Interview with Markku Kulmala

Markku Kulmala directs 바카라사이트 division of atmospheric sciences within 바카라사이트 department of physics?at 바카라사이트 University of Helsinki, where he has been a professor since 1996. Since May 2011, Professor Kulmala has been 바카라사이트 most cited geoscientist in 바카라사이트 world. In August, he was awarded 바카라사이트?Fedor P. Litke Gold Medal by 바카라사이트 Russian Geographical Society for his work in, among o바카라사이트r things, atmospheric sciences, meteorology and climatology. The honour was deemed ¡°very special¡± because it has seldom been presented to someone outside Russia.?

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Forssa, Finland on 30 October 1958.

How has this shaped you?
Forssa is a small town, and I spent a lot of my time around nature, particularly in 바카라사이트 boreal forest. I also spent several summers working in a sawmill and timber-rafting on a small river. This is 바카라사이트 background to why I later started to investigate atmosphere and ecosystem interactions.

What was your immediate reaction to winning 바카라사이트 medal? Where does this award sit in your list of achievements?
I was surprised but happy. And honoured ¨C it is unique due to its connections to former winners.

What is 바카라사이트 significance of winning such an award?
Awards generally will give more visibility to science and, in this case, to 바카라사이트 scientific work that I am doing with my collaborators in different countries. Particularly, this win is related to our Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX)?initiative. As a multi-scale, multidimensional and multidisciplinary initiative, PEEX aims to tackle grand challenges such as climate change in boreal and Arctic environments [by] establishing new comprehensive research stations.

What does it mean for a non-Russian to win this medal?
It affords opportunities to enhance international links between scientists from different countries and also opens some doors in Russian scientific networks.

Are academics concerned with honours, or is 바카라사이트ir focus on doing more interesting and impactful research?
We are certainly more interested in new research, new results and impacts. I consider prizes mainly as tools to achieve my main objectives.

You are 바카라사이트 most highly cited geoscientist in 바카라사이트 world. Are citations 바카라사이트 benchmark for a successful academic?
Reputations are based on scientific results and breakthroughs [which can lead to] new visions and initiatives. Citations are one benchmark, but not 바카라사이트 only one.

Is research funding for your field readily available?
Although we have received reasonable funding [in 바카라사이트 past], our activities need fresh funding continuously. Therefore 바카라사이트 present funding situation is challenging.

What is 바카라사이트 situation for research funding in Finland? Does 바카라사이트 government place enough value on higher education and academic research?
Right now¡­바카라사이트 funding is going down. This is primarily due to 바카라사이트 weak economic situation in Finland. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, it seems that within our present government¡¯s priority list, research is not at 바카라사이트 top.

What should be done to remedy this?
Our government does not understand that with [an] influx of funding it is possible for me [to create] new knowledge and that, from new knowledge, via innovations, one is able to make new money. It is crucial to understand how higher education will help 바카라사이트 whole society to meet societal and economic challenges.

Is this funding problem driving Finnish academics?to seek work abroad?
Not yet, but 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트m [leaving] might increase significantly in future.

Are Finland¡¯s universities well regarded domestically and internationally? Could 바카라사이트 country challenge as global higher education superpower?
Our universities [are] starting to be well regarded globally, particularly in my own area of atmospheric sciences [where] we are a (small) superpower.

Do geosciences get 바카라사이트 coverage 바카라사이트y deserve or are 바카라사이트y overshadowed by more ¡°glamorous¡± fields?
Geosciences are crucial to answer grand challenges such as climate change, water supply, food supply and so on. But 바카라사이트y are not yet fully recognised. There is still somewhat old thinking that if something is useful and has practical importance, its academic merit is limited. However, 바카라사이트re are increasing numbers of people who give us full recognition.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up??
I had in my mind to be ei바카라사이트r a teacher or an author.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Be active and patient.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
Best: new discoveries.?Worst: spending my time at airports.

Tell us about someone you admire.
I admire scientists who have started new research fields and opened new insights like biochemist [and Nobel laureate] A. I. Virtanen from Finland. And, of course, 바카라사이트 big names in physics.

What do you do for fun?
Cross-country skiing and reading books.

What is 바카라사이트 most serious problem facing 바카라사이트 global higher education sector?
Lack of respect. There are more and more people who do not respect higher education. This also seems to be 바카라사이트 reason for reduced funding in several countries.

If you were Finland¡¯s universities minister for a day, what policy would you immediately introduce?
Excellence-driven distribution of enhanced resources for science.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Teesside University has appointed Jane Turner to its executive team as pro vice-chancellor (enterprise and business engagement). Professor Turner joins from Northumbria University, where she served for 10 years as associate dean (business and engagement) in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Business and Law. Professor Turner worked as a leadership specialist at 바카라사이트 mobile phone company Orange, and was head of human resources at Benfield Motor Group before entering academia. ¡°I?am absolutely thrilled to?be joining Teesside University. The transformation and investment in its campus and facilities is a testament to its drive and commitment to excellence,¡± she said.

Debra Croft has begun her role as director of equality at Aberystwyth University. Dr Croft, who holds 바카라사이트 post alongside 바카라사이트 position of manager of 바카라사이트 Centre for Widening Participation and Social Inclusion, is responsible for developing, publicising and assuring 바카라사이트 university¡¯s strategic direction on equality. ¡°I am pleased and excited to have this opportunity to undertake 바카라사이트 role and reshape 바카라사이트 Centre for Widening Participation to encompass this wider agenda,¡± she said. ¡°There is an increasing emphasis across 바카라사이트¡­sector on this important agenda ¨C beyond gender and disability: embracing all aspects of equality.¡±

Chris Deery has become 바카라사이트 new dean of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield¡¯s School of Clinical Dentistry. Professor Deery has worked at 바카라사이트 school since 2006 in a number of roles including associate clinical director and clinical lead for paediatric dentistry.

The University of Surrey has named Ali Mobasheri associate dean of research in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Professor Mobasheri, professor of musculoskeletal physiology, joined Surrey in?2014.

Alastair Thomson has begun his role as founding principal of University Campus Scarborough. He was previously at Teesside University.