Amazing Sciences at Kumpula Campus
On Monday, MY Campers spent the day at the Faculty of Science of University of Helsinki. There they participated in an unique Amazing Race of Sciences to find their way around the campus.
In the lobby of the University of Helsinki, Terhi Rasilo, researcher in the field of forest ecology literally danced her way through the carbon cycle, a bit later sound laborant Miro Mantere produced unique sounds with laboratory equipment, and Johanna Rämö with a PhD in mathematics talked about symmetries in art and mathematics.
Science is creativity. “Experimenting is a key to everything,” Mantere said. “To succeed in science you need to understand different people and get along with them”, added the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Keijo Hämäläinen.
According to him, MY Campers with keys to success in their back pockets have a good opportunity to discover their options for their future career during the camp. He encouraged them to first concentrate on one discipline and then link it to other fields.
“Try to learn everything about something and something about everything,” he quoted 19th Century biologist Thomas Huxley as an advice to the Campers each of them faced with the big question: “What am I going to do with my life.”
Justas Žemgulys listening to the words of advice. Photo: Sakari Tolppanen.
To give them one tangible option, the Campers were offered the opportunity to continue their studies at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Science.
A bit later, the Campers got to familiarize themselves with the premises of their possible future study place – it was time for the Amazing Race of Sciences.
In the style of the TV show Amazing Race, they raced around the Campus solving tasks and assignments from the fields of Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, and Geography. The winner of the challenge was Climate Change group.
Solving the Physics assignment. Photo: Elisa Lautala.
Then the groups spread around the Campus to meet researchers and see many interesting gadgets and equipment. After their great success in Amazing Race, the Climate Change group climbed on the rooftop of the Department of Physics. There they released a weather balloon with a Vaisala Sonde into the stratosphere.
Nafis Jalil releasing the weather balloon. Photo: Elisa Lautala.
Then the journey continued even higher to see the Doppler Radar inside a huge balloon on top of the Physics building…
Who are the 2012 MY Campers? Have a look at their profiles at MY Camp Profiles.
Check out also the MY Camp Video Channel on Vimeo and MY Camp Photo Collection on Flickr.
Elisa Lautala works as web editor for University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science. Elisa likes all kinds of cultural events, good books, warm weather, and aqua-jogging.