New programme directors selected for SRC programmes

On 17 January 2022, the Strategic Research Council (SRC) selected three part-time programme directors for the new SRC programmes: Demographic Changes – Causes, Consequences and Solutions (DEMOGRAPHY), Environmental and Social Links to Biodiversity Loss (BIOD) and Pandemics as a Challenge for Society (PANDEMICS).

The DEMOGRAPHY and BIOD programme directors’ funding period is 1 January 2022–30 September 2024, and the PANDEMIC programme director’s funding period is 1 January 2022–31 December 2024.

Susan Kuivalainen (Head of Department, Finnish Centre for Pensions) is the new programme director for the DEMOGRAPHY programme and Juha Hiedanpää (Research Professor, Natural Resources Institute Finland) will helm the BIOD programme. Marjo Kurki (Senior Researcher, Itla Children’s Foundation) was selected as the programme director for the PANDEMICS programme.

The selections were made focusing on the candidates’ multidisciplinary competence in the topics of the programmes, their management and coordination experience in multidisciplinary networks and their suitability for the task.

An SRC programme director works in close cooperation with the programme’s projects to build a coherent programme package and promote cooperation between SRC programmes. SRC programme directors also develop and implement cross-programme activities. They work together with other programme directors and the Division of Strategic Research within the Academy of Finland to strengthen the societal impact of strategic research. Programme directors are employed by their background organisation.