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Professor and Head of the department for chemistry and materials science, Jari Koskinen, has been awarded The Order of the White Rose of Finland. The Dean for the School of Chemical Engineering, Kristiina Kruus, presented the order in a coffee occasion on the 20^th of January 2020.

In her motivation speech, the dean thanked Koskinen for his excellent work as the head of the department, where he has actively evolved the practices of the department. She also made a special mention of his efforts to make chemistry education more accessible, and for raising interest in chemistry teaching in Finland. Koskinen's discursive management style works well in the university environment, she said, where collegial means of decision-making has a long tradition.

Koskinen accepted the honorary medal with gratitude. During the coffee occasion, he had the chance to reflect on his own career at Aalto University. He was chosen for the job at the then TKK and has since had the chance to see the changes that have gone through Aalto since the beginning.

“I’ve been 11 years at the university and the change that has happened during this time has been remarkable. It feels like  I've been here for a long time simply because so much has happened within a short space of time. Also, the campus has changed during the years. There are so many dimensions to the change and, of course, the future  as Aalto's new strategy keeps us alert.”

The School of Chemical Engineering congratulates Koskinen for his fine achievements and wishes him the best in his work as professor and head of the department.