments interact with social structures to shape community outcomes, with special attention to vulnerable populations and sustainable urban transitions. She frequently investigates the relationship between urban density, service accessibility, and quality of life in metropolitan contexts. Her recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining sustainable urban development through multiple lenses, including neighborhood sustainability indicators, housing policy challenges, and the impacts of urban form on social outcomes. While deeply rooted in the Finnish context, her research connects to broader European and global urban debates, with increasing attention to post-pandemic urban challenges and the implications of tourism for sustainable city development. Among her notable recognitions are: J.V. Snellman Prize (2013) Knight, First Class, of the White Rose of Finland (2016) Helsinki Medal for distinguished service to the city (2015) Ragnar Hult Medal (2014) Election to the Finnish Academy of Science (2016) Professor Vaattovaara leads multiple significant research initiatives including the MSCA-DN SUNSET project (2024-2028) funded by the European Commission, The Future of Diverse and Disadvantaged project (2022-2026) funded by Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland, and the Urban Academy initiative connecting academic research with practical urban development challenges. Her work bridges academic research with policy impact through external positions including External Research Fellow at University College London (since 2014), Member of the Supervisory Board at Hypoteekkiyhdistys (since 2014), and Auntosäätiö Board Member (since 2012). As Director of Urbaria and HELSUS, Professor Vaattovaara oversees interdisciplinary research hubs that bring together scholars from across the university to address complex urban and sustainability challenges. These institutes facilitate collaboration between academic researchers, municipal authorities, and community organizations to develop evidence-based approaches to urban development and sustainability transitions.
Suvianna Hakalehto is a Professor of Law at the Law School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland. She holds a PhD in Law from the University of Helsinki (2008) with a focus on tort liability of public authorities. Since 2010, her research has centered on children's rights, particularly their legal status in family, school, and healthcare contexts, and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Finland. PhD in Law (2008), University of Helsinki Postdoctoral research on pupils' rights at school (2012) Her work spans education law, family law, and tort law, with recent publications addressing school discipline, inclusion, and supervision of education providers. She is currently writing a book on children's rights in early childhood education and care. She co-founded the Child Law Lawyers association and served as its chair from 2013–2020. Her research group affiliations include the Civil Law Research Group. Publications emphasize the interplay between constitutional rights, international human rights norms, and Finnish legislation, with a focus on equality, non-discrimination, and the right to privacy for children. She advocates for legal frameworks that balance parental authority with children's autonomy, particularly in religious education and healthcare decisions. She has trained legal and professional audiences on tort law and children's rights for over two decades, contributing to policy debates on state obligations to safeguard minors' rights in public and private spheres. Her expertise extends to legislative analysis, judicial commentary, and interdisciplinary studies in child welfare.
Jari Lindh ( University Lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lapland ) is a leading scholar in structural social work and disability services. His research focuses on the intersection of legal, organizational, and professional discourses in disability social work, with a regional emphasis on Lapland and welfare areas. Field of Science: Social Work Current Projects: RAVATTI (Structural Disability Social Work, 2023-2025), HaraVa (Considerate Disability Social Work, 2021-2023) Research Interests Structural Social Work Vocational Rehabilitation Legal and Organizational Discourse Socio-technical Systems in Rehabilitation Discretion in Disability Services Client Self-Determination Rights Selected Publications (2023-2025) address telerehabilitation adaptation, structural social work reforms, relational discretion frameworks, and implementation of disability rights in service systems. Activities include: Keynote Speaker at 2025 International Social Work Conference Media contributions on disability social work (2024, 2023)
Tomi Mäki-Opas is Professor of Social and Public Policy at the University of Eastern Finland's Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, leading research on effectiveness in health and social services. He directs the 'Effectiveness in social and health services' research community and collaborates with Northern Savo welfare region. Research focuses on: Developing indicators for wellbeing service effectiveness Evaluating health promotion interventions Assessing social policy outcomes Measuring quality of life dimensions Publications emphasize methodological innovation in effectiveness research, particularly evaluating interventions for vulnerable groups including unemployed individuals, asylum seekers, and elderly populations. Recent work explores connections between nature exposure, physical activity, and mental wellbeing.
