Niemelä, Bernelius, Ainiala get Helsinki Medal

Rector Jari Niemelä and Assistant Professor Venla Bernelius of the University of Helsinki have been awarded the Golden Helsinki Medal, the highest accolade granted by the City of Helsinki.

The City of Helsinki Scientific Award was presented to Professor Terhi Ainiala, said a press release issued by the University of Helsinki.

Niemelä has been awarded the Golden Helsinki Medal in recognition of his distinguished activities for the benefit of the city and its residents. Niemelä has strengthened the partnership between the university and the city, in a collaboration that involves, among other things, preventing segregation, underlining the significance of urban policy and solving global challenges.

Venla Bernelius studies the factors contributing to differentiation in segregation and in the school system in particular. Bernelius’s work has a key role in the city’s efforts to become a leading example in Europe in the prevention of segregation.

Terhi Ainiala, professor of Finnish language specialising in onomastics at the University of Helsinki received the City of Helsinki Scientific Award. Her socio-onomastic research focuses on informal urban place names and the social identity of speakers.

In addition, the city awarded research grants for, among other topics, studying urbanisation and its impact.

The awards were presented at the Helsinki Day ceremony on 12 June.