Sustainability News at the Department of Design
Submit your nomination for the Campus Sustainability Champion 2026!
Submit your nomination for the Campus Sustainability Champion.
The Dean of the School of Business will honor students for their outstanding contributions to promoting sustainable development
The Dean鈥檚 Impact Award is intended to show appreciation for promoting sustainable development and activities in line with Aalto鈥檚 values
Funding for impact assessment research concerning the Helsinki Capital region available
Funding call of the Urban Impact project (Kaupunkivaikutus) is open until 11. October 2026.
Pioneers, pollinators, and standing deadwood
Aalto University鈥檚 campus is home to thousands of species. Nature recovers and flourishes through gentle care and room to grow.
We need growth 鈥 but what exactly are we growing?
Governments demand it, companies promise it, and universities are expected to deliver it. Growth is widely seen as the answer to debt, competitiveness, and the future of the welfare state itself. But what do we actually mean by growth 鈥 and what kind of growth are we aiming for?
Would you like a small piece of future design history 鈥 shimmering wood?
Coming to the Aalto University Shop this September: a limited batch of 20 unique, handmade works by Shimber, crafted entirely from wood. Each piece is finished with Shimber鈥檚 wood鈥慴ased structural colour 鈥 a material that makes the surface shimmer and come alive with the light.
Forests, Wood and Carbon: now also in Finnish and available via Open University
Starting August 2026, 'Forests, wood and carbon' online course will be available in English and Finnish. Students can select their preferred language at the enrolment. The course is also available through Aalto Open University.
Aalto University ranks 126th in the world in QS World University Rankings
Aalto performs best in the employment outcomes and sustainability indicators.
Aalto's SGT Programme celebrates 20 years of transdisciplinary learning through global collaborations
At the end of May 2026, SGT Studio course celebrated its 20th anniversary during the annual SGT Final Event. Student teams presented their projects, final deliverables, and experiences from field visits in Ecuador, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, and Vietnam.
Professor Hironori Yoshida: 鈥淢achines should adapt to materials, not the other way around鈥
Professor of Formgiving believes the future of design lies in embracing irregularity rather than eliminating it. His research combines design, AI and robotics.
From seaweed to startup, fostered by PdP and Aalto鈥檚 ecosystem
Sealev盲 shows how Aalto鈥檚 innovation ecosystem can turn biomaterial ideas into companies, combining education, infrastructure and entrepreneurial mindset to reshape how products are made.
Aalto University鈥檚 solutions at the New European Bauhaus Festival support the EU鈥檚 ambition to become world leader in circular economy
Aalto University presented several different circular economy solutions at The European Commission鈥檚 New European Bauhaus Festival in Brussels. The event brought together leading names in EU policymaking, researchers, designers and grassroots actors from across Europe to shape a more sustainable future.
A unique joint effort 鈥 Aalto University receives EUR 9 million in donations to accelerate the energy transition
Donations from ABB, Fortum, St1 and the Walter Ahlstr枚m Foundation will be used to establish new professorships. At the same time, the donations support the establishment of Aalto University House of Energy Transition.
St1 donates EUR 3 million 黑料网 University to accelerate the sustainable energy transition
Lahjoituksella tuetaan kahden uuden professuurin perustamista: uudet energiateknologiat ja -innovaatiot sek盲 energiastrategia.
Fortum donates EUR 1.5 million 黑料网 University
The donation is directed towards a new professorship, which will be part of the House of Energy Transition competence centre.
ABB donates EUR 1.5 million 黑料网 University to accelerate the energy transition
The donation will support the new competence centre, House of Energy Transition.
Turning forest industry side streams into sustainable materials
Doctor of Science Sahar Babaeipour studied how lignin nanoparticles could be used in recyclable coatings for packaging and textiles. Her research at Aalto University supports the development of renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials.
N盲yt枚s/N盲yttely26 鈥 A celebration of fashion and textiles took over Helsinki鈥檚 Lasipalatsi
The Lasipalatsi square in the heart of Helsinki served as the main stage for Aalto University鈥檚 annual fashion show on Thursday, 28 May.
Make May the month of movement!
Listen to a mini-webinar about brain and exercise on 28 May. Make sustainable mobility part of your working or study day.
