Gustaf Hällströms gata
00560 Helsingfors
Finland
Lab tour for group 1.
Lunch for group 2.
Kumpula Campus
Kumpula hosts the natural sciences campus of the University of Helsinki, and as such is home to quite a few research units and facilities. You’ll get a chance to visit some of them during the lab tours, and they’re listed below along with a short description.
University of Helsinki Accelerator Laboratory
Experimental side: Ion beams offer unique opportunities for modifying various characteristics of metals, semiconductors, ceramics, plastics and organics, and of fabricating new materials from them. We use them widely to study ALD grown thin films. Our research program includes studies aiming at improving e.g. friction, wear, hardness, corrosion resistance, and optical and electric properties of materials.
Simulational side: We simulate ion, electron, neutron and plasma irradiation effects, electrical arcing and other nonequilibrium effects in all classes of materials. The work is done in close collaboration with experimental groups in the same department and worldwide. Much of the work is done as part of the international collaboration networks associated with the big science facilities ITER, CERN and FAIR.
Institute of Seismology
The mission of the Institute is to perform seismological observations and research, as well as maintain the Finnish national seismic network. In addition, it participates in international cooperation in seismology, and carries out various tasks in detection seismology by order of the Authorities.
F2K
A tour at the F2k Student Laboratory. F2k has traditionally focused on organising campus visits and offering a selection of modern Physics experiments for high school groups. However, in the coming semester, F2k is gradually expanding operations to include younger students with themes such as “Physics and music”.
During the tour we’ll take a look at some interesting experiments, discuss the possibilities and challenges of university-based Science Education, and chat about whatever questions you have on teaching Physics. Come as you are!
X-ray lab
The x-ray laboratory is a research lab focused on materials research using different methods utilising x-rays. Our main focus is in x-ray imaging, spectroscopies, scattering, their combinations, and corresponding computational modelling. Research areas vary from commercial standard measurements to fundamental research. During the lab tour three different methods, and thus three different research areas, will be presented: “3D/4D micro-tomography: from fossils to in-vivo imaging”, “Industrial mathematics in x-ray research” and “HelXAS, home lab-sized x-ray absorption set-up”.
Institute for atmospheric and Earth system research (INAR)
INAR is a multi- and interdisciplinary research unit based in physics, chemistry, meteorology, forest sciences, environmental sciences and social sciences in the University of Helsinki.
INAR aims to strengthen the internationally leading, integrated multidisciplinary research and education environment for atmospheric and Earth system science and to feed in scientific results for the national and international environment and climate policy. It performs multiscale research from molecular to global scale and focuses on climate change, air quality, biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem processes.
Finnish Meteorological Institute – Weather and Safety Centre
The Weather and Safety Centre produces current and forecasted information about the weather, the oceanographic situation, the climate and major natural disasters in Finland and other countries on a 24/7 basis.
The Weather and Safety Centre is responsible for the production of weather forecasts and weather warnings for citizens, media, government agencies, business, civil aviation and the military. The Centre is also active an participant in international co-operation with other meteorological agencies.
Finnish Meteorological Institute – Atmospheric aerosols group
The Atmospheric Aerosols group conducts measurements of aerosols affecting our climate. These measurements are conducted in various environments, including from direct emissions of vehicles and ships, in urban settings and in background locations around the world.
In the laboratory, field instrumentation setups are tested and calibrated. In addition, laboratory experiments are conducted to study atmospheric phenomena in controlled environments.
Airmodus nanoparticle laboratory
Airmodus produces instruments for detecting nanoparticles for example in outdoor air or in vehicle emissions. Nanoparticles can have harmful effects to human health. Due to their very small size, they can penetrate deep into the lungs when inhaled. Aerosol particles also affect our climate through different atmospheric processes. Our instruments are tools for climate researchers, emission specialists, and many more professionals who use them to gain more knowledge about the smallest particles around us – down to 1 nm in particle diameter – and to tackle the problems they may cause.