Ilya Usoskin elected as a Vice-President of the IAU

“This will expectedly promote Finnish Astronomy nationally and worldwide and will raise the interest among pupils, students and young researchers”, says Prof. Usoskin, who will act, in particular, as a liaison for the Executive Committee Working Group for Professional-Amateur Relations in Astronomy.

IAU is the largest organization of professional astronomers with more than 100-year history (it was founded in 1919) with the mission to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. Presently it includes more than 12 000 individual members from 90 countries around the world.

Ilya Usoskin is a full professor at the University of Oulu (jointly Space Physics and Astronomy Research Unit and Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory), doing research in the field of Solar and Space Physics, and Cosmic rays. During 2014-2019, he was the Vice-Director of the ReSoLVE Centre of Excellence of the Academy of Finland.

Prof. Debra Elmegreen (Vassar College, New York), the newly elected President of the IAU, says: “We are delighted to welcome Prof. Ilya Usokin as Vice President of the International Astronomical Union. I believe Prof. Usoskin is the first Finnish astronomer to serve on the Executive Committee in the 102-year history of the IAU, as well as the first solar astronomer in a long time. The IAU strives to achieve a diverse, inclusive community to fulfil its goals of sharing astronomical knowledge and using astronomy as a tool for development, training, and education. Prof. Usoskin will bring important perspectives to the governing of the IAU.”

“Prof. Ilya Usoskin’s Vice Presidency is the highest IAU position for an astronomer from Finland at all times, since the establishment of IAU in 1919. As the President of the Finnish National Committee for Astronomy, I would like to warmly congratulate both Prof. Usoskin and the University of Oulu,” says Prof. Karri Muinonen, University of Helsinki.

We look forward to further development of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Finland and worldwide with the new role of the University of Oulu.