Otaniemi, like coming back home
Tauno Voipio, godfather of the Electric Workshop course, believes in learning through doing.
The students' electrical workshop space was inaugurated as Vilho Väisälä’s workshop in Otaniemi
The donations of Vilho Väisälä's descendants, the Weisell Foundation and Vaisala Corporation have enabled the long-term development of Aalto University.
The Electrical Workshop, located at Maarintie 8 on the Otaniemi campus, is known for the joy and humor of making things. In the future, the renovated space will be known as Vilho Väisälä's workshop, when it was ceremonially inaugurated on Monday, September 11.
Vilho Väisälä’s workshop is a space efficiently used for many hands-on courses but originally known as an electrical workshop course. Electrical Engineering bachelor’s programme includes electrical workshop course, where student groups get the opportunity for hands-on work right from their first year of study. In the courses, student groups design and build the most elaborate and technically challenging devices, usually with a slight humorous touch. Participants do not need prior experience in design or coding, as everything is learned on-site. More and more enthusiastic students from all Aalto University multidisciplinary six schools are participating in the hands-on courses organised in the Vilho Väisälä’s workshop.
‘Vilho Väisälä's workshop has great significance in our teaching; it allows students to put their learning into practice. For many, the workshop courses are also one of the most enjoyable experiences during their study time,’ says Dean Jussi Ryynänen, Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering.
Vilho Väisälä was a Finnish intellectual, innovator, and the founder of the Vaisala Corporation.
‘We are extremely grateful to Vilho Väisälä's descendants, the Weisell Foundation and Vaisala Corporation for all the support and help they have offered É«É«À² students and the entire Aalto community all these years,’ says Aalto University President Ilkka Niemelä. Donations have enabled the long-term development of Aalto University and evened out surprising fluctuations in the public finances.
‘Vilho Väisälä’s work was characterized by curiosity and innovation, which are also the basis of the Electrical Workshop. Science-based innovations are at the core of Vaisala, so cooperation with the scientific community has been very important to us since the company was founded. The Electrical Workshop is a great example of how open-minded new creation and teamwork can be learned through joy and humor,’ says Ville Voipio, Chairman of the Vaisala Board.
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More information:
Nora Rahnasto, Donor Engagement
Aalto University, Advancement and Corporate Engagement
Tel +358 50 362 2243
nora.rahnasto@aalto.fi
Vaisala Communications
comms@vaisala.com
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