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The purpose of the annual grant awarded by Tapani Järvinen Environmental Technology Fund is to promote the research of industrial environmental technology and the use of the research findings. This year, a grant of €10,000 was awarded to Professor of Environmental Science and Technology Tuula Tuhkanen as a recognition of her work as an environmental technology expert. Tuhkanen’s research has primarily focused on civil and industrial water flows and the cleaning and purification processes for these.

The sewer is not a black hole

Professor Tuhkanen has followed the development of water services since the 1980s. Her research topics have included the removal of organic matter from domestic and waste water, including both natural organic matter as well as harmful compounds such as medicines which are present in small quantities. This research topic can be entitled “micro and macro pollutants in the urban hydrological cycle”.

“This is very closely related to the circular economy; in the water cycle it is possible to make use of the water, organic matter, nutrients or even metals, but even the smallest quantities of harmful substances can ruin a large quantity of otherwise useful matter”, Professor Tuhkanen explains. Her most recent research has focused on how antibiotics get into waste water and from there into sewage flows and onwards into the environment. “If a harmful component is released and diluted into the total waste water flows, it is difficult and very expensive to remove it.”

The Fund promotes the utilization of research results

The Environmental Technology Fund named after CEO Tapani Järvinen promotes research in environmental technology. Each year, a grant of EUR 10 000 is allocated to a distinguished expert in environmental technology for research and development work. The purpose of this grant is to promote research in industrial environmental technology as well as the utilization of research results as technological products and services.

Further information:

Professor Tuula Tuhkanen
University of Jyväskylä
tuula.a.tuhkanen@jyu.fi
tel. +358 40 534 5120

Additional information on Tapani Järvinen Environmental Technology Fund:

Professor Simo-Pekka Hannula
Aalto University
tel. +358 40 552 6605
simo-pekka.hannula@aalto.fi

Professor Olli Dahl
Aalto University
tel. +358 40 540 1070
olli.dahl@aalto.fi