Eva-Mari Aro is the Professor of the Year

​The research of the Academy of Finland´s Centre of Exellence on photosynthesis and solarfuel is focused on the Department of Biochemistry and Food Chemistry of the University of Turku.

The Finnish Union of University Professors announced their choice in the Science Forum 2013 in Helsinki. The prize money of the professor of the year is 20 000 euro.

- We value the strong contribution of Professor Eva-Maria Aro in all the fields of the professor´s job. The research work of Professor Aro is fruitful and her social influencing widely recognized. In our selection, we also emphasised the internationality of her career and the fact that her research group is multidisciplinary, says the Chairman of the union Maarit Valo.

Replacing Fossil Fuel with Photosynthesis

The laboratory, which Professor Aro leads has become one of the most esteemed centres of photosynthesis research. In the latest years, the group has focused on studying how one could make the photosynthesis mechanisms to produce pure carbon dioxide free energy for entire humankind by using only water and sunlight as materials.

- One of the highlights of my career was in the years 2005-2006, when I and about thirty other European researchers met in the Max Planck Institute in Mulheim, Germany. In there, we decided that the photosynthesis research needs to be taken to utilization. Photosynthesis has produced all the fossil fuels of the world and it could be also used to replace them, Aro tells and continues:

- Previously, I saw myself as a basic researcher, not adapter. I thought that if I can´t get funding for the basic research, I will just start to teach and do that well. But when I came across with the application possibilities of photosynthesis, the research just swept me away. You can´t just order a research personality to do applied science, but because the applications are based on basic research, they will always come along in due course.

Home Base in the University of Turku

Aro started her path at the University of Turku in the year 1969. First became studies, then graduation and the research career.

- Nowadays, it is trendy to switch university. I got a permanent position job in the University of Turku, when I was fairly young so I have ended up stayed here. Of course, I have packed my bags regularly and spent numerous of periods as a researcher in different universities around the world, but I have always returned, Aro tells.

Text: Hannu Aaltonen and the Finnish Union of University Professors
Translation: Henna Borisoff
Photograph: Mika Keränen