For the fifth time already, Communications and Media Relations at the University of Eastern Finland has selected the winners of the Communicator of the Year Award from each UEF faculty. In addition to the awards, this year also witnessed the presentation of honourable mentions in recognition of efforts in the fields of international and intercultural communication, and marketing.
The Communicator of the Year Award is presented in recognition of an outstanding attitude towards, or of efforts in, communication and marketing during the past year. The award is not tied to any professional title: the most important thing is a genuine interest in communication. The primary criterion is that the person or the group has understood the significance of communication and is determined to raise awareness of the university’s activities by means of communication.
In the award ceremony held this Thursday, the Communicator of the Year Award of the Philosophical Faculty was presented to Professor of Special Education Eija Kärnä. For several years already, Professor Kärnä has paid special attention to communication in the course of her research. She uses science communication not only to share information about her research findings, but also to promote the university’s third mission, societal impact. Professor Kärnä is involved with many things, and the media has become to know her as an expert of learning in the context of older people.
The Communicator of the Year Award of the Faculty of Science and Forestry was presented to the Small-scale Wood Combustion Team working in the Fine Particle and Aerosol Technology Laboratory at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences under the lead of Docent Jarkko Tissari. Research addressing the combustion of wood seeks to advance technological development, reduce adverse health and clime effects, and produce data for various assessments. The KIUAS and SIMO projects in particular have focused on emissions resulting from fireplaces and sauna stoves. Information about the topic has also been successfully shared with the public in various events. Sauna bathing is something Finns love to do and addressing the topic is a delicate matter. However, the team’s approach has been well received, thanks to easily understandable messages and instructions.
The Communicator of the Year Award of the Faculty of Health Sciences was presented to the FinFTD network. The network is active in sharing information about their research on frontotemporal dementia, and they do this in a variety of ways. Contributions of researchers in the early stages of their career as well as collaboration between different research groups is commendably visible in the network's communication activities.
The Communicator of the Year Award of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies was presented to the Geoinformatics Research Group led by Professor Markku Tykkyläinen. The research group generates knowledge that has societal relevance by developing innovative and cost-effective analysis models to support health care services. The group’s researchers are active in communicating their results to the public and stakeholders. As the group’s leader, Professor Tykkyläinen has supported researchers in the early stages of their career in their communication efforts, and this has enhanced the group’s visibility in the domestic and international media.
Honourable mentions in international and intercultural communication, and in marketing
Recognised with an honourable mention among the Communicator of the Year Awards are a website translation project undertaken by students of Russian language and translation, and Tero Karjalainen and the Department of Applied Physics.
The honourable mention in the field of international and intercultural communication was presented to University Lecturer of Russian Language and Translation Vassili Bouilov and to students of Russian language and translation Ksenia Oksa, Alina Efimova, Olga Kuusela and Tatiana Matekhina in recognition of their outstanding work and sincere efforts to improve the university’s Russian-language website. Launched at the initiative of University Lecturer Bouilov, the objective of the project was to give the students an authentic assignment while at the same time polishing the language and style of the website. The project was completed on schedule and with outstanding results.
The honourable mention in the field of marketing was presented to the Department of Applied Physics which, under the lead of Deputy Head Tero Karjalainen, has played a vital role in promoting the university’s marketing efforts. The department actively and independently markets its education, and the department’s marketing efforts take the brand of the University of Eastern Finland and the university’s general marketing campaigns into consideration. Marketing has become part of the department’s annual activities and planning, and marketing efforts are aimed at both domestic and international target groups. The department shares information about its campaigns with other units at the University of Eastern Finland, thus setting a good example.
