Keyword: Press release

The University of Turku and one of Europe’s largest private AI labs Silo AI, with its large language model (LLM) arm SiloGen, are today announcing a large-scale initiative on open and trustworthy LLMs. SiloGen launches a consortium together with TurkuNLP research group to develop a family of open LLMs, including the world’s largest open source LLM. The initiative aims to ensure European digital sovereignty and democratise access to LLMs. 

The University of Turku continues its commitment to promoting high-quality doctoral training by opening up a call for applications for approximately fifty fixed-term doctoral researcher positions. The application period for the positions is 28 August – 15 September 2023. The employment contract begins on 1 January 2024 and will last for a maximum of four years. All current doctoral researchers as well as those who are also applying for the study right for doctoral training can apply for the funded positions.

Researchers inoculated oilseed rape plants with a species of fungus that is known for its ability to combat pest insects. Utilising the relationship between beneficial fungi and crop plants may introduce a new era of agriculture where the plant resilience is improved and the ecological footprint of traditional/chemical pesticides is minimised.

This year, the Elias Tillandz Prize was awarded to two outstanding research articles, which involved a mechanism related to the migration of cancer cells and a new analysis of a grave dating back to the early Middle Ages. The Prize was awarded to the researchers at the BioCity symposium on Thursday, 24 August 2023.

Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku is investing increasingly and more systematically in business research building further understanding of the maritime sector’s change dynamics and producing knowledge to support companies' business strategies. From this autumn, Turku School of Economics will strengthen the field through the Maritime@TSE research platform.

The Persian Gold Tarantula (Chaetopelma persianum) is a newly described species recently discovered in northwestern Iran. In fact, the “woolly, golden hairs” the scientists observed and examined on a single specimen, were one of the features so unique that it was not necessary for additional individuals to be collected and physically studied. It was clear enough that it was a species previously unknown to the scientific community. 

A new study of the PhyloBone project of the University of Turku, Finland, identifies hundreds of non-collagenous proteins in the bone matrix that may play regulatory roles in bone formation and regeneration. The study opens the door to new treatments and preventive measures for bone regeneration and osteoporosis research.

A recent analysis of what drives different scientific and societal interest in global species suggests we are missing knowledge on more than half of the world’s biodiversity. 

A new study shows that horses can differentiate between expressions of joy and sadness displayed by humans through facial movements or voice tones. Horses were more attracted by the facial expressions of joy than sadness and seemed more excited by the joyful voices.

The Symposium "Food for Sustainability and Health” gathers eighty experts and professionals in Turku during August 15-16th 2023. The Finland China Food and Health network aims to promote the collaboration among universities of the two countries as well as to enhance the cooperation between academia and industry to upgrade science and to create innovation.