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14.01.2010

Technology Days - Understanding climate change

Presentations of technological and scientific topics at the Technology Days being held at Dipoli on 14-15 January will also be available via live webcasts.

 Combustion is the theme of the annual science event which starts on Thursday 14 January at Dipoli in Otaniemi. Technology Days 2010 will offer a variety of perspectives on energy production technology and how humans exploit fire. During the two-day event, 90 speakers will offer visitors ways of understanding what causes climate change and which technologies can be employed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At 9.30 am on Friday 15th January, Riitta Pipatti, Finland's leading expert in the field and the one who accepted the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will describe the sources of Finnish GHG emissions to her audience. Now working at Statistics Finland, she is responsible for the annual reporting of Finland's GHGs to the EU and the Kyoto Protocol organisation.

 "In Finland, the energy sector is responsible for the largest emissions of greenhouse gases," says Pipatti. "Levels of emissions should be reduced in locations where they are generated at the highest rates. This means that energy consumption should be reduced and that methods of production which result in lower levels of emissions should be adopted."

 Transportation is one of the biggest sources of greehnouse gas emissions. On Thursday evening, the Aalto University's Professor Panu Nykänen, an expert in industrial history, will describe how internal combustion engines became the primary source of motive power in automobiles. At the beginning of the 1900s, the majority of cars in the United States were powered by either steam or electricity. At that time, gasoline (petrol) was only the third-most-popular fuel.

 "At an early stage in World War I, developments in aviation technology resulted in internal combustion engines also being used to drive vehicles," says Professor Nykänen. "You can't power an aeroplane using electricity or steam."

Many speakers will be presenting new research results and technologies for reducing emissions. Visitors will be able to find out more about energy-saving LED lights, future transportation fuels, fuel-cell technology, the exploitation of geothermal resources and even how to build a smoke sauna.

As well as hard science, a number of "fiery" programmes will be part of the event. In the Dipoli car park, methods of extinguishing fires will be demonstrated using a fire simulator mounted on the back of a lorry, and performances of "Hyvä tuli!" (lit. "Marvellous Fire!"), a show designed by Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre, will take place every hour.

From 9 am on Thursday 14th January, presentations from four locations at Dipoli can be viewed as live webcasts at: http://webcast.digitalbakar.fi/tekniikanpaivat/

 The Technology Days event is organised by the Technology Academy Foundation. It launches the 2010 Millennium Technology Prize year, the climax of which will be the announcement of the next Winner in Helsinki in June.

 Programmes for both days and further information: www.tekniikanpaivat.fi

 Jaana Kymäläinen, Communications Manager, Technology Academy Finland jaana.kymalainen@technologyacademy.fi
Mobile: +358 40 352 7437

Riitta Pipatti, Manager, Statistics Finland
Mobile: +358 50 500 5247

Professor Panu Nykänen, Aalto University
Tel: +358 9 470 236 09

The Technology Academy promotes Finnish technology by supporting scientific research that develops innovations and new technologies and contributes to the improvement of people's living conditions while building on humane values. The Technology Academy awards the international Millennium Technology Prize, the world's most respected technology prize, every two yearswww.millenniumprize.fi. The organisation of the Technology Academy includes the Finnish Academy of Technology www.ttatv.fi, the Swedish Academy of Engineering in Finland www.stvif.fi and the Industry Council, whose members represent leading Finnish industrial companies. www.technologyacademy.fi

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