Researchers’ Night

Welcome to the Botanical Garden of the University of Oulu!
Our greenhouses, Romeo and Juliet, are open to the public. The experts from the Botanical Garden will be on hand to answer questions. Botanical Garden, Kaitoväylä 5.

The bug academy
Come and meet little bugs and great researchers! The bug academy will teach you about the lives of creepy-crawlies and insect research. Would you like to see the different developmental stages of ants, pupae of butterflies, or bumblebees having a ball in the hall? How do we study the behaviour, ecology, genome and evolution of insects? Meet scientists and live bugs: bumble bees, ants and butterflies, and drop by the bug-drawing point to do some art! Science Garden, multifunctional space Sara, Kaitoväylä 5.

Come and share a bug story
Researchers collect stories of insects and other bugs and your encounters with them – come and share your story and it might end up in a book! Science Garden, multifunctional space Sara, Kaitoväylä 5.

Visit a beehive!
Have you ever wondered what life is like inside a bee nest? Take a look into what's buzzing inside a real beehive through our special glass-walled bee nest. The beekeepers will tell you more about it and answer any questions related.You can also taste and buy honey made by our bees. You can find us in the lobby of the botanical gardens. Botanical Garden, Kaitoväylä 5

Plant-Microbe Interactions
Microorganisms are the most diverse group of organisms in the world. The relationship between plants and microbes is often mutually symbiotic, meaning both parties benefit from each other. Come explore the fascinating world of plant-microbe interactions through various microbial strains. Science Garden, multifunctional space Sara, Kaitoväylä 5.

Potnapekka transports the public free of charge between campus (main entrance 2T) and Botanical Garden non-stop from 5pm to 9pm.

Linnanmaa campus map (pdf)

Koneenkatu, near 2T entrance:

Digital Manufacturing at Mobile Fab Lab
Come and discover digital manufacturing in Mobile Fab Lab. Laser cut a keyring or make your own reflector! See how a 3D printer works. Agora (AT128)

Energy from the atom – Try out a nuclear powerplant simulator
Nuclear energy is an important part of today's debate on our energy future, and the university, through its research and education activities, it is an active contributor and facilitator of this conversation. In this interactive and educational demonstration, you can explore the inner workings of the next generation nuclear reactors. Through the use of a simulator, you get to see how the nuclear fuel is transformed in electricity and how such a process it is controlled. The workshop offers four guided demonstrations starting at 17.15, 18.15, 19.15 ja 20.15. Outside of demonstrations, the simulators are freely available, and the experts will answer any of your questions regarding the past, the present, and the prospective future of the energy industry. AT122

Tellus:

Dive into the hidden worlds of childhood multispecies secret places!
Description: In this interactive and immersive exhibition, participants can explore stories of childhood secret places past, present and future, shared with the PhD researcher, Kristina Vitek as part of her thesis. Participates also have the opportunity to anonymously share their stories. Come along to these hidden worlds! Tellus Aspire

Generation AI – come and learn about AI technologies
Make and test your own AI app. Discover why social media knows me so well.
Why does social media seem to know a lot about you and can recommend things you are interested in? Do you know what information and how your information is collected in social media? Come to the workshop to learn about AI, data, profiling and recommendation systems! Do you want to develop your own AI app? In the workshop, you can try out our applications: GenAI teachable machine and somekone. The applications are tested in pilot schools in Oulu, Joensuu and Helsinki and available for free. Tellus Galaxy

Biobank Borealis – better health through research
Biobank studies are used to develop better treatments and diagnostics for illnesses. Come to learn about the biobank and the methods and daily grind of research. Take part in the Guess what? microscope competition and pipetting challenge! Tellus Frost Club

Meet the bones
Come join us to learn about human and animal bones. In archaeological research bones can tell us a lot of things about past people and animals. From human bones (plastic casts) you can see how to separate males from females and test for yourself how easy sex estimation is. You will also learn how to identify smaller bones and learn their location in the body. Animal bone stations will give you the opportunity to compare the bones of different species to see similarities and differences. You will also be able to see examples of different types of pathological changes in bones. For all ages. Tellus Backstage

Where does the fork come from?
An educational interactive activity introduces products important to our everyday life and provides background information about the raw materials they are produced from. During the workshop, participants can hold and see these most important raw materials and discuss how these minerals are used in our daily lives. These raw materials are vital for our transition towards a sustainable future. Duration: 30 minutes, max number of participants 12 at the same time. Tellus Horizon

Main Lobby and Väylä:

Physical exercises and games
Did you know that exercising can improve learning? Physical activity has been shown to enhance children´s memory, attention, information processing and problem solving skills. Come and try out learning exercises and games with our teacher visitors from Tanzania! You might learn something new. Main lobby in front of green coat racks at 17-19

From pellets to plates without emissions
Steel is one of the most widely used materials in the world, and its production requires attention to reducing environmental impacts. Come and learn how steel manufacturing processes are being renewed and developed to be more sustainable. You'll see how experimental, analytical, and computational methods transform raw materials into steel products. Presentations, samples, and laboratory tours provide a unique opportunity to learn about steel's journey towards zero emissions. Departures for the laboratory tour from the demonstration point in front of lecture hall L3 every hour at 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:30 PM. The tour lasts approximately 20-30 minutes and can accommodate 10 participants at a time. In front of lecture hall L3

MathsStop
Maths is so much more than calculations! Come and play games and have fun with mathematical problems. The games are best suited for visitors over 4 years of age. L2

Oulu, city of your dreams!
In the "Resilient City. Urban Planning as Means for Pandemic Prevention (RECIPE)" workshop, you get to express your opinions on how Oulu could be developed through small nudges, so that the urban environment would encourage people of all ages to stay physically active and spend time in the nearby nature. There are activity points where you have the opportunity to share your favourite places and ideas of making Oulu the city of your dreams. Draw them or locate them on a map! The glass cube at the northern end of the main lobby, room KE1002.

Explore the world of drones
Have you ever wondered how drones can revolutionize the way we explore and experience the world? They offer a completely new perspective on our environment and open doors to new research opportunities. With the help of drones, we can fly over wonderful landscapes and dive into unexplored terrains. Take your chance to see what our environment looks like through drones and what new research opportunities they open up. North end of the main lobby, near L1.

Sustainable future through research
Come and discover the wonderful world of I4WORLD researchers! I4WORLD researchers will demonstrate how they are working together to build a sustainable future through research. In this workshop, you can learn about the diverse methods of imaging and characterisation. You will see how drones are used in ecology and microbiology research, what happens in artificial photosynthesis and how NMR technology is applied in research. I4WORLD scientists will be there to answer your questions! L9

Tietomaa on the road: hill-car and steel ball track
Tietomaa on the road offers a glimpse into the contents of the Science Centre Tietomaa’s school tour. Participants will be able to build a hill-car and test its speed, and work on how to slow down/speed up the car to achieve the desired result. The second activity is a steel ball track -workshop, where the aim is to build the slowest possible track for a steel ball on a steel plate. Both sites introduce the themes of mechanics and energy through experimentation and testing. Come, test and learn! The steel ball track -workshop can accommodate 12 people at a time, lasts about 20 minutes and a new workshop starts every half hour. Location: north end of the main lobby, near the orange coat racks.

How do you know that? Data collection, profiling and data leaks
Stop by to discuss about data collection and the related threats. A computer game introduces visitors of any age to what happens “on the other side of their screen” and on their rights to protect themselves. If they want, visitors can anonymously tell their opinion and participate to a survey. Väylä, hallway in front of Tellus

Heat Storage Educational Game
Design your heat storageMetapilot Factory and Heat Battery project you can modify the structure of a thermal energy storage. In the educational game, the capacity of a thermal energy storage can be illustrated for different applications such as houses or greenhouses. Väylä, hallway in front of Tellus

Muography: Unveiling Mysteries of the Pyramids
Discover the hidden world of ancient Egypt through muography! Muons, tiny particles produced by cosmic rays from outer space, can penetrate solid objects like pyramids. Using these muons, scientists create detailed images of what lies inside, revealing hidden chambers and corridors that have been untouched for millennia. Step into the shoes of a scientist and unlock the secrets of the Giza pyramids using this cutting-edge technology. Väylä, hallway in front of Tellus

Test a Formula-car
Have you always wanted to know what it feels like to sit behind the wheel of a formula-car? Now there is an opportunity when Formula Student Oulu presents its student-designed and executed racing car. Formula Student Oulu is an organisation founded in 2013 that combines both technical and business expertise. Technology lobby

Geokatu:

Digital technology from many angles 
In the session, you can learn about the development work of smart technology. Find out what would be just right for you: programming, modelling, drafting, inventing new product ideas or testing. In the workshop, you can try for example block programming, 3D modelling, assess AI art, visualize data and interact with a Nao Robot. Suitable for both children and adults. YL124

Pegasus Library goes space
Pegasus Library has taken over the classroom M101 with a space theme! Here you can test your knowledge of space in a quiz, explore the book exhibition, and participate in space-themed crafts and storytime sessions. M101

Prosessinkatu:

Biowaste to valuables
Come to see how organic waste can be transformed efficiently to valuable products in an environmentally friendly way. Researchers will demonstrate the char production and you will be able to test barley growing using the carbon materials. At the same time, you will discover recent results of using carbon products. PR101

Cosmic rays in the Space Climate!
Cosmic rays are constantly flowing through you! Cosmic rays from outer space arriving at Earth will collide with atmospheric particles, which causes particle showers that fall down to Earth. The Sun's magnetic activity affects the space climate and cosmic rays through the 11-year solar cycle and different types of solar eruptions. Come and learn about cosmic rays, neutron monitors and Solar activity variation & effects. From the Space Weather screen you can follow the current cosmic radiation, solar activity and aurorae. There is also a Sun & Space themed crafts and drawing spot. PR102

Opintokatu:

Sensory Room
What would happen if you lost one of your senses? Why senses are so important to humans. In the Sensory Room, we will explore the different human senses and explore their role in life through hands-on experimentation. KTK160

Kemiankatu:

Teamwork with Virtual reality and Video tools
Join us for teamwork stations utilizing Virtual Reality and Video Tools. In the virtual reality environment, you can explore and locate human organs with your friend or parent. Additionally, you can collaborate to create a short animation film demonstrating actions to save our environment or engage in collaborative time management activities via online environment with your family members. These workstations are conducted in multiple languages by international learning and education technology students. LeaF Research Infrastructure, KTK103

Discover cutting-edge research on autonomous driving and emission-free vehicles
Finland is the homeland of heavy duty work machines – Finnish companies are the world's leading work machine manufacturers in several industries. In order to develop environmentally sustainable and energy-efficient work machines, research and suitable research environments are needed – and one is at the Linnanmaa campus. NUVE-LAB at Oulu University of Applied Sciences is a top-level research environment and unique in the Nordic countries, which enables the research and development of autonomous driving in laboratory conditions. We demonstrate the integration of real-time simulation and the digital twin of the machine with the equipment of our laboratory. Come and learn about making the future with us. The guided tours leave from the beginning of Kemiankatu near the L6 hall at 17:15, 18:30 and 20:00. The tour lasts 45 minutes and can accommodate 10 people at a time.

Linnanmaa campus map (pdf)

Take advantage of the unique opportunity to talk to our researchers face-to-face! At this activity point, you can immerse yourself in the world of science in a variety of ways. Scientists are free to talk to you and ready to answer your questions!

Ask about obesity research and learn more about obesity prevention and treatment: Professor of Internal Medicine Janne Hukkanen, researcher, registered dietitian Laura Heikkilä and researcher, registered dietitian Marjukka Nurkkala.

Learn how microplastics affect our environment and our health: Researcher Soha Mohamed.

Dive into the cultural and historical significance of food and the Finnish food heritage: University lecturer Ritva Kylli.

What would you like to know about the role of nuclear energy in today’s energy system? Welcome to ask about our research on the possible role of nuclear energy in a sustainable energy mix: University lecturer Antonio Calò

Learn how a hydrogen future could become a reality, where hydrogen can be used to produce and transfer clean energy for societies: Coordinator Filipp Temerov.

What would you like to know about the Sami language and culture? Now you can ask researchers and students directly.

Or do you want to know how to become a researcher and what it's like to work as a researcher? Ask Professor Jouko Miettunen about being a researcher.

Come, ask questions and get excited about the diversity of science! You'll find us in the main lobby, near the Researchers' Night information desk.

Most of the matter in the universe appears to be in the form of dark matter. However, despite diligent efforts, to date this dark matter has not been detected except through its gravitational effects. Come and hear University Lecturer Aku Venhola explain the historical developments in astronomy that have led to the conclusions about the existence of dark matter. He will also present current and recent attempts to understand the nature of dark matter, as well as alternative theories to solve the dark matter problem. The general lecture will last 30 minutes, after which the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the topic. The public lecture in Finnish will start at 6 PM and the presentation in English at 7 PM. Location: Tellus Stage

Entrance to the event from Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu, main entrance 2T.

At the Oulu Botanical Garden (Kaitoväylä 5) entrance from the main door. Map of the Botanical Gardens (PDF)

Potnapekka minitrain operates free of charge between campus 2T entrance and garden non-stop from 5 to 9 pm.

The bus stop is located on Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu in front of entrance 2T. The bus stop at Linnanmaa's main entrance 2T is called University. Bus schedules on the website of public transport in Oulu.

There is plenty of room for bicycle parking in the area.

Car parking is free and free of charge in the P-area between Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu and Yliopistokatu (P1 and P2) on the day of the event at 4 to 10 pm. Map of Linnanmaa (PDF)

Lost on campus? Download the Oulu Campus Navigator in the Play Store or App Store and you will find all the places for Researchers Night.

Cafeteria services

Café H2O Väylä in the main lobby is open and will serve Researchers' Night visitors from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Café Humus-kuppila is open during the Researchers' Night from 5 PM to 8 PM. The café is run by the Humanities Guild and is located on the Linnanmaa campus in Geokatu.

Welcome!

Branded products

You can buy University branded products at the Tellus service point.

Photographing

Photographing and filming is taking place at Researchers’ Night. If you enter the event area, you may be filmed and have your picture taken.

Data protection notice - University of Oulu events

Accessibility

The Linnanmaa campus area of the University of Oulu is very functional in terms of accessibility. In addition, attention has been given to accessibility through various arrangements (see Linnanmaa campus map, pdf). There is an unobstructed passage through main door 2T to the event. Accessible toilets can be found e.g. near the R entrance.

First aid

The first aid point is located in room PR125 (Prosessinkatu at the northern end of the main lobby).
General emergency number: 112.

Contact information

viestinta@oulu.fi

Communications specialist Meri Rova
meri.rova@oulu.fi
050 464 3361

Welcome to join Researchers' Night in Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, Tähteläntie 62, Sept 27 from 18-20.45.

The programme includes stories of the Dark Sky, Lappish science and research from underground to space, and earthquakes in the world and in Finland. The programme is entirely in Finnish.

Coffee and pastries will be served. The event is open to all. Welcome!

Programme:

18.00 Pimeän taivaan tarinat ja GLOW-hanke (Stories from the dark sky and the GLOW project)

18.30 break

19.00 Elämyksiä taivaalla – Ursan taivaanvahti ja kansalaistiede/Emma Bruus, SGO/URSA (Experiences in the sky - Ursa Skywatch and citizen science/Emma Bruus SGO/URSA)

19.30 Maanjäristykset maailmalla ja Pohjois-Suomessa/Hanna Silvennoinen, SGO (Earthquakes in the World and Northern Finland/Hanna Silvennoinen, SGO)

20.00 break

20.15 Tiedekeskus Aurora – Lappilaista tiedettä ja tutkimusta maan alta avaruuteen/Laura Lakso, SGO (Science Centre Aurora - Lappish science and research from underground to space/Laura Lakso, SGO)

20.45 closing of the event