On Wednesday they lecture about their research area; on mobility and gait parameters in older people.
– It will be a broad overview with a focus on outdoor mobility in different environments. And Emmi will present her future thesis, says Merja Rantakokko.
She got in touch with CASE's professor Susanne Iwarsson already in 2006.
– I am grateful that she became my supervisor then, I was so interested in environmental features and mobility outdoors, but could not find a supervisor in Finland. The collaboration has continued with Susanne, Björn Slaug, Maria Nilsson and other researchers in Lund. My last visit here was four years ago, now you are in a new building, it’s impressive. We are also looking forward to see MoRe-Lab, continues Merja Rantakokko.
In Finland there is a similar movement lab in faculty of sport and health sciences, but not as modern and new as the one in Lund. The research in ageing that is conducted here is internationally renowned.
– Within environmental gerontology, it is unique to have such a large center as you have in Lund, it is successful.
What else are you going to do this week?
– We have a long list of everything we want to learn, for example about user participation. It is not so common at Finnish universities, it occurs more at other institutes. But we have to involve the users more, the societal impact is the most important thing. How can we be sure without discussing with them?
What do you hope to get out of the visit to Lund?
– I believe and hope we will have future research projects together. We have already had joint publications and are planning more, says Merja Rantakokko.
What are the conditions in Finland for ageing research?
– It becomes more and more difficult, with tougher competition for the grants. Now the rules for funding post doctoral researchers have changed, which means challenges for their research career. They flee the academy after their dissertation. And that's what the politicians want – well-educated people are needed outside the academy. But it is not so good, we are losing many talented researchers, says Merja Rantakokko.
What do you think about that, being a PhD student?
– It is challenging, therefore it is valuable to be able to come here to Lund and make contacts. Doctoral students must be open-minded and active in order to progress to the next project, it is important to network, says Emmi Matikainen-Tervola.