The programme for the Finnish Academy

Transcription

1 Annual report of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters for 2012 Olli Martio The programme for the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters in 2012 assumed its customary form, with regular meetings for discussions on scientific topics and visits at research institutions, the publication of journals and monographs and the distribution of grants and prizes. The Academy decided at its Annual Meeting to appoint three new honorary members, Professor Elina Haavio-Mannila, Professor Heikki Palva and Professor Kari Raivio. All in all, the Academy now has 667 Finnish members, 11 of whom have honorary status. The quotas for active members have remained unchanged, totalling 333. These are divided into 15 subject groups. The amounts of money distributed in grants followed the same pattern as in the previous year, with the largest sums coming from the Vilho, Yrjö and Kalle Väisälä Foundation, 1.3 million euros, and the Eino Jutikkala Fund, about half a million euros. Both the numbers of applicants and the sums of money involved increased considerably, especially in the case of the Jutikkala Fund, so that in the end only 4% of the total sum applied for could be awarded. One reason for the popularity of the Jutikkala Fund was that its annual application date is earlier than for most other large foundations financing research in the humanities, and consequently the timing of applications to the Emil Öhmann Foundation and the Hilkka and Otto Brusiin Foundation, which are also administered by the Academy and operate in similar fields, have now been brought forward to coincide with that for the Jutikkala Fund. Applications to the Väisälä Foundation and the Mathematics Fund have remained at the traditional level, so that 22% of those submitted to the Väisälä Fund were successful. Grants from the Mathematics Fund are mostly made for the holding of international conferences arranged by Finnish mathematicians. The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters nowadays processes all applications for grants from its own research funds and the foundations administered by it electronically. This has proved essential not only in order to simplify the administrative work involved but also, above all, to assist the expert advisors in their work. These advisors perform a valuable function for the Academy entirely free of charge, and the Academy makes every effort to rotate its requests in this respect at regular intervals. The Academy s governing board awarded four prizes in Its Academy Award went to Professor Pekka Hautojärvi, the Jutikkala Prize to Professor Marko Tervo of Academia Scientiarum Fennica

2 the Aalto University, and the two Väisälä Prizes to Professor Marko Huhtanen of the University of Oulu and Professor Sebastiaan van Dijken of the Aalto University. Each of these prizes was worth 15,000 euros. The Jutikkala Prize and the Väisälä Prizes are awarded to scholars who are at the beginning of their academic career but have already attracted attention internationally. Two of the Academy s regular meetings in the course of the year were devoted to the distribution of grants from the Väisälä Foundation, the Jutikkala Fund and the Öhmann and Brusiin Foundations and included papers presented by the recipients of the prizes. Other meetings included an amateur production of the play Virtanen the life of a scientist and a visit in May to the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation at Otaniemi. The fourth intake of members to the Club for Young Scientists began its activities in autumn 2012, at the same time as improved techniques were adopted for recording the presentations and videoing the meetings. Large numbers of people have accessed these videos on YouTube, links to which are provided on the Academy s web pages. The annual process by which the Academy s subject groups choose members for the club has operated well. The Academy has now ceased publishing its list of members as a separate book, the last edition having appeared in An updated list is provided in this Yearbook, and this will be maintained on the Academy s web site. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to include such comprehensive details in this list as were published earlier in the separate book, on account of new legislation regarding the protection of personal privacy. Visitors to the academy s web site during 2012 numbered 37,160, of whom 57% were new visitors. Altogether there were 107,225 page hits. Governing Board The previous vice-chairman, Jorma Sipilä, was elected chairman of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters at the Annual Meeting on 13th April 2012, with Eva-Mari Aro as vice-chairman. Olli Martio continued as secretary-general and chairman of the Publishing Committee, Pekka Ilmakunnas as treasurer, Erkki Hollo as secretary of the The Governing Board 2012 Member Position Term of office Sirpa Jalkanen chairman Jorma Sipilä vice-chairman chairman Eva-Mari Aro member vice-chairman Olli Martio secretary-general chairman, Publishing Committee Pekka Ilmakunnas treasurer Erkki Hollo secretary, Section of Humanities Olavi Nevanlinna secretary, Section of Science Raija-Leena Punamäki vice-chairman, Publishing Committee Keijo Hämäläinen member Kimmo Kontula member Kirsi Tirri member Academia Scientiarum Fennica 2012

3 Section of the Humanities, Olavi Nevanlinna as secretary of the Section of Science and Raija-Leena Punamäki as the representative of the Publishing Committee on the board. Keijo Hämäläinen and Kirsi Tirri continued as ordinary members of the board, and Kimmo Kontula was elected as a new ordinary member. The Governing Board held seven meetings in the course of the year. Publications The secretary-general, Olli Martio, editorin-chief of the two Mathematica series, continued as chairman of the Publishing Committee, and Raija-Leena Punamäki, representing the Statements of Opinion series, as vice-chairman. The other members of the Publishing Committee were Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila, chief editor of the Humaniora series, Pekka Hakamies, chief editor of Folklore Fellows Communications (FFC) and Markku Löytönen, appointed by the Governing Board as chief editor of the Geologica-Geographica series in place of Matti Saarnisto, who had resigned from this position. Dr. Mika Koskenoja continued to act as the committee s secretary. The Publishing Committee met twice during the year. The joint publications committee of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters, meeting on 13th November, elected Professor Jaakko Frösén as its new chairman for a three-year period, with Jaakko Hämeen- Anttila of the Academy of Science and Letters as vice-chairman. As in previous years, the Academy continued to publish under the titles of Annales Academiae Scientiarum Fennicae (Mathematica, including its sub-series Mathematica Dissertationes, and also Geologica-Geographica and Humaniora), Folklore Fellows Communications and Kannanottoja (Statements of Opinion). The two Mathematica series are open access features on the Academy s web pages, and the Mathematica series itself was visited on these pages 11,789 times in the course of the year. A total of 50 papers were published, amounting to 1511 pages in all, as follows: Mathematica, 46 papers, 662 pages Humaniora, 2 papers, 417 pages FFC, 2 papers, 432 pages Also published during the year were: FF Network magazine, 1 issue, 42 pages Vuosikirja Year Book 2011, 185 pages No publications in the Kannanottoja (Statements of Opinion) series were issued in 2012, but the existing publications, which are also freely accessible on the Academy s web site, attracted considerable attention. The first volume, The use of peat for energy purposes, was accessed 291 times during the year, the second, Koulusurmat. Yhteiskunnalliset ja psykologiset taustat ja ehkäisy (School Shooting Incidents. Social and psychological background and prevention), was accessed 645 times, and the third, Kirjeitä nuorelle tutkijalle (Letters to a Young Researcher) was consulted 920 times. The Academy received 128,100 euros in government assistance for its publishing work, and incomes from the sale of publications amounted to 26, euros. Distribution of the Academy s publications on an exchange basis took place through the Exchange Centre for Scientific Literature run by the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies. The Academy had 571 overseas exchange partners at the end of 2012, and a total of 1021 copies of publications were sent out in this way. Academy publications have also been on sale through the Tiedekirja (Bookstore) com- Academia Scientiarum Fennica

4 pany and the Gaudeamus company s Kirja&Kahvi (Books and Coffee) bookshop in the Kaisa building, the new premises of the University of Helsinki s central library. Staff and administration of assets The Property Management Group which advises the Governing Board on financial matters, monitoring the development of its assets and controlling its investment portfolio, consisted of the chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer and secretary-general together with Erkki Hollo and Antti Tanskanen. The group held one meeting during the year. The Academy s assets are in the hands of Nordea and Union Bancaire Privée. A significant proportion of the assets of both the Academy itself and the funds administered by it (the Vilho, Yrjö and Kalle Väisälä Foundation, the Eino Jutikkala Fund and the Mathematics Fund) are invested in shares of Finnish listed companies. The income from dividends on these shares is important for ensuring that the Academy can make its awards consistently from one year to the next. In addition, assets have increasingly been invested overseas, in both financial markets and bonds, the value of which increased substantially, especially during autumn By the end of the year the Academy and its separate funds had investments worth approximately 71 million euros. The Academy has property investments through the Väisälä Foundation in Unioninkatu 30 (owned jointly with the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, the Finnish Literature Society and the Niilo Helander Foundation) and Mariankatu 5, where its offices and the meeting room of the Governing Board are located. The Väisälä Foundation, together with the Emil Öhmann Foundation, also owns office space in a building administered by the housing company Asunto Oy Helsingin Bulevardinaukio, and the Eino Jutikkala Fund owns an apartment in Eira. The combined book value of these property investments is around five million euros. The auditor of the Academy s accounts and administrative procedures in 2012 was Helena Vanhala, MBA, chartered accountant, with Veli Vanhanen, MBA, chartered accountant, as her deputy. A financial report and auditor s statement are to be found as appendices to this Yearbook. The head of the Academy s office was Eija Jussila, with Minna Isoksela (until September 30th) and Nina Rapelo as office secretaries, the latter having additional responsibility for the layout of the series of statements of opinion. The Academy s treasurer is Pekka Ilmakunnas. Meetings The Academy held its meetings in the traditional manner on the second Monday of each month in the House of the Estates. The average attendance was 80 persons. No meeting was held in January, and in February members were invited to watch an amateur production of the play Virtanen the life of a scientist. Visits were also made to the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation at Otaniemi in May and to the Heureka Science Centre in November. 13th February: Virtanen the life of a scientist The Academy invited its members to the Lauttasaari Coeducational School to watch this play based on the life of the Finnish Nobel Prize winner A. I. Virtanen performed and directed by undergraduate and postgraduate students from the chemistry section of the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Helsinki and produced under the auspices of the national Science Education Centre. 22 Academia Scientiarum Fennica 2012

5 The event was attended by about 60 members and spouses. 12th March: Perspectives on science policy Speakers: Prof. Eero Vuorio, director of Biocenter Finland: Extending the financial basis for research a threat to academic freedom and freedom of publication? Timo Turja, head of information at the library of the Finnish Parliament: Scholarship and politics in parliament 13th April: Annual Meeting Prof. Kari Raivio: Finland in the international scientific community Induction of Professor Kari Raivio, former chancellor of the University of Helsinki, and Professors Elina Haavio-Mannila and Heikki Palva as honorary members of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Presentation of the Academy Award for 2012 to Prof. Pekka Hautojärvi 14th May: Visit to the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation Members of the Academy visited the Centre for Metrology and Accreditation at Otaniemi. The welcoming speech by the centre s director-general, Dr. Timo Hirvi, was followed by short talks on The most accurate measurements in Finland by Dr. Heikki Isotalo and Defining the concept of time by Dr. Tuomo Suntola. Altogether about 20 Academy members and spouses took part in the visit. 10th September: Welcoming of new members Prof. Tuomas Forsberg: Rationality and emotion in Russian foreign policy decisions Prof. Päivi Peltomäki: Not by genes alone: epigenetic factors behind disease susceptibility Presentation of membership diplomas 8th October: Presentation of scholarships from the Eino Jutikkala Fund and the Emil Öhmann and Hilkka and Otto Brusiin Foundations and of the Jutikkala Prize Prof. Marko Terviö: Changes in the distribution of incomes Presentation of the Jutikkala Prize to Professor Marko Terviö of the Aalto University Distribution of grants from the Eino Jutikkala Fund and the Öhmann and Brusiin Foundations 12th November: Visit to the Heureka Science Centre in Tikkurila The visit began with an introduction to the science centre given by its director, Prof. Per-Edvin Person, after which members watched the centre s Fire Show and examined its exhibits. About 90 members and spouses attended. 10th December: Presentation of prizes and grants from the Väisälä Foundation Prof. Marko Huhtanen: On computational mathematics Prof. Sebastiaan van Dijken: Electric field control of magnetism in hybrid ferromagnetic/ferroelectric materials Presentation of the Väisälä Prizes to Professors Marko Huhtanen (University of Oulu) and Sebastiaan van Dijken (Aalto University) Presentation of grants awarded by the Väisälä Foundation Membership The Annual Meeting on 13th April elected 27 new Finnish members and 3 new exter- Academia Scientiarum Fennica

6 nal members. The new members elected to the Section of Science from Finland were Professors Paula Eerola (University of Helsinki), Annele Hatakka (University of Helsinki), Klaus Hedman (University of Helsinki), Timo Huttula (Finnish Environmental Institute), Ilkka Julkunen (National Institute for Health and Welfare), Miska Luoto (University of Helsinki), Jaakko Kangasjärvi (University of Helsinki), Juha Kere (Karo- linska Institutet, Stockholm), Kyösti Konttu- ri (Aalto University), Riitta Lahesmaa (Turku Centre for Biotechnology), Marja Mutanen (University of Helsinki), Aarno Palotie (Finnish Institute for Molecular Medicine), Päivi Peltomäki (University of Helsinki), Tapio Salmi (Academy of Finland and Åbo Akademi) and Arto Urtti (University of Helsinki). The new external members were Professors Tadeusz Iwaniec (Syracuse University, U.S.A.), Jürgen Troe (Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany) and Jouni Uitto (Thomas Jefferson University, U.S.A.). The new members elected to the Section of the Humanities were Professors Kimmo Alho (University of Helsinki), Tuomas Forsberg (University of Tampere), Tuomas Huumo (University of Turku), Kimmo Katajala (University of Eastern Finland), Heikki Kulla (University of Turku), Tuula Linna (University of Lapland), Hannu Mustakallio (University of Eastern Finland), Kimmo Nuotio (University of Helsinki), Mikko Puhakka (University of Oulu), Katri Räikkönen (University of Helsinki) and Lotte Tarkka (University of Helsinki), also Docent Anne Birgitta Pessi (University of Helsinki). The Academy mourned the deaths of the following Finnish members in the course of the year: Rauno Alatalo, Edward Andersson, Lauri Drockila, Sirkka-Liisa Kupila-Ahvenniemi, Kari Lagerspetz, Samuli Suomela, Martti Takala, Risto Tynni and Simo Zitting. News was also received of the deaths of the following external members: Hector Anton, Ernst Badian, Natalia Bechtereva, Jean Dufournet, Fredrick W. Gehring, Friedrich Hirzebruch, Lars Hörmander, Georg Kretschmar, Peter Lødrup, Helmer Ringgren, James B. Serrin and Erich Strassner. The Academy had 667 Finnish members and 179 external members at the end of the year. The sections membership quotas remained unchanged at 194 places in the Section of Science and 139 in the Section of Humanities. Grants and prizes The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Award for 2012, a sum of 15,000 euros, was presented to Pekka Hautojärvi in recognition of his significant research achievements in the field of physics. About 1.3 million euros was awarded in grants and prizes by the Vilho, Yrjö and Kalle Väisälä Foundation, which is one of the largest distributors of awards in Finland in its own fields of interest: mathematics, physics, astronomy, geophysics and meteorology. A total of 329 applications were received, representing an overall sum of about 5.9 million euros. Although the proposals were of a high standard, it was possible to make awards to only 78 applicants, less than a fourth of the total. These included 39 post-graduate research grants of 23,000 euros each for full-time scientific work over a period of one year and four grants covering part of a year for the production of a doctoral thesis. Grants for work abroad and other well justified research purposes were made to a total value of 350,000 euros. The grants went to a total of 10 universities and research institutes in Finland, in addition to which 19 recipients were carrying out their research abroad. 24 Academia Scientiarum Fennica 2012

7 For the thirteenth time the Academy awarded its Väisälä Prizes to distinguished researchers in the fields supported by the Väisälä Foundation who are still at an active stage in their career. This time the Governing Board decided to award two such prizes, of 15,000 euros each, to Marko Huhtanen, professor of mathematics, University of Oulu, and Sebastiaan van Dijken, professor of physics, Aalto University. The Eino Jutikkala Fund distributed grants for research in the humanities for the fifth time. Altogether 541 applications were received, covering all the branches of study falling within the scope of the Section of the Humanities and amounting to a total sum of about 11.9 million euros. Eventually 21 awards were made, totalling 444,000 euros. These included 14 grants of 23,000 euros each to postgraduate students to enable full-time work for a year towards a doctoral thesis, one grant for part of a year and six post-doctoral scholarships. These awards went altogether to five universities in Finland and to five scholars working in universities abroad. Travel grants were awarded to six applicants. The first occupant of the three-year Jutikkala Research Scholarship, Professor Maria Lähteenmäki, continued her work in this capacity at the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, University of Eastern Finland. The governing board decided to present the 2012 Jutikkala Prize of 15,000 euros to Marko Terviö, professor of economics at the Aalto University. This was the second time that the annual Jutikkala Prize for a researcher in the humanities at an active stage in his or her career has been awarded. The Mathematics Fund distributed grants to a total of 18, euros in 2012 for the arranging of mathematical conferences in Finland and for foreign travel. This fund was set up in 1979 to support Finnish research in mathematics and is administered by a body of trustees elected for a five-year period from among the members of the Academy s mathematics group. The trustees in 2012 were Olli Lehto, Olli Martio (chairman), Olavi Nevanlinna, Pertti Mattila and Arto Salomaa. Academy Club for Young Scientists The Club for Young Scientists met 9 times during the year 2012, in the Academy s Väisälä Room, and the resulting papers and discussions may be seen on the Academy s web site. These pages were consulted about 1500 times during the year. Members of the club are selected for one academic year at a time by the Academy s subject groups. Those taking part in the academic year were: Laura Arppe, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (geology) Arja Hamari, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (Finno-Ugric linguistics) Matti Jalasvuori, Ph.D., University of Jyväskylä (virology) Antti Knaapila, D.Sc.(Food Sciences), University of Turku (food chemistry) Jani Kotakoski, Docent, University of Helsinki (physics) Tuomo Kuusi, D.Sc.(Tech.), Aalto University (mathematics) Sakari Melander, Docent, University of Helsinki (criminal law) Marja Niemi, D.Sc.(Tech.), Tampere University of Technology (physical chemistry) Eeva Nyrövaara, D.Theol., University of Helsinki (bioethics) Kalle Puolakka, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (aesthetics) Ville Renvall, D.Sc.(Tech.), Aalto University (technical physics, medical technology, neuroscience) Academia Scientiarum Fennica

8 Minna Räisänen, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (inorganic chemistry) Anni Sairio, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (English philology) Auli Toom, Docent, University of Helsinki (education) Auli Tourunen, Ph.D., University of Turku (archaeology) Hanna Wass, D.Soc.Sc., University of Helsinki (political science) The new members selected for the academic year were: Turo Hiltunen, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (English philology) Timo Hytönen, D.Sc.(Agr. & For.), University of Helsinki (horticulture) Sonja Kivinen, Ph.D., University of Oulu (geography) Mauri Kostiainen, D.Sc.(Tech.), Aalto University (physics) Anna Kotronen, D.Med.Sc., University of Helsinki (medicine) Arniika Kuusisto, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (education) Karina Lukin, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (folklore) Sanna Malinen, D.Sc.(Tech.), Aalto University (medical technology, neuroscience) Oskari Miettinen, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (astronomy) Olli Norros, LL.D., University of Helsinki (civil law) Sanna Nyqvist, Ph.D., University of Helsinki (comparative literature) Mikko Parviainen, D.Sc.(Tech.), University of Jyväskylä (mathematics) Mikko Tikkanen, Ph.D., University of Turku (plant physiology and molecular biology) Timo Vilén, Ph.D., University of Tampere (general history) Tuomas Ylä-Anttila, D.Soc.Sc., University of Helsinki (sociology) International activities The international activities of the Finnish academies of science and letters mostly take place nowadays under the auspices of the Council for Finnish Academies (formerly the Academies Section of the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies), the chairman of which is Olavi Nevanlinna. The Academy s other representative on this committee is Raija-Leena Punamäki. The winners of the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physics visited Finland during the year at the invitation of the Finnish Physical Society, and the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters provide assistance towards the costs of the visit. The secretary-general, Olli Martio, took part in the meeting of EASAC and European Commission representatives in Brussels on 16th October. Two researchers from the University of Latvia visited the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the Institute for the Languages of Finland on 7th-13th June 2012, and the Academy again contributed towards the cost of the visit. The Academy assisted in covering the costs of an international conference on Developing IBSE: New Issues The roles of assessment and the relationship with industry arranged jointly by the Science Education Centre and the IAP in Helsinki on 30th May 1st June The secretary general took part in the conference. Other activities The Academy s representatives on the board of the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies were Ilkka Niiniluoto and Olli Martio, with Kirsi Tirri and Olavi Nevanlinna as their respective deputies. There were 260 societies operating in various fields affiliated to the Federation at the end of the year. The 26 Academia Scientiarum Fennica 2012

9 Academy was represented at the Federation s spring meeting on 23th March by Pekka Ilmakunnas and at the autumn meeting on 2nd October by Kirsi Tirri. Jorma Sipilä was the Academy s representative on the organizing committee for Science Forum The Academy was represented at the shareholders meeting of Vaisala Oyj on 28th March by Pekka Ilmakunnas and at a meeting of the Finnish zoological and botanical publications committee on 23rd March by Olli Martio, who also attended the annual meeting of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters on 27th April. The Academy was represented on the governing board of the Alfred Kordelin Foundation by Markku Leskelä and Simo Knuuttila, with Keijo Hämäläinen and Jouko Vahtola as their respective deputies, in the foundation s science section by Matti Saarnisto and Seppo Hentilä, with Marja Makarow and Jorma Sipilä as their deputies, in the popular education section by Kirsi Tirri, with Leena Syrjälä as her deputy, in the literature section by Hannu Riikonen, with Leila Haaparanta as his deputy, and in the arts section by Arto Haapala, with Prof. Pekka Korvenmaa as his deputy. Olavi Nevanlinna was elected to the board of the Council of Finnish Foundations. The Academy s representative on the board of the Sodankylä Observatory was Heikki Nevanlinna, with Risto Nieminen as his deputy. The representative on the board of the Helsinki University Museum Foundation was Juha Karhu of the University of Helsinki, and the representative on the governing board of the Kalevala Institute was Satu Apo, with Sirkka Saarinen as her deputy. The following members served on Academy of Finland research councils in the year 2012: Aila Lauha and Matti Sintonen on the Council for Culture and Society, Erkki Oja, Helena Aksela, Tuija Pulkkinen, Lassi Päivärinta and Esko Ukkonen on the Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering, Jaakko Kaprio on the Council for Health, and Jouni Häkli on the Council for the Biosciences and the Environment. Of these, Aila Lauha and Erkki Oja acted in the capacity of chairman. The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters was given an opportunity to propose new members for these research councils for the period as part of a list drawn up jointly with the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, and a letter was sent to members asking for suggestions. In the end 14 of the persons appointed to the new research councils had been proposed by the Academy and 12 were Academy members. At the request of the Council of State, the Academy issued a statement of opinion on the government report A proposed comprehensive reform of the state research institutes and the financing of research. The Society of Researchers and Parliamentarians approached the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters in the course of the year for suggestions aimed at increasing the knowledge of scientific matters among members of parliament, bringing the new prospects offered by science to their attention and, at least in the long term, broadening the range of expert advisors consulted by parliamentary committees. A further aim was to establish local contacts between researchers and parliamentarians in university cities. The Academy s governing board decided to assess members interest in these activities and to support the society in its efforts to create contacts. Academia Scientiarum Fennica