International evaluation of Finnish water research:
Dissolution of the Finnish Institute of Marine Research should be reconsidered

The proposal to disband the Finnish Institute of Marine Research and separate its physical and biological sciences between the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Finnish Environment Institute should be urgently reconsidered, points out the international expert panel that assessed water research in Finland.  According to the panel, the separation is not in the interests of promotion of internationally credible marine science nor of increased understanding of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. The results of the international evaluation, conducted by the Academy of Finland, of Finnish water research were published in Helsinki on Tuesday.

The focus of the international evaluation now completed was on the activities in 2002–2006 of universities, units and research institutes that conduct water research. The evaluation covered 17 units based at seven universities and eight research institutes. The expert panel was chaired by Professor Brian Moss from the University of Liverpool, UK.

The panel found the overall scientific standard of Finnish water research very high. The panel suggests, however, that there is a need for some revision in the balance of allocation of funds nationally to favour the area of aquatic and environmental research, particularly because of Finland’s immediate and substantial dependency on natural resources and because these also provide a special competitive advantage for the country. The panel also pays attention to the development of the research career. Accordingly, the panel recommends that a more secure career progression be created for postdoctoral scientists and the focus be placed from doctoral studies to postdoctoral fellowships. “It seems that there is clearly a major systematic weakness in this aspect of the Finnish system compared with other countries,” the panel states in its report.

The panel also recommends the founding of a school or department of aquatic environmental sciences to educate students who will be able successfully to integrate understanding of currently traditionally separate areas.  The experts also urge Finland to set up a fund for replacement and reinforcement of analytical instruments and supercomputing facilities. This is seen important particularly for Baltic Sea research.

One of the tasks of the Academy of Finland is to conduct periodical international evaluations of different disciplines and individual fields of research. The focus of these evaluations is on the scientific standard of research in the field concerned, researcher training, the research environment and research system as well as the organisation of research as a whole. The societal impact of research is also assessed.

The purpose and objective of evaluations is to gain an expert and independent view of the state of the discipline or field of research in question, of the scientific quality of research and of development needs. Their main purpose is to provide feedback to the scientific community and to funding agencies.

The evaluation report of water research in Finland is published in the Academy of Finland publications series and is available on the Academy’s website at www.aka.fi/publications.

1/08 Water Research in Finland 2002–2006. An International Evaluation

More information:
Senior Science Adviser Timo Kolu, Academy of Finland, tel. +358 9 7748 8341, timo.kolu (at) aka.fi

Academy of Finland Communications
Communications Specialist Riitta Tirronen
tel. +358 9 7748 8369, +358 40 828 1724
riitta.tirronen (at) aka.fi