The 10-year anniversary seminar of the Taita Research Station of the University of Helsinki in Kenya takes place on January 28, 2021 in Tiedekulma.
The multidisciplinary Taita Research Station was officially opened on January 12, 2011, but research started already in 1989 during a geography field course. Research re-started by the University of Helsinki in 2004, and the premises of current research station were purchased in 2009. During all these years, more than 80 MSc theses and almost 30 PhD theses works in Finland, Kenya, and elsewhere have used the data, infrastructure and logistics provided by the station.
Please join us in the Taita 10-year celebrations and hear how we have come this far, what is going on and what looms in the future!
In the event, greetings will be given by funders: the University of Helsinki, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and Academy of Finland, and the collaboration partners from Kenya: University of Nairobi, Taita Taveta University, Ministry for Agriculture of Kenya and Embassy of Finland in Kenya.
Reports of experiences and research results will be presented by MSc and PhD students and scientists about the impact of land cover change to ecosystem services, climate and biodiversity.
Future work is presented by Academician Markku Kulmala as Taita Research Station is part of Flagship "Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center" funded by the Academy of Finland, and by Dr Tino Johansson who will tell about a new project funded by EC Development on "Earth observation and environmental sensing for climate-smart sustainable agro-pastoralism ecosystem transformation in East Africa" under DeSIRA programme.
Taita Research Station 10-year anniversary seminar, event programme:
Time: Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 9:00-16:00 (Helsinki EET).
Place: Tiedekulma Think Corner, Yliopistonkatu 4, Helsinki, Finland.
Programme highlights:
President Halonen greets the audience
Taita Research Station staff greets the audience in Finland
Hanna Rosti tells about recent advances on the research of nocturnal mammals in mist forests
Olli Vapalahti tells about research cooperation with the University of Nairobi on zoonotic virology
Climatic impact of conservation and expansion of agriculture is highlighted by Temesgen Abera, Iris Aalto, Edward Amara and Martha Munyao
Role of termites in environmental sustainability is highlighted by Laura Arppe and Janne Rinne
The geodatabase and environmental sensing infrastructure of Taita Research Station is presented by Ilja Vuorinne and Mika Siljander.
Greetings from international research partners from Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway.
The final programme will be updated on this site.
The University of Helsinki warmly welcomes you to the event!
