A new board was elected for Young Academy Finland, eighteen new members began their term, and the membership approved the action plan for 2026 at the autumn general meeting. Samuli Autti was elected as the new chair and Sanna Selinheimo as vice chair.
The statutory autumn general meeting of Young Academy Finland was held in the Finnish Literature Society’s great hall on September 26th. The action plan and action task groups were approved, and a new board was elected and held its organizational meeting following the general meeting.
Samuli Autti, who first joined the board last year, was elected as chair. Sanna Selinheimo, who also joined the board last year as a new member, was elected as vice chair. In addition to Samuli and Sanna, three previous members, Veera Ehrlén, Sampsa Holopainen and Saana Jukola, continue in the board. Newly elected board members include Ville Laitinen, Marjukka Lamminen, Teemu Lari, Maria Kaukonen and Hannah Kaarina Yoken. Board members represent the yearly membership intake as well as the range of scientific fields and research organizations of Young Academy Finland’s membership evenly.
Prior to the general meeting, the Finnish Literature Society’s communications officer Kaisa Kaakinen, president of the board of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Tuula Linna, and Young Academy Finland alumna Laura Berger gave speeches. The membership was also introduced to Young Academy Finland’s forms of operation and current projects. A report currently being drafted about improving young scholars’ societal engagement drew the membership’s interest; the report is intended to aid Young Academy Finland in developing new structures alongside the successful Meet a Researcher service.
After the meeting, members were invited to get to know the offices and history of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters before dinner at restaurant Sunn.
Our new chair is looking forward to the new term and encourages non-board members to participate actively as well.
“I warmly welcome our new members and board members! Young Academy Finland offers its members a unique, multidisciplinary perspective on Finnish science and our international counterparts. Our work will include breaking new ground and global adventures during this new term”, Samuli Autti pledges.
Get to know our new members through their profiles.
Translation: Inka Rantakallio
The new board:
- Chair Samuli Autti (YAF 2022-2026), Lancaster University
- Vice Chair Sanna Selinheimo (YAF 2024-2028), Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University of Helsinki
- Sampsa Holopainen (YAF 2022-2026), University of Helsinki
- Veera Ehrlén (YAF 2023-2027), University of Jyväskylä
- Saana Jukola (YAF 2023-2027), University of Twente
- Hannah Kaarina Yoken (YAF 2023-2027), Jyväskylän yliopisto
- Marjukka Lamminen (YAF 2024-2028), University of Helsinki
- Teemu Lari (YAF 2025-2029), Leibniz Universität Hannover
- Ville Laitinen (YAF 2025-2029), LUT University
- Maria Kaukonen (YAF 2025-2029), University of Helsinki
Action task groups for 2025–2026
- Open and Responsible Science, leader Saana Jukola, team Hannah Kaarina Yoken, Sampsa Holopainen and Teemu Lari
- Science Education, leader Ville Laitinen, team Marjukka Lamminen and Maria Kaukonen
- International Matters, leader Veera Ehrlén, team Saana Jukola, Hannah Kaarina Yoken, Maria Kaukonen and Ville Laitinen
- Policy Influence and Outreach, leader Sampsa Holopainen, team Samuli Autti, Veera Ehrlén, Saana Jukola, Marjukka Lamminen, Sanna Selinheimo and Teemu Lari
- Alumni group, leader alumni member Tuukka Kauhanen, team Velma Aho and Laura Berger