Strategy of the Faculty of Science
We conduct internationally high-level and impactful fundamental research, which requires long-term commitment, dynamism, and extensive co-operation networks. The education we provide and the collaborations we engage in with various disciplines are based on high-quality research.
Strategic goals
Research
Our key research areas include:
- population and community ecology and biodiversity genomics
- global and regional change and people in a changing environment
- the Sun and the Earth's near-space system, space weather, and climate change
- galaxies and high-energy astrophysics
- quantum materials, computing, and technologies
- molecular-level material physics, characterization, and imaging for green transition
- Bayesian data analysis and mathematical analysis
- computational and AI-based modeling
Our emerging research themes include the climate of the Arctic region and the natural resources and development of remote areas, the digital future, sustainability, environmental genomics, ecological modeling of freshwater biodiversity as well as computational biology and data analysis, and dynamics.
We strengthen multidisciplinary research and our international and national research infrastructure partnerships (MAX IV, EISCAT_3D, ESO, FGCI, and FinBIF, and ESA’s satellite missions such as Euclid). We develop our local research infrastructure (biology and physics laboratories, research stations).
Education
We integrate students more closely into the scientific community to deepen their commitment and involvement. We train learner-centered natural science experts to meet the changing needs of society using learning analytics. Leveraging collaboration, we offer students a diverse range of studies, with our strength being the northern location and multidisciplinarity. We strengthen doctoral education in line with the Noste program. By placing value on teaching, we enhance the well-being of both our students and staff.
Societal interaction and impact
We provide researched knowledge and research methods for the benefit of society and decision-making. We communicate research to the general public and strive to increase the appreciation and visibility of natural sciences. We train subject teachers and other professionals in the field of natural sciences to meet the changing needs of society. We collaborate with schools and strengthen connections with research institutions and socially significant local, national, and international actors, particularly in themes related to climate change, conservation biology, green transition, societal resilience, and geopolitics.
Well-being of the community
Our scientific community is multidisciplinary, multicultural, and multilingual. Our recruitment process is open and international. We are building a safe, equal, and equitable community for both our staff and our students. We foster constructive, critical, and inclusive interaction throughout the community. We promote listening and dialogical leadership.