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What if retirement homes were replaced with grandma’s cottages? And what if touchscreens could be bent into any shape?

New article and video series looks into the future – and shows how people at Aalto are building it.

The stories, pictures and videos from the ‘What if’ series present seventeen research, art and teaching projects from different parts of Aalto University that are ambitious, impactful and bold. Thanks to our researchers and students, the textiles of the future can be grown in Finnish forests, 3D glasses can be part of an electrician’s toolkit, and soon there will be a hundred Finnish satellites orbiting in space. But what if every student had their own well-being coach? And what if cows all over the world ate Finnish wood?

Find out about the projects and the people behind them at . We also publish a new video every week in Aalto’s social media channels – so you can follow us on , , and , and with hashtag #whatif.

Photo: Aleksi Poutanen

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Three people talk at a round table; woman holds a cup, phone nearby, tech wall behind
Research & Art Published:

How to attract employees back to the office

Return-to-office policies are popular among employers, but securing employee cooperation hinges on offering them a fair exchange in return for accepting less autonomy.
A dog and two researchers. Photo: Aalto University/Mikko Raskinen
Research & Art Published:

Assistance dogs interpret needs of the person they assist non-verbally

A recent study shows that assistance dogs not only help people with practical tasks, but also actively contribute to their care
Two people in dark jackets stand by wide indoor stairs with wooden railings and modern lighting
Studies Published:

From Singapore to Finland: Students discover new perspectives on sustainability at Aalto University

In March 2026, Aalto University Summer School had the privilege of hosting a group of bright and ambitious students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore for a two-week program on social sustainability and creativity.
From left: Prof. Stefan Weinzierl (TU Berlin), Prof. Johannes M. Arend (Aalto University), and Prof. Christoph Pörschmann (TH Köln) after the Lothar-Cremer Award ceremony at DAGA 2026 in Dresden, Germany.
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Professor Johannes M. Arend from Acoustics Lab receives Lothar-Cremer Award

Professor Johannes M. Arend was honoured for his innovative and groundbreaking work in the fields of binaural technology and virtual acoustics