Finnish Sea Ice Research Day brought together experts across institutions
Jointly organised by FMI, the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), the University of Helsinki, and Aalto University, the event offered a rare chance for Finland’s sea ice community to meet in person, share their work, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
“The Finnish Environment Institute has a long tradition in sea ice research, and we also have unique expertise in Finland covering different topics,” says Letizia Tedesco, Senior Researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute and co-organiser of the event. “This day was an important occasion for us to showcase our expertise, to share it with others, and coordinate for future research.”
The Finnish Environment Institute had several presentations at the event. Group leader Hermanni Kaartokallio introduced sea ice biogeochemistry and ecosystem research in Finland. Senior Researcher Eeva Eronen-Rasimus presented work on methane fluxes across Baltic sea ice, and Hydrologist Juho Jakkila showcased a new model for operational lake ice forecasting in Finland.
“I gave an overview of the models we use at our institute to represent sea ice biogeochemistry across timescales from days to centuries and from local to global scales, and later introduced the Antarctica InSync initiative to the audience,” says Tedesco.
The programme was organised into four thematic tracks:
● Small-Scale Sea Ice Processes
● Large-Scale Sea Ice Processes
● Sea Ice Biogeochemistry & Ecosystems
● Infrastructure & Future Directions.
Each track featured five-minute pitch talks – 24 in total – followed by a poster session with a dozen projects. Speakers represented a wide range of institutions, including Syke, FMI, Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, and VTT, alongside contributions from industry and NGOs, further broadening the scope.
Laying foundation for future collaboration
For Tedesco, the in-person format was the key: “There were over 60 registered participants, which was a big success. Many of us have met online over the past few years, but this was the first chance to sit together, exchange ideas, and lay the foundation for collaboration. I’m sure this will lead to exciting outcomes in the near future.”
Jari Haapala, Research Professor at FMI and main organiser and host, highlighted the energy of the event: “You could see it during the breaks and poster sessions. People were really active, talking, exchanging ideas. There was a real passion for science. And the young scientists, in particular, were brilliant. I’m very optimistic that Finnish sea ice research will be in good hands.”
Sea ice is a hot topic
Aalto University Professor and co-organiser Jukka Tuhkuri underlined why sea ice research is drawing so much attention: “Sea ice research is really a hot topic right now for two reasons: global warming and increased political and military tension. Scientifically, these are exciting times, but the reasons behind this attention are not always noble.”
For Roberta Pirazzini, Senior Research Scientist at FMI and co-organiser, the event echoed the success of Finland’s long-running Snow Research Day: “The Snow Research Day started on a very small scale and has since become a well-recognised event. I envision something similar for the sea ice community. These meetings take time out of our busy schedules, but they are invaluable for bringing people together face-to-face.”
Both organisers and participants emphasised the importance of nurturing the next generation of researchers. “It was very nice to have a good balance of early career and senior scientists,” Tedesco noted. Haapala added: “Events like this give young scientists the confidence to see themselves as part of an international research community. That’s how problems get solved – together.”
The organisers hope to make the Finnish Sea Ice Research Day a recurring annual event every September. As Tedesco concluded: “My wish would be for this kind of network to receive stronger national support – perhaps through a Center of Excellence or under the umbrella of a Finnish Polar Institute – that could give us more concrete opportunities to work together and strengthen Finland’s role in global sea ice research.”
The enthusiasm and engagement at this first gathering suggest that the Finnish Sea Ice Research Day could grow into a cornerstone event for the field – a place where expertise, generations, and institutions come together to advance sea ice research.
Text and photographs: Yannick Ilunga from Koinè Communication.