Leaders have been appointed for the five multidisciplinary themes of the Strategy of the University of Turku to develop and implement the University's multidisciplinary activities.
The Strategy of the University of Turku emphasises the importance of multidisciplinarity in promoting internationally high-quality research, education and innovation. The multidisciplinary themes of the strategy bring together and enable collaboration between researchers and experts in different disciplines.
New leaders of the multidisciplinary themes:
- Biodiversity and sustainability: Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, Professor of Biodiversity Research, Head of Unit
- Cultural memory and social change: Charlotta Wolff, Professor of Finnish History
- Children, young people and learning Elina Kilpi-Jakonen, Associate Professor of Sociology, Vice Dean
- Health, diagnostics and drug development: Saara Wittfooth, Assistant Professor of Biotechnology
- New technologies and digitalisation: Heidi Piili, Senior Researcher, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
The leaders of the multidisciplinary themes form core groups to which researchers and other actors are invited through an open internal call. The term of office of the leaders and core groups starts on 1 January 2025 and lasts for two years, after which a mid-term review will be carried out to decide whether the term will be extended for the next two years. The theme leaders and core groups are responsible for strengthening multidisciplinary research and education as well as their impact.
“I am very pleased that we received applications from active and expert candidates to lead the groups. Multidisciplinarity aims to strengthen our ability to find solutions to the complex problems of our time, which is why the multidisciplinary themes play a central role in our strategy. The new theme leaders and future core groups will have an essential role in promoting the University’s multidisciplinarity, renewal and competitiveness,” says Rector of the University of Turku Marjo Kaartinen.
