The University celebrates its 375th anniversary on 26 March. Throughout the week, members of the University community can explore their work or study place from a new perspective.

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During the anniversary week, the University’s painting club and many student organisations will host open houses, while walking tours provide a glimpse of another campus. Linda Mitts, art history student and tour guide on the walking tour of the Kumpula Campus, promises that tour participants are in for a treat.

“We will cover architecture, research and history. We will visit at least Physicum, Exactum and Chemicum.”

The tours are also interesting for the guides.

“It’s always exciting to hear what different people think of or remember about different places and events. That's why I like being a tour guide.”

Why potatoes?

Do you know why Karolina Eskelin, Finland’s first female doctoral degree holder, could not attend a surgical conference in Copenhagen in the early 1910s? The answer may surprise you: she was a forerunner behind the wheel as well, and spent the grant intended to cover the conference travel costs on a new car.

How about why the square between the Old and New Student House is called Perunatori, or Potato Square? Because in 1959, students set up shop on the square, selling a soon-to-be hit product: chips.

These and other historical titbits from the University’s 375-year history are part of the new exhibition at the Helsinki University Museum, set to open on 27 March on the third floor of the University’s Main Building, on the Fabianinkatu side.

The running theme of the exhibition is the University’s impact on society.

“The exhibition highlights the issues that have been meaningful to regular citizens. This means the impact the University and its research have had on the everyday lives of Finns and how they’ve created the conditions necessary for national welfare,” says Pia Vuorikoski, Exhibitions Manager.

Students remain the same

Previously, the Helsinki University Museum was located in the Arppeanum building on the Senate Square. The new facilities are markedly smaller and may attract a different type of visitor. The exhibition targets primarily first-year students, exchange students and the University’s international guests.

Vuorikoski suspects that the general public may consider the Main Building less accessible and the Museum difficult to find.

“Of course we hope that people come to the Museum. It just requires more marketing.”

Students are both the target group and a significant part of the exhibition content. The Museum features a typical student flat at Domus Academica and a history of the Finnish student cap. Four short films, produced by the Student Theatre and Koukkufilms, depict student life at different times.

“Throughout history, students have partied, been bored or excited, and dreamed of a girl- or boyfriend. Ultimately, student life hasn’t changed all that much,” Vuorikoski says.

Link to the programme in Flamma

Text: Tiina Palomäki and Reetta Vairimaa