Furthering the reach of our academic community's own voice.

Ourblogs.aalto.fi site hosts the blogs written by members of Aalto University: faculty, staff and students. Visiting bloggers are invited by Aalto community members.

Our blogs is multilingual: the platform and general instructions will be in English to serve the whole community. However, each blogger and author can freely choose the language in which they publish.

Person holding tablet walking by lighted Aalto logo A

Featured posts

abstract

The mindful path to meaning

Detaching from thoughts can lighten your mind about work but also strengthen its meaning

Uskonnot Aallossa 1

Religions in Aalto - building a more inclusive campus

April's EDI discussion session's theme was Religions at Aalto. Read here what the facilitators from AaMu (Aalto Muslims Association) thought

Timo Viherkenttä

Kiinteistövero jengoilleen - nyt!

Kiinteistöveron perusteena olevat verotusarvot ovat pahoin rämettyneet. Nyt on aika korjata tämä.

Career Design Lab -piirroskuva

Becoming a transcender

Self-transcendence is a question of the values you steer your life and career by.

Palautuminen

Jos ihminen olisi kone

Jos ihminen olisi kone, sen kyky säädellä energiatasojaan tilanteen mukaan, korjata ja kehittää itseään näyttäytyisi hämmentävän taidokkaana

In cost-benefit analysis, the benefits of the assessed service are compared to the costs associated with the data production and distribution.

What is the value of earth observation data?

With socioeconomic impact assessment it is possible to specify and quantify the impact that earth observation data has on our society.

tree stems

A closer look at tree stems

Understanding the spectral behavior of bark might be surprisingly useful in remote sensing and other fields of research.

virtual computer lab

Virtual Labs for Deep Learning with Audio Course

A review of Azure Lab Services in teaching the "Deep Learning with Audio" course at Aalto

Aurélien Nioche

Creating the perfect teacher: How a cumbersome start with Japanese led to a better self-teaching app

Aurélien Nioche describes his recent work on a model that predicts learning outcomes days into the future

Penguins in front of SA Agulhas II

Kohti Etelämannerta

Aalto-yliopiston professori, jäätutkija Jukka Tuhkuri kertoo tutkimusmatkastaan Etelämantereelle.

Student's study setup with a book and takeaway coffee

How to set goals as a student? The 3-step framework

Areeb shares his tips on setting goals as a student. Spoiler: reflecting on your values, skills and resources might be helpful.

Oasis of Radical Wellbeing Blue

Luja itsemyötätunto käytännössä

Miksi itsemyötätunto on erityisen tärkeää yliopiston kaltaisissa yhteisöissä?

With new solution-based recycling processes, more raw materials can be recovered from batteries. In the picture, a red cobalt salt and a blue-green nickel salt have been obtained from a battery cell. Photo: Valeria Azovskaya / Aalto University.

Accelerating the global energy transition: Clean energy demands socially just policies

Policy, technology, and practice must be aligned to accomplish the shift to clean energy, say Aalto's experts.

Leigh Ewin

A glimpse of A Grid with Leigh Ewin

Leigh Ewin, jack-of-all-trades at A Grid, tells the story of the recently established startup community.

Two guys working together

4 Ways To Successfully Onboard Into A New Role post-graduation

Well, done! You have graduated, and landed a job. What are the next steps you can take to make your transition to the company smooth?

Aika stage at the Suomi Areena event in Pori in 2017.

Advancing climate actions in the places we live: Designing cities to store carbon 

Simple changes in urban planning can reduce carbon emissions and increase carbon storage, offering tools to help meet emissions targets.

Prototypes from the FlowerMatter project

Delivering the practical solutions needed to adapt to climate impacts – Bio-based materials could move us beyond plastic 

By processing lignin, cellulose, and other plant matter into new bio-materials, research is opening paths to sustainable alternatives.

Blog posts

Student selfie

Few tips for moving to Finland

Hey there! I’m Katalin from Hungary and I am studying in the Design BA (now called Design and Media) program at Aalto University. I moved to Finland 2 years ago. I would like to share a few tips that would have been a for me when I moved.

Students starting their studies

Letter to My First-Year Self

By Alisson Yheraldin Onzueta Caballero

Final-year master's student in Water and Environmental Engineering



Time has flown. I am now in the final semester of my master’s degree, writing my thesis, wrapping up academic life, and working full time. These final months have offered more than just closure; they have brought perspective, not only about what I have learned, but about everything I needed to hear at the very beginning.

Photo from outside

Why Practical Experience is Just as Important as Coursework?

By Alisson Yheraldin Onzueta Caballero



When I began my master’s program, I was excited about diving into new subjects, climate models, hydrology, GIS tools, water treatment, and environmental governance. I was ready to learn, to listen, to analyze. And I did. But somewhere along the way, I realized that what we learn in the classroom only becomes meaningful when we test it in the real world.

Student smiling

How to Turn Your Passion into a Career in Development?

By Alisson Yheraldin Onzueta Caballero

Final-year master's student in Water and Environmental Engineering



When people ask me how I started working in development, I rarely know where to begin.

Studying at the campus

My Master's Thesis Process at Aalto

Hi! I am Elisa Pöyry, a student at Aalto University School of Business majoring in marketing. Currently, I am finalizing my master’s degree and writing my master’s thesis. Therefore, I thought I would discuss my research process so far including the different steps and milestones, and reflect on my journey in this blogpost. In addition, I will provide my personal tips for completing your thesis and managing the process successfully!

Student in Finnish summer

How to Spend Your Summer in Finland – Part 2

(Day trips to explore beyond Helsinki & Espoo)



Hey again! 👋



So, after soaking up all the amazing spots in Helsinki and Espoo, it’s time to hop on a train or bus and check out some of Finland’s other charming towns and small cities. These places are all close enough for a day trip or a relaxed weekend getaway.

Student enjoying the sun

🌞 How to Spend Your Summer in Finland – Part 1

Hey everyone!



I’m super excited to share this guide on how to make the most of your summer here in Finland. As a student ambassador, I get a lot of questions from new students and visitors about where to go and what to do when the days turn long and sunny.

Student with friends

✨ From Barcelona to Aalto: My Journey as an International Student in Finland

When I first set foot in Finland, everything seemed like a quiet whisper: the empty landscapes of lakes and forests, the soft-spoken people, even the minimalist language of design. Coming from Barcelona, a city overflowing with energy, color, and expressive architecture, I wasn't sure how I would adapt. But I arrived in Finland with curiosity, a mind full of ideas, and the hope of experiencing something radically different.

Student in class

Balancing Creativity and Deadlines: How I Manage My Workflow

Hey there! I’m Katalin from Hungary and I am studying in the Design BA (now called Design and Media) program at Aalto University. People often ask what I find most challenging about my degree, and for me, it’s definitely learning how to manage my workflow in a way that stays balanced and healthy (still very much in progress).

Student at their internship

Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Graduate School

When I began my Master’s in Water and Environmental Engineering, I was carrying not only academic ambition but also the hopes of my community and the challenge of navigating unfamiliar systems. Now, as I approach graduation, with the invaluable experience of working with the World Bank even before completing my degree, there are a few things I wish I had known from the start:

Lock

Optimoiduista tuotanto-operaatioista ja lisäarvomyynnistä veturi yritysten tuotekehitysinvestoinneille

Panokset uuteen teknologia-, tuote- ja systeemikehitykseen, tuotannon uudelleen organisointiin, myyntiin asiakkaiden asiakkaille ja tehokkaampi käyttöpääoman hallinta.

Gardening as Design's Paradigm Shift: The Regenerative Textile Garden

The Regenerative Textile Garden is a space for growing natural dye and fiber plants, supporting biodiversity and sustainable material design

Blogs

Researcher's tools

My Effect

Aalto University's researchers discuss the problems they are passionate about to solve with their work.

Professor Risto Ilmoniemi

The Art and Beauty of Getting it Right

Trying to understand the complex world from a small person’s limited perspective, aided by readers’ questions and those of my own, my dream.

Silicon wafers

Early Career Researcher Blog

Postgraduate staff and students tell us about their research areas and activities

Alustatalouden faktat ja myytit -podcastia isännöivät tutkija Eero Aalto ja professori Robin Gustafsson Aalto-yliopistosta yhdessä sarjayrittäjä William von der Pahlenin kanssa.

Alustatalouden faktat ja myytit

Tuleeko seuraava Google Suomesta? Voiko alustatyö olla reilua? Tervetuloa kuuntelemaan Alustatalouden faktat ja myytit -podcastia.

Student working at a lab

Lahjoita tulevaisuus - Give for the Future

Lahjoittamalla Aalto-yliopiston tutkimukseen ja opetukseen olet mukana rakentamassa kestävää tulevaisuutta.

Woman holding up an iPad in front of a large Aalto logo.

Our Blog on Blogging

Learn how to create your own blog and posts on Our blogs through easy instructions!

HelsinCHI

Human-Computer Interaction researcher network in Helsinki area

Launo Tuuri

Workstations & mobile devices. Miscellaneous selfhelp notes: so many sources, options and goodies to choose from!

Two people looking at project posters and a pink illustration with Sustainability Action Booster logo around the image.

Sustainability Action Booster

Reflections and insights on Booster-funded sustainability actions on Aalto Campus and beyond.