Members of Aalto community awarded for their great work
The opening of the academic year celebrated heroes of research, teaching and community building
Aalto Day One photos and recording published
The opening of the academic year at Aalto University was a celebration of sense of community, coming back together on campus and joy. The opening was attended by more than a thousand Aalto community members, and the Aalto Party made a long-awaited comeback
Aalto University's 13th academic year was opened online on 6 September. The virtual opening ceremony, broadcast from the Otaniemi campus studio, was followed remotely by 720 viewers, and 350 people from Aalto participated from the screening studios on campus. During the afternoon and evening, approximately 1,500 people visited Aalto Party.
President Ilkka Niemelä and Otto Usvajärvi, chair of the board of Aalto University Student Union AYY, held their speeches at the opening ceremony. In addition, professor of polymer technology Jukka Seppälä was appointed Aalto Distinguished professor. The recipients of the 2022 Aalto recognition awards were also announced at the event.
The long-awaited Aalto Party made a spectacular return to Alvar Aallon puisto, where students and staff had put together an amazing programme: music, guild presentations, games, karaoke, food trucks, and much more. The Aalto Party also featured a traditional tug-of-war between students and the university leadership, as well as tandem skiing, and other competitions.
Return to the highlights of the opening ceremony from the photos, recordings and news below! In the recordings, you can find the speeches of President Ilkka Niemelä and AYY chair Otto Usvajärvi, as well as the opening ceremony in its entirety.
Thank you for joining Aalto Day One!
Photos: Jaakko Kahilaniemi, Erica Nyholm
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Jukka Seppälä appointed Aalto Distinguished Professor
Seppälä specialises in polymer engineering especially in biopolymers. They are needed as alternatives for conventional plastics, and they can be new functional materials both in engineering and in medical applications.
President Ilkka Niemelä: 'Investments in universities is the best solution to address the shortage of experts'
Chair of the Aalto University Student Union Otto Usvajärvi also spoke at the opening of the academic year. The ceremony was held online.
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