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Foods of Power

Finland is known for its climate and love of sauna. Finland, however, is not particularly known for its cuisine. Finnish traditional food does not seem to appeal to the globalized audience. Some even dare to say it is not very tasty. But it does tend to be very healthy. Why? Well, because it is prepared with love, obviously. And because of Superfoods.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

KUVAT Alisa Tciriulnikova

What? You haven’t heard of superfoods? Surely you’ve heard of Superfoods. Those fancy dancy foods, which are supposed to be extremely healthy and make you younger and stronger and faster, and give you the ability to fly.

All right, so I might be exaggerating just a tiny bit. Depending whom you ask and if the Internet is to be believed (as if the internet would lie), superfoods are foods with supposed superior health benefits and those, which have such a high concentration of nutrients that just a relatively small amount of it can provide nutrition comparable to larger amounts of other foods.

Some say “superfood” is just a glamorous word for exotic food to increase sales and price. You may have heard of (or seen in the supermarket) chia seeds, algae, almonds, cherries, coconut, raw cacao, berries; you know, the usual suspects. Perhaps, the most well-known Finnish superfoods are its berries, some of which are: blueberry (mustikka), sea buckthorne (tyrni), cloudberry (lakka), lingonberry (puolukka), cranberry (karpalo), crowberry (variksenmarja), and blackcurrant (mustaherukka).

The truth is a bit of column A, and a bit of column B; but isn’t it always? Suffice to say, there is some truth to both claims: superfoods tend to provide high density of nutrition, having a high amount of vitamins and minerals, and some of them tend to be rather pricey.

The Rural Women’s Advisory Organisation (Maa- ja kotitalousnaiset) has begun a project called Superruokkaa Pohjolasta (Superfood from the North) in which they are raising awareness of the availability of superfoods right here in the North that we perhaps had not paid enough attention to. These are foods which you might be ignoring every time you go to the shop!

By rebranding these foods as Superfoods, they hope to increase our awareness of these very nutritional and readily available foods.

For example, oats (kaura), rye (ruis), as well as fish like the whitefish (siika), vendance (muikku), and pike (hauki); not to mention the delicious mushrooms like the chantarelle (kantarelli) and trumpets (suppilovahvero). And what about root veggies and stem veggies, didn’t you know they are very high on nutrients? There is beetroot (punajuuri), rutabaga (lanttu), radish (retiisi), broccoli (parsakaali), and cauliflower (kukkakaali), brussel sprouts (ruusukaali), and ginger (inkivääri).

All of these are “Nordicly” available, at decent prices, and just so happen to be Superfoods.

Don’t be missing out – get some Nordic superfoods and give your body some well-deserved nutrition. You can find more information at maajakotitalousnaiset.fi, where you will also find recipes for preparation of meals with superfood (only in Finnish so far). Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have me some sieni-juusto-pippurikermamuhennos on top of some steamed parsakaali and kukkakaali. Nom nom nom!

Julkaistu 11.11.20151.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

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New Solar System Research Opportunity At Our University

The International Space Station, the NASA New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Europa Multiple Flyby Mission - these are all international scientific collaborations that are considered humankind’s most ambitious experiments. And do you know that the University of Oulu is now taking an active part in NASA’s Mission to Moon Europa?

In English

TEKSTI Margarita Khartanovich

KUVAT Alisa Tciriulnikova

We asked Juergen Schmidt, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oulu, how the university happened to become part of a NASA mission.

“I have been working with Sascha Kempf (a research associate at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, LASP, at the University of Colorado) for a long time in the team of the Cosmic Dust Analyser instrument on board the ESA/NASA Cassini spacecraft at Saturn,” said Schmidt.

“After Kempf had accepted a position at LASP, I became a Co-investigator of his proposal to NASA for the development and building of SUDA for future space missions. This instrument was recently selected by NASA for the forthcoming Jupiter mission.”

This exciting collaboration between the Faculty of Science of the University of Oulu and LASP of the University of Colorado is an obvious advantage of internationalization, fully supported by the administration of both universities. Just to understand the scale of the project we will tell you that in 2016 NASA will spend 30 million dollars to formulate the mission to Europa. It has already selected nine science instruments (and SUDA is one of them) to investigate whether the mysterious icy moon could harbour conditions suitable for life.

“This is a giant step in our search for oases that could support life in our own celestial backyard,” said Curt Niebur, Europa program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“We’re confident that this versatile set of science instruments will produce exciting discoveries on a much-anticipated mission.”

Another interesting fact about this project is that students can make their contribution too.

“Students from the University of Oulu can participate in this project”, confirms Schmidt.

“I will begin to formulate tasks of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses related to the dust instrument on the mission. Besides, students may have an opportunity to do their doctoral studies in this context.”

According to Professor Schmidt, working on the international projects of this kind is an excellent reference for students, which can boost their chances in first-class research institutions. And for Finland it might be a good boost too, for its scientific recognition globally.

Julkaistu 21.10.20151.2.2023

Margarita Khartanovich

UUNI Editor, Master’s degree in Journalism (University of Tampere). Interested in politics, history, music, social issues and education. Twitter: @marthatcher

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I choose you!

With this autumn comes not only the falling of leaves and a renewed love for poofy jackets and cozy leggings, but also two major November elections. Our very own Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) will have a newly elected Student Council and a new Administration will also be elected

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

KUVAT Marcelo Goldmann

As a student of the University of Oulu and a member of the Student Union, you have the right to be represented and the privilege of being able to have a say on who will do it. You have the power. Your ballot counts. So, make your voice count. Go and catch them all! Okay, maybe just a few… the ones that you want to represent you.

“Why should I care?”

I’m glad you asked. Simply put, the Student Union advocates for your rights as a student and you should have a say on who will be representing you in it.
It is in every student’s best interest to be well informed about the candidates and vote for the ones they feel would do a better job in representing them.

Should you abstain from voting, the consequences would be dire indeed. Legend has it that one time a student forgot to vote. The very next morning the student woke up two minutes too late! And that was only the beginning. The student then noticed that the laces of her shoes were untied, which made her feel mildly inconvenienced. Her bread was a bit too toasted that morning, as her flatmate had placed the toaster number in 3 instead of 2. As the student rode her bike to school she realized her front tire was slightly deflated, which didn’t hinder her commute, but made her feel slightly uncomfortable at the thought of deflated bike tires. This student loved pizza, but during lunch time the person in the queue right in front of her took the last piece, and the student had to eat the non-pizza option.

When the poor student thought things could not get any worse, she received a phone call from her dentist, cancelling the cleaning appointment for the day and asking to please come the next day. The student would have to spend one more day with unclean teeth, truly a nightmare. Distraught at the news, she went back home and took a nap. That was when The Ghost Of The Voting Past visited her. The Ghost explained why everyone should vote and the student understood the importance of voting and having a voice. When she woke up, it was the Election Day again, and she still had one hour for paper voting. The student rushed to vote for the candidates, who best fit her criteria, and then treated herself to some cafeteria pizza.

But that’s just a legend. Truly no one can say with absolute certainty what would happen. What I can tell you is that giving up your vote is not something you should do if you want your voice and opinion to count.

A Council of Students, for Students

The Representative Student Council is formed by 37 elected student members of the Student Union; that is, any student who belongs to the Student Union of University of Oulu, which most likely includes you, dear reader. This council is the highest decision-making body in OYY and is tasked with the approbation of the budgets and the annual action plans of the Student Union.

The Student Council represents you, the Student, in the Student Union, and defines the policies of the Union, as well as deciding how the membership fees will be used. The council appoints the Board that wields the executive power of OYY, as well as the Secretary General who acts as the head of staff of the Union. Moreover, the Council also elects the Editor of the newspaper Oulun ylioppilaslehti, that you just so happen to be reading at the moment. The meetings of the Council are open for everyone so you are free to join in and learn what your membership fee is being used for.

The choice is yours

The voting will begin electronically on 28th of October 2015 at 9.00 and it will end on the Elections Day on Wednesday 4th of November 2015 at 15.00. Traditional ballot paper voting will be carried out during the Election Day in the main Lobby of the Linnanmaa Campus between 9.00 and 16.00.

It is up to you for whom you would like to vote; the vote is secret after all. But if you are willing to take the nonspecific advice of this humble writer, you might want to look for active candidates who have the best interests of the students in mind and who aren’t afraid of a challenge. Make sure they convey your opinions more or less adequately so you feel you are being well represented.

You will be able to find more information about the elections on the website of the Student Union at www.oyy.fi.

Julkaistu 21.10.20151.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

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Hi 5, Myths About Sweden Busted

Our reporter has moved to Sweden, and here are her views on what it is like.

In English

TEKSTI Bianca Beyer

1. Swedes Are Less Distant – Superficially!

They say an introverted Finn looks at his shoes when talking to you; an extroverted Finn looks at your shoes. And it’s true! Unless you ask for something specific, they prefer to keep at a distance. On the contrary, Swedes would rather approach you with a smile, shake hands, introduce themselves and start a friendly small talk. So you get an impression that they are way more open. In fact, they only want to look more sociable while being as introverted as the Finns. At least in Finland you know right away where you are at.

2. “Royal” Clubbing Culture

Stockholm is twice the size of Helsinki when it comes to inhabitants, but is that really a reason to act all posh when it comes to clubbing? Firstly, you need to have your name on a guest-list to avoid spending a fortune on an entrance ticket. And if before approaching the overpriced wardrobe you don’t put all your belongings in the purse, they just take them in the blink of an eye and charge you for each of them separately. Secondly, having “drunk eyes” is already a criterion for being kicked out of a club – not imaginable in Finland. The only plus is that people dance in Swedish clubs instead of pushing each other.

3. All Swedes Are Gay? No Way, José!

Finns referring to Swedes as gay is a big misunderstanding, probably driven by the out-dated misconception of recognizing someone’s sexuality by clothing. Now here’s the breaking news: You can take good care of your outer appearance. Manliness is not related to dirty fingernails and long greasy hair. If you mean hipster beards, trench coats or smart-casual looks, they are simply fashion trends that come and go. And some of them are probably set in Sweden.

4. Tolerance Levels

When it comes to official measures taken against discrimination, Sweden is a few steps ahead of Finland. Only last year Finland managed to get enough votes to pass the law for same-sex marriage, while Sweden did that back in 2009. When it comes to immigrants, Sweden hosts almost four times the amount of Finland. When following the media, Finland seems to be more concerned about preserving its own culture than the neighboring country, which does not even keep track of ethnic groups in their statistics. And with a non-interchangeable parental leave also women’s rights are more secured in Sweden than in Finland.

5. 9-to-5? Not With The Swedes!

Recently, Swedish media have been discussing the uprising trend to shifting to a 6-hour workday. Even in the public sector this has been pulled off already: nurses work 6 instead of 8 hours for the same pay. This results in happier, less exhausted and, therefore, more productive employees, who have more time for their families, sports and hobbies now.

Julkaistu 21.10.20151.2.2023

Bianca Beyer

When I don’t sit over plans to erase all evil and meet unicorns, or dream of eating cotton candy, I believe in hard facts and science, doing my PhD in Accounting at the University of Oulu. Using writing as an information transmitter, outlet for creativity or simply for mere entertainment, I believe I am totally living the dream with all my current jobs. Blog: beapproved.wordpress.com

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The Current State of Finnish Labour Market

Forewarned is forearmed.

Työelämä

TEKSTI Margarita Khartanovich

KUVAT Alisa Tciriulnikova

Dear students, this is not to scare you but to help you figure out what it might look like when you enter the Finnish labour market after graduation. Let’s be honest and say that at the moment it is no bed of roses. So, our advice would be to stay realistic and flexible, grab any opportunities available and gain as much work experience as you only can right now.

According to Statistics Finland, in June 2015 there were a total of 644,000 young people living in Finland who were between the ages of 15 and 24. Of them, 345,000 were employed and 101,000 unemployed. The rise in youth unemployment, which has reached 22% already, is perhaps the most worrying development in the Finnish labour market. And there are no signs of improvement in sight due to no jobs to be had.

Even though the government project “Youth Guarantee” has been rather successful at helping young people plan their life after graduation, Finland’s dire economic situation crushes their best-made plans quickly, as the jobs just aren’t there.

“One-third of young people are still unemployed after three months, which is too long,” says former Employment Minister and MP Tarja Filatov.
“To make matters worse, there are not enough resources devoted to labour policies at present”, Filatov continues.

Jobs are disappearing from sectors that have traditionally paid well. Microsoft has slashed more than 2000 positions in Finland. Rovio and Sanoma Group are dismissing hundreds of employees. State rail company VR is planning to eliminate 570 jobs in an effort to cut costs. Up to 450 jobs disappear and are created every day in Finland, says the blue-collar trade union federation SAK. However, new jobs tend to offer lower pay and less attractive terms and conditions of work and are available mostly in such fields as the social sector and customer service.

Over 110,000 people in Finland have been unemployed and seeking work for more than a year. Unemployment is growing at such a pace that workers’ earnings-related unemployment benefits may have to be cut dramatically, says Tapio Oksanen, the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s Deputy Managing Director.

While experts encourage the government to make structural changes in order to improve this disastrous situation, the government encourages young people to enter the job market earlier, right after their Bachelor’s degree. In reality, however, the weak employment scene forces many to continue their studies. They say if you are drowning, you are on your own. Perhaps, the only way out is to learn how to sail this stormy sea by yourself and play a lone hand.

Julkaistu 23.9.20151.2.2023

Margarita Khartanovich

UUNI Editor, Master’s degree in Journalism (University of Tampere). Interested in politics, history, music, social issues and education. Twitter: @marthatcher

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Hi 5, Companies in Oulu You Would Like to Work For

Normally companies which are steadily growing are also the ones hiring, whether they are young and perky rising companies or older, experienced, and expanding into new ventures.

In English Työelämä

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

Siili Solutions

Siili means ‘hedgehog’ in Finnish. However, this company has nothing to do with actual living, breathing, prancing hedgehogs. What Siili Solutions specializes in is digital services, from design to implementation and data management. At the time of writing this, there are sadly no open positions for recently graduates in Oulu but they still encourage you to drop them your CV. And what do hedgehogs have to do with digital services? Why don’t you ask them? Your interest might pique theirs.

VTT

VTT is a leading research and technology company. They are constantly looking for talented and innovative people (I assume). They even have PhD programs. Their areas range from Chemical Synthesis, Chemical Process Engineering, Software, and Applied Mathematics. VTT’s webpage explains that they are looking for trainees and thesis workers. By starting as either of those positions you can gain a solid platform to launch your career.

Elektrobit

Elektrobit is a company which deals with embedded software for the automotive industry and is a child company of Continental AG, an automotive manufacturing company. Elektrobit is hiring at the moment, looking for both experienced and newly graduated individuals, provided they know a thing or two about programming, security in software development, or software testing. So if you are like Neo and think you are the One, why don’t you apply? Deadline is 30th of September, so chop chop.

The Big Four (PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte)

Let’s get down to business! Heh, “business”. Get it? Because they are busin- no? Okay… Ahem, the so-called Big Four are the most prominent auditing companies in the world, and won’t you know it, three of them have offices right here in Oulu. Every year they hire people in the business and law areas. Granted, not so many, but if you got what it takes, you should look into applying for their traineeship programs.

Technopolis

Technopolis offers networking services and office space services, among other things. At the moment of writing this piece, Technopolis has no open positions in Oulu, but you may send them an open application through their website. Office and working space is something that is and may always be in demand, so it is likely that this company will continue to grow and hire more personnel in Oulu as new companies are formed.

Julkaistu 23.9.20151.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman