Aalto Design Factory hosted a celebratory evening on International Women’s Day on 8th March 2010 for the female alumni of Aalto University. The event gathered together around 130 people to listen to accounts of women’s role in technology and business life. Speakers at the event included the Finnish parliament member, D.Tech. Sanna Perkiö and professor Kalevi Ekman, the director of Design Factory. The participants also got to enjoy some Finnish improvisation theatre as well as networking over a buffet. The event was organized by the alumni association of Aalto University School of Science and Technology.

Women and Technology Award to a software company led by women

At the event, the annual Women and Technology prize was awarded for the fifth time. This year, the award was given to Qentinel Ltd, a Finnish IT company concentrated on software quality assurance and testing services. The 1000 euro prize, granted by Marja-Terttu Tanttinen’s fund, was presented at the event by Matti Pursula, the former rector of TKK. The award was given for significant contribution in promoting women’s role in technology education. The award winner, Qentinel, is a leading company in its area and an exception in the IT industry, for 2/3 of its founders and 75 % of the company management are women.

More information

• Women and Technology award: Heli Heinola, heli.heinola@tkk.fi

The course consists of theoretical material and practical design work in student groups. The required pre-course literature and the lectures take the students through social commentary and key works in the philosophy and social study of technology. We address questions such as: Does technology make the world better, or worse? Is technology neutral? Who should be in charge of directing technological development? What is the role of scientists and engineers?

Main Instructors

• Geoffrey C. Bowker, Professor in Cyberscholarship, University of Pittsburgh
• Susan Leigh Star, Professor and Doreen E. Boyce Chair in Library and Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

Schedule
Monday to Friday 9. – 14.8. lectures and group work at Design Factory 9.00– 17.00
Saturday 14.8. Public workshop with student presentations and key notes at the Design Factory
Sunday 15.8. Excursion 11.00–18.00

Credits
3 ECTs

For more information, see http://www.aalto.fi/fi/studies/aalto/aalto_courses/vid2010/.

Murjottelu, the interdisciplinary summer trainee programme for all Aalto University students, was officially kicked off at Aalto Design Factory on Thursday, February 18th. The event gathered together around 80 Aalto students interested in job opportunities for the summer 2010. Also present were the company representatives, seeking to hire passionate students for interdisciplinary projects. At the event, the concept and background Murjottelu were briefly presented, after which students and companies got to mingle over coffee and snacks.

Over 40 traineeships available

Murjottelu Coordinator 2010, Heidi Auvinen, described the programme as a win-win situation for students and companies alike:

- Despite the financial situation, about 20 companies from different industries have joined Murjottelu this year. They offer over 40 summer jobs focusing around many interesting projects. Previous years, the companies have been very content with the students’ contribution. Often students, who represent a variety of Aalto backgrounds, bring new thinking and knowhow to the Murjottelu company. In turn, the students get a challenging summer job of their own field of study. In the best case, Murjottelu can result in future collaborations or a kick-start to a career.

Auvinen also emphasized the teamwork aspect of Murjottelu traineeships:

- Murjottelu projects are often carried out in interdisciplinary teams of two or more people, so students can exchange ideas and find new solutions together.

Murjottelu programme is now organized for the seventh time. The application period ends on 28th February 2010.

More information:

• www.murjottelu.fi
• Contact Heidi Auvinen (firstname.lastname@tkk.fi, +358 50 594 6255)

The one-day case competition, open for all Aalto students, challenged the student teams of 4 participants to come up with creative solutions that answered to the what, where and why of Aalto University’s campus dilemma. In just six hours, the teams had to prepare a presentation of a novel solution to the future of student life at Aalto.

Great intensity, fresh thinking

The results showed that Aalto students are anything but narrow-minded. All teams approached the question from a different viewpoint. Some recommended an Otaniemi or a Helsinki-based campus, others saluted web-based campus solutions or innovative transportation systems. The practical concepts relating to the campus question ranged from Otaniemi bicycle tubes to Second Life applications. The winning team’s solution focused around multifunctional Aalto tower buildings that would enable Aalto students to live, study, work and interact together on a daily basis at a single campus.

“The competition showed that creative power can produce astonishing results in a very short time. It was wonderful to see young people work with such great intensity”, said Markku Lahti, one of the judges and a representative of the city of Helsinki.

“These students should be heard”

Kalevi Ekman, the director of Aalto Design Factory, had equally positive feedback for the competitors: “I think all Aalto professors and people involved in the transformation process should have been here today. When creating something new, the basic rule is to think big. The students grasped this and came up with some extraordinary solutions.”

The competition was organized by BEST, a non-profit European student organization whose aim is to bring students, universities and business life into closer co-operation that is profitable for all. The winning team was awarded a trip to the regional BEST competition in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of March.

More information:

• Aalto BEST ? Competition team, aalto.comp@gmail.com
• Antti Tanner, antti.tanner@tkk.fi

Welcome to the Aalto Design Factory Open Doors 2010! Aalto Design Factory will open its doors on March 23rd to proudly present the building and its activities to everyone interested, including Aalto students, teachers, company representatives, researchers and the press.

The ongoing Product Development Course will also present the so-far development of its 15 projects. From 9 to 16, the laboratory doors are open for everyone! The student-led teams will show off their work as they are preparing for the final Product Design Gala to be held in April.

For more information about the Open Doors, contact Wycliffe Raduma, PDP Coordinator 2010.

WELCOME!

we would like to invite you to see, discover & experience Aalto Design Factory Shanghai through a hands-on, interactive exhibition.

Come and see the first initial visions about Aalto Design Factory Shanghai, co-created during an intensive, hands-on workshop. The final results of the workshop will be on display in Design Factory, Betonimiehenkuja 5, on Wednesday 17.2.2010 during 15:00-18:00.

• Presentations: 15:00 – 16:00 (at the Stage)
• Exhibition: 16:00 – 18:00 (at the Stage)

Come, meet, interact, discuss and collaborate with the people involved in the project.

Let’s create together the world’s best Design Factory in Shanghai.

Check additional information about the project from:

http://aaltodesignfactory.fi/future/aalto-design-factory-shanghai/

In the name of Love, Design, Engineering & Business

Aalto Design Factory Shanghai project team

Aalto Design Factory Shanghai will be a platform enabling and inspiring interdisciplinary co-creation, interaction and learning between students, teachers, researchers and industry of the two universities and respective nations involved.

The official opening ceremony of Aalto Design Factory Shanghai will be on Tuesday 25th of May, 2010.

More information:

• Check the general project presentation here
• Join the Aalto Design Factory Shanghai mailing list
• Visit us at the Aalto Design Factory Shanghai Global Headquarters, located in Design Factory basement floor.
• Contact Project Manager Viljami Lyytikäinen, viljami.lyytikainen (a) tkk.fi

The joint project hopes to further develop and expand the Design Factory concept, and help to spread the message of having fun, learning new every day and working like crazy! All in the name of Love, Design, Engineering & Business.

• Come to Aalto Design Factory in Otaniemi and enjoy a €2 breakfast of porridge, oven-fresh buns, coffee and - above all - the inspiring company.
• Every Tuesday and Thursday morning 8-10 the table is set for serendipity, lucky coincidences!
• Please register beforehand at www.otaniemi.fi/oin

Organizer:

Otaniemi Marketing
Melissa
+358 50 543 4788

• A barbeque lunch at Design Factory on Tuesday, January 26th
• Venue: DF cafe at 11:30 - 13:00
• Students 5 e, others 8 e
• Welcome!

The open competition was organised by Otaniemi Marketing now for the fifth time. In November 2009, different stakeholders were requested to submit their reasoned suggestions for a person or a group that has actively promoted co-operation between the different parties in Otaniemi, as well as made the knowhow and expertise of the Otaniemi area more known in Finland or abroad. The final decision was made by the Otaniemi Marketing board. The board represents all the key actors in the Otaniemi area.

Previous winners of the award include the director of Otaniemi International Innovation Centre, Veijo Ilmavirta, the director of Micronova, Veli-Matti Airaksinen, the technology manager of Enfucell Oy, Xiachang Zhang, as well as VTT Young Professionals.

Congrats Eetu!

Further information:

Otaniemi Marketing: Ari Huczkowski, tel. +358 40 521 5642, ari@otaniemi.fi
http.//www.otaniemi.fi.