Open Otaniemi 25 October 2025
Dive into our vibrant campus and the fascinating world of science, art and technology! Aalto University warmly invites personnel and their loved ones to join us for a fun day on campus on 25 October in Otaniemi. Please see all the activities below!
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Open Otaniemi
Workshops
All the workshops are suitable for children of all ages unless otherwise mentioned in the description.
| Workshop | Description | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art education | Art education master students are hosting a workshop as part of their didactics course. The content of the workshop is decided as the course starts in September. | Väre F101 (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Binary pearls | Handicrafts meets mathematics. You will be introduced to binary numbers by making a macramé wristband. | Väre F102 (Otaniementie 14) | Hop on-hop off, at 10.15 - 12.15 & 13.15 -14.45 |
| Chain Reactions in Creativity | Aalto Design Factory welcomes you to an exciting workshop where creativity and problem solving is celebrated as we dive into the whimsical world of making our very own Rube Goldberg machines! Discover the essence of design thinking and prototyping as you work hands-on to construct a unique and fun chain-reaction contraption. Whether you're a brimming inventor or a curious soul wishing to get their creative hats on, this workshop will give you the all tools necessary for being a problem-solver and innovator! | Väre F101 (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Electronic recycling workshop for children | Have you ever wondered what are our electronic devices made of? What metals are needed our mobile phones or computers? And what happens to these materials when we can no longer use them? We invite you to join our workshop, where we will learn about the importance of metals in our every day life and that recycling is not always as easy as it sounds. | School of Business T004 (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Giant soap bubbles | Who makes the biggest soap bubbles? Science and fun come together in a wonderful way. | Outside Väre, Otaniementie 14 | At 10.15 - 12.00 and 13.00 -14.45 (non-stop) |
| LED bracelets using conductive yarn | Making LED bracelets using conductive yarns. Please note: needles are used, so the workshop is not suitable for very young children. | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Mathematics and origami | Come and join us in folding simple origami models and discover their mathematical power. No previous experience in origami is needed. | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Marine X - Design your own cruise ship! | Ships are the world's largest man-made things that can be moved. Cruise ships are complex entities that arise from multidisciplinary, creative co-operation. Creativity is needed for multidisciplinary interaction, ideation and problem solving. Creative co-operation improves the ship's features, usability and customer experience. Designing environmentally friendly ships also requires research and innovation. At the workshop, you can try your creativity in the technical and architectural challenges of ship design. |
School of Business T003 (Ekonominaukio 1) | Every 30 minutes from 10 to 15 |
| Paper boats floating experiments | Make origami paper boats, load them with small weights and test how they float. | School of Business T003 (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Robotics corner | Come and try out moving gadgets in the robotics corner! | Väre F102 (Otaniementie 14) | Hop on-hop off, at 10.15 - 12.15 & 13.15 -14.45 |
| The shape of space | Discover mind-bending surprises about the space we live in with hands-on experiments using only paper and string. | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Space walk | Virtual reality program called Space Walk showcases space research. This new version includes an automated feature known as the "Grand Tour", which provides an automatic, looping tour through the Solar System, displayed directly on a screen. | School of Business, lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Take your picture with a satellite! | Come learn how to take pictures with a satellite! You can take a picture of your or another person in your group. We suggest max. 8 people/group | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| The TUTA game |
The workshop consists of three interlinked games where participants build simple e-cars of LEGO bricks in order to understand the impact of three basic production economics innovations:
The game starts when 3-7 persons' group is formed, and is recommended to kids aged 10 to 15. |
Väre F101 (Otaniementie 14) | Every 30 minutes at 10-15 |
| Virtual painting | Arts and virtual reality go hand in hand in this workshop. Let's paint imaginary worlds! | Aalto Junior labs (Kemistintie 1 B) | At 10.15 - 12.00 and 13.00 -14.45 (non-stop) |
Demos
All the demos are suitable for all age groups and will be non-stop unless mentioned otherwise.
| Demo | Description | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Acoustics of Cathedrals | Ancient walls, vaulted ceilings, and echoing stones---cathedrals shape every word into long-lasting, rich compositions. Each cathedral has its own signature, product of the time evolution of architecture, music composition, and human perception of the sacred. Embark on a journey to experience how shapes and materials become sound, and sound becomes emotion, recreated live through the power of the active acoustics technology. | Marsio (Otakaari 2 A), Cinema Sheryl | At 12:15-12:35 and 14:40-15:00 |
| In the future, food will be grown in cities! | Surprising but true – in the future, vegetables, berries, mushrooms, potatoes and herbs may be grown on rooftops, walls or even indoors! As more and more people live in cities, buildings are becoming like small farms. Join us on an expedition – can you find out which city grows food? |
School of Business, lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Physics of electricity | Our modern world is built on electricity, but where does the electricity in our electric grid come from? Come see the physics of electromagnetic induction and the interplay between magnetism and electricity. | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Physics of light | Come see interference of light in our laser demonstration and learn about the polarization and wave nature of light. | School of Business T004 (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Physics of spinning tops | Try balancing a spinning top without spinning it. It is hard, isn't it? But if you make it spin, it will stay almost upright for as long as its spinning fast enough. Why does the spinning prevent the top from tipping? Come and see the physics of spinning. | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Polymers |
First we make a polymer (1), then we show some property of the polymer (2), and then we crosslink it to get further properties (3.)
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School of Business, lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Product Development in the Age of AI | This demo will highlight how cool products get imagined and made with the help of artificial intelligence! You'll discover how digital tools help us design and manufacture products, and watch machines recognize different products. Don't worry if you’re new to this—everyone can learn how to make a machine learning model without needing to be a coding expert. Plus, giveaways are up for grabs — first come, first served! | School of Business T004 (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Remote behavioral measurement | Come and see how you feel! Thermal Imaging and Facial Emotion Recognition methods give you instant feedback about your emotions and facial temperature levels. See your smile and your thermal hand print. | School of Business, lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Simulation of a pedestrian | A pedestrian simulation developed to improve the safety of self-driving cars. | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
| Wave | Dance in virtual reality, for 2 persons | Kipsari (Otaniementie 14) | Non-stop at 10-15 |
Lectures and presentations
Please note the target audience in the description. Some lectures are suitable for children and some for teenagers and adults.
| Lecture/ Presentation | Description | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuomas Auvinen: Radical Creativity at Aalto University (Lecture) | Creativity is one of the most important work life skills in the future. Aalto Radical Creativity is our way of preparing for it - to tackle the grand challenges we are facing. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In Finnish. | School of Business, V002 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 14:30-15:00 |
| Andrea Ferrantelli: Machine learning for energy efficient buildings: towards a sustainable future (Lecture) | Machine learning (ML) can be a powerful tool to unveil trends that are hidden within the data. in this talk, we will show how ML allows evaluating the impact of the EU decarbonisation regulations on the building stock renovations, and how it can aid in designing and renovating buildings that are more energy efficient and sustainable. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In English. | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 14:00-14:15 |
| Riitta Hari: If you had the brain of a chicken (Presentation) | Riitta Hari, author of "Kanan aivot" ("Chicken Brains"), explores why we have brains in the first place. Could brains be exchanged between a chicken and a human? The lecture offers an opportunity to ask questions. Presentation for children aged 11 years and older. In Finnish. | School of Business, V002 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 10:15-10:45 |
| Meeri Heimo: Promoting Equality and Togetherness at Aalto University with QueerA! Network (Lecture) | QueerA! is a network for queer/LGBTQIA+ staff members across all schools and services. In this presentation, we will introduce the network as well as share our ideas, initiatives, and projects. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In English. | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 11:15-11:30 |
| Perttu Hämäläinen: The science and art of game design (Presentation) | Games combine art and science in a multidisciplinary way, e.g. mathematics, visual arts, psychology and poetry. In this presentation, Perttu will explain how games are made and explored through practical examples. In addition, the audience will invent and test together fields for an exercise game. Presentation for children aged 9 years and older. In Finnish. | Marsio (Otakaari 2A), Saastamoinen Foundation Stage | 11:00-11:30 |
| Pauliina Ilmonen: Infinity (Presentation) | The infinite is a bit like the number eight that has gone awry. But what exactly is infinity? We talk about huge quantities, very small quantities and infinity. Presentation for children aged 9 years and older. In Finnish. | Marsio (Otakaari 2A), Saastamoinen Foundation Stage | 13:30-14:00 |
| Lassi Klemettinen: The role of metals in the fight against climate change (Lecture) | Climate change is one of the most important topics in research as well as public discussion. In this short lecture, we will discuss the role of metals in the green transition needed to fight against climate change. The current as well as future demand and availability of key metals will be examined and the role of recycling highlighted. Come and find out what you can do to help secure the availability of critical metals in the future! The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In English. | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 13:30-13:45 |
| Taina Kurki-Suonio: A Physicist’s Take on Energy (Lecture) | Energy is everywhere – but what is it, really? In this talk, we dive into the fascinating forms of energy and the invisible forces of nature that shape our world. We’ll end with a glimpse into fusion energy – could it be the clean and inexhaustible power source of the future? The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In Finnish. | School of Business, V002 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 13:00-13:30 |
| Juha Lipponen: Bio-based materials for fire protection (Lecture) | Wood is an environmentally friendly building material that stores carbon throughout a building’s entire life cycle. However, wood used in public buildings must be treated with fire retardants, many of which contain harmful chemicals. Come and learn how wood can be protected using safe and natural alternatives – even with its own components! The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In Finnish | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 11:45-12:00 |
| Petri Manninen: Autonomous vehicles and 3D data (Lecture) | Autonomous transport robots and cars are starting to appear on our streets. What kind of 3D data do they collect? How could the collected 3D data be used in other applications, and how could it be used to solve problems in society and municipalities/cities? The lecture is suitable for young people and adults. In Finnish. |
School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 12:30-12:45 |
| Jere Partinen: Batteries – powering the green transition (Lecture) | With the green transition, the importance of batteries has grown tremendously, and the rapid increase in the number of electric cars in particular has increased demand for batteries. Nowadays, we all carry smartphones powered by batteries in our pockets. But how many of us actually know how these batteries work? Come and learn about how batteries work and the different types of batteries! The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In Finnish. |
School of Business, V002 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 13:45-14:15 |
| Zachary Taylor: What happens to your skin when you run into stinging nettle? (Lecture) | We use submillimeter wave imaging to investigate the distribution of water in your skin following a sting from common stinging nettle. The results are in consistent with conventional wisdom regarding the resulting welts. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In English. | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 10:15-10:30 |
| Ashish Thapliyal: Happiness Science (Lecture) | What really makes us happy? Are we chasing the right things in life? In this short talk, we will explore what science has learned about happiness and how small insights can change the way we think about life. Let’s together have a look at the science of happiness. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In English. | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 10:45-11:00 |
| Jukka Tuhkuri: Field work on the Weddell Sea in Antarctica - how we found the Endurance (Lecture) | Aalto University is conducting arctic marine and ice research in Antarctic waters. What does that mean and why are we doing that? Photos of penguins will be shown. The lecture linked to National Geographic’s Endurance movie. The lecture is suitable for all age groups. In English. | School of Business, V002 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 11:45-12:15 |
| Maija Vaara: Moving textiles (Lecture) | Folding fabric, fluttering butterfly, and transforming lace - new active yarns enable a whole new range of textiles. We explore the development of these active yarns and the different craft techniques they can used with. The lecture is suitable for all age groups. In Finnish. | School of Business, V002 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 11:00-11:30 |
| Johanna Viitanen: Gadgets That Just Work (lecture) | Why are some devices and digital services easy to use, while others frustrate us from the very first moment? This talk offers a peek into the secrets of usability! You'll see plenty of real-life examples and get practical tips on how better gadgets and services are actually designed. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In Finnish. |
School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 13:00-13:15 |
| Pedro Vilaça: Impact of Mechanical Engineers in Society (lecture) | Together we will explore the role and impact of a mechanical engineer in society. I hope that you, as it still happens to me, will be surprised by the large scope of responsibilities and skills of these engineers, and how their knowledge is excitingly evolving over life. Also, during our time together, I will share my understanding on how and why do solid-state materials can be mixed and join to each other, and how this knowledge can create pathways for a better world. The lecture is suitable for teenagers and adults. In English. | School of Business, U006 (Ekonominaukio 1) | 14:30-14:45 |
Tours
Please note that all the tours require registration.
| Tour | Description | Time | Meeting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aalto University Art collection tour | Join the tour with art curator Outi Turpeinen and get to know Aalto University's public art collections in the Marsio, Kide, and Viima buildings in more detail. Max 20 people/tour. |
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Tour 1: Väre lobby (Otaniementie 14)
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| Aalto University campus tour | This popular guided campus tour will take you on a journey, on which you will explore some of the finest examples of traditional and contemporary Finnish architecture. Our trained student guides will tell how our campus was transformed from an ancient village to an innovation hub. Walking through the main hot spots you will learn about history, architecture, and some of the sustainable solutions. Duration: 45 minutes. Max 15 people/tour. |
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Tour 1, in Finnish: Marsio lobby (Otakaari 2) Tour 2, in English: School of Business' lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) Tour 3, in Finnish: Väre lobby (Otaniementie 14) Tour 4, in English: Marsio Lobby (Otakaari 2) |
| The school of ARTS' workshops tour | Väre's workshops tour, guided by infrastructure manager Janne Hirvonen. Max 20 people/tour. In English. | 13:00-14:30 | Väre lobby (Otaniementie 14) |
| EPower Hub tour |
The ePowerHub enables research and education of electric machine and power-electronic converter technologies. We will present:
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Väre lobby (Otaniementie 14) |
| Ice and Water Tank Tour | Step inside the world’s largest ice tank, a basin measuring 40 x 40 meters in its area equipped with cooling and ice making system. The tank focuses on testing related to ice going ships, offshore structures in ice, and ice mechanics. With cutting-edge wave, cooling, and tracking systems, the facility has enabled first-of-its-kind studies. This short tour demonstrates science and engineering is applied to the challenges of the world’s coldest sea areas. Max 25 people/tour. |
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School of Business' lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) |
| Metsähovi Observatory Tour |
In Metsähovi radio telescopes are used around the clock, every day of the year, to study the universe at radio waves. The tour includes a presentation and a visit to the observatory equipment, including the 14-metre radio telescope. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and registration is mandatory. A free bus shuttle will take the participants to the observatory. By registering, you will reserve your seat on the bus. The tour is suitable for all age groups. Max 50 people/tour |
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Outside Marsio, Otakaari 2 |
Other activities
| Activity | Description | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| TriviAalto | 6 schools, 6 topics, 1 tournament. Come and test your knowledge on Aalto and its fields — guessing is allowed! How many correct answers will you get?Everyone wins a small prize, so get ready to play, learn and have fun!The game is suitable for > 7 years old children and their guardians. In Finnish and English. | Marsio (Otakaari 2A), Saastamoinen Foundation Stage | At 12:30-13:00 and 14:15-14:45 |
| A!Top concert | Start your day by rocking Marsio out with A!Top, the house band of Aalto university management! A!Top is a group of Aaltonians who have encouraged themselves way out of their comfort zone in the spirit of Aalto values: courage, passion, and freedom. A!Top, all amateur musicians, wants to bring up something memorable, out of the ordinary. The genre of A!Top is R&R&R, i.e. Rock & Roll & Rap, through four decades, just to demonstrate that it is valuable for all of us to stretch the personal limits. |
Marsio, Saastamoinen Foundation Stage | 10:15-10:45 |
| Designs for a Cooler Planet (Self guided tour) |
Come and get a glimpse of hope for a better future! The exhibition celebrates interdisciplinary creativity and cross-boundary collaboration—key elements for driving fundamental change and delivering truly novel solutions for a more sustainable future. |
Marsio (Otakaari 2 A), Event studio | Non-stop 10-15 |
| ELO's most successful short films |
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Väre, screening room F005 (Otakaari 14) |
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| Endurance documentary (National geographic) |
In a legendary feat of leadership and perseverance, polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton kept his crew of 27 men alive for over a year despite the loss of their ship in frigid pack ice. Over a century later, a team of modern-day explorers sets out to find the sunken ship. From National Geographic Documentary Films, ENDURANCE tells the inspiring stories of these two landmark expeditions, bound by their shared grit and determination. |
Marsio (Otakaari 2A), Cinema Sheryl | At 10:15-12:00 and 12:45-14:30 |
| Short videos on bio-based materials research |
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Marsio (Otakaari 2A), Saastamoinen Foundation Stage | 13:10-13:25 |
| Tokyo tattoo booth | Come and grab a little keepsake from the event! In the lobby, you’ll find a tattoo stand where TOKYO students will be applying transfer tattoos. | School of Business, lobby (Ekonominaukio 1) | Non-stop at 10:00-15:00 |
| Workshop master's exhibition | Workshops play a vital role in the School of Arts, Design and Architecture’s education, where pedagogy is combined with hands-on work. Skilled workshop masters maintain these creative spaces and guide both students and staff in their use. Dive into the expertise of our workshop masters! | Väre, main lobby and FE+FK lobby | Non-stop 10-15 |
Partner restaurants
Take a break and enjoy some yummy food between activities!
