Puistokatu 4 wraps up 2025 – the third year of a Space of Science and Hope in photos!
BY: Puistokatu 419.12.2025
In 2025, nearly 80 members helped us in building an ecologically sustainable future. In addition, 50 events were held at Puistokatu 4, attracting over 1,500 visitors. See a photo compilation of the year at Puistokatu 4!
In 2025, 46 researchers representing 32 different fields of science worked at Puistokatu 4. The photo shows the celebration of Erkki Mervaala’s, Heini-Emilia Saari’s, and Ossi Laaksamo’s doctoral dissertations. Five dissertations were completed at Puistokatu 4 during the year.
In 2025, 28 agent members worked at Puistokatu 4. The photo shows four of them, Puistokatu’s sustainability consultants Jessica Jungell-Michelsson, Michaela Ramm-Schmidt, Jonna Tötterman and Karoliina Hovi.
Puistokatu 4’s members appeared in the media more than 50 times during the year. Olli Pyyhtinen, Professor of Sociology working at Puistokatu 4, was quoted in Helsingin Sanomat, Yle and Helsingin Uutiset among others.
Our researchers’ work spread throughout society via researcher lunches: 25 of our researchers were invited to discuss their work and its applications in society. The photo shows Associate Professor Eeva-Lotta Apajalahti having lunch with Rami El Geneidy from Kapacity.io.
At Puistokatu 4, we believe that the social activism of researchers is a force that can change the world. Therefore we organized public speaking training for our researcher members again this year, led by actor Timo Ruuskanen.
Program inside and outside the house
More than 1,500 people visited the 50 events held at Puistokatu 4 in 2025. In addition, we participated in the Lux Helsinki light art festival in January, which attracted more than 10,000 visitors to Puistokatu over five days.
A Club for Science and Hope was piloted in front of Puistokatu 4 on Helsinki Day. In the photo, Puistokatu 4 researcher Janne Halme lectures to the audience about nature-positive solar energy.
In the fall, the Club moved indoors. Singer and actor Olavi Uusivirta accompanied the event on two evenings.
At Puistokatu 4’s afterwork events our guests were interviewed about their own moments of ecological awakening. This year’s guests were Martti Suosalo,Antti Herlin, Minka Kuustonen and Saku Tuominen.
Business leaders, activists, and influencers gathered at Puistokatu 4 – and Puistokatu 4 travelled to Pori and Grand Popo!
In the spring, we facilitated two discussions to which we invited leading business executives and young environmental activists. Participants included Mika Anttonen, Sari Baldauf and Ellen Haaslahti among others.
In June, we took the discussion on growth within the planetary boundaries to SuomiAreena together with the TAH Foundation. On the stage were Sara Yrjönmäki, Ulla Heinonen, Helene Auramo, Ellen Haaslahti and Heli Hytönen.
In January, we organized a breakfast event with Responsibility Influencer of the Year 2024 Jenni Rotonen, where we challenged influencers to consider their power in building an ecologically sustainable future.
Minttu Jaakkola, Executive Director of Puistokatu 4, visited Benin as a guest of Villa Karo at the beginning of the year. Jaakkola facilitated a writing competition at the University of Abomey-Calavi on the theme of a good life within planetary boundairse. Pictured are the winners of the competition, Alexander Zossoungbo, Rébéca Abanigan and Jean-Paul Toni Sourou.
Science and hope, not forgetting art!
Our collaboration with the Helsinki International Film Festival continued this year with a free screening of Saku Soukka’s film Kapina elämän puolesta (Rebellion for Future). The acclaimed documentary follows the lives of Finnish Extinction Rebellion activists.
At the Helsinki book fair’s pre-event, our guests discussed the work of the poet Eeva Kilpi’s and the transformative power of poetry. Jenni Haukio, Saku Tuominen, Anna-Riikka Carlson and Ville Blåfield took part in the discussion.
On the Night of the Arts, Karoliina Loimaala and their team’s dance performance CHARGE was staged in the courtyard of Puistokatu 4.
In the eve of Pride Helsinki, a launch party and discussion about the Queer Ecology and Art anthology was held at Puistokatu. Participants included Anita Seppä, Juni Klein, Elsi Hyttinen, Sanna Karhu, and Aura Raulo.
In March The Dance House Helsinki and Puistokatu 4 organized an event in connection with the Figures in Extinction performance, which explored the connections and possibilities between art, science, and activism.
The year ended with our members’ carnival-themed Christmas party, where we celebrated, as usual, the birth of the building’s first resident, actress Ida Aalberg.
