The presenter was Mr. James Balog of the Extreme Ice Survey.  Speaking to an overflowing auditorium, Mr. Balog lectured by way of his amazing time-lapse photography film clips.  Using solar powered cameras permanently located at some of the most remote locations on earth, Jim Balog has assembled remarkable footage on the retreat of key glaciers over the past several years. I can honestly say that the audience was spellbound by what they were seeing and motivated to expand their own efforts to make a difference.

Then off to Oulu University of Applied Science where the School of Music, Dance and Media acted as the host of the Embassy’s sponsored “Scratch Ambassadors Tour”.  This was one stop on a multi-city Finnish tour for this hip-hop group from the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. For all of the various master classes and the concert itself, the joint was jumping.  

Scratching with Berklee Hip Hop Quartet in Oulu

Finally, a late night dinner with the Major of Oulu, Matti Pennanen and then I caught the late night flight back to Helsinki. My only regret was that I didn’t have more time on this trip, but I plan on getting back to Oulu soon.

In a three-day event, SciFest packed the Joensuu Areena with sophisticated displays that engaged visitors with the cutting-edge science that is changing our world for the better. I looked through new telescopes examining distant galaxies; watched as a remote sensors informed the “doctor” (me) about the health of my “patient” (a nearby plant that needed water); and learned of new products made from trees such as xylitol used to sweeten gum (free samples!) and medicine reducing the risk of cancer (no free samples!). 

Apollo 17 mission, 11 December 1972. This photograph was taken by scientist-astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt, lunar module pilot. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

Most impressive though was the way the presenters connected with the children – SciFest’s target audience who came from as far away as Taiwan and Kenya. As students built their own paper rockets and competed with homemade robots in the RoboCup competition, science suddenly became cool – and that is exactly what science needs to be to create the next Alfred Einstein or Rolf Nevanlinna.

The American GLOBE school program also aims to raise the profile of science among school children. The GLOBE program uses the internet to bring together science students from across the globe to participate in joint experiments with experienced American scientists. GLOBE school students are mapping weather patterns and tracking the health of forests – making science both relevant and fun!  Many of the schools participating at SciFest were also GLOBE schools. 

On SciFest’s second day, a US Embassy speaker, former astronaut Harrison Schmitt, received a rock-star reception from SciFest participants. Students packed the stands to hear Professor Schmitt described his Apollo landing on the moon. It is events like SciFest that bring the cool-factor back to science, inspiring the next generation of scientists to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.