Teaching and education
In 2017–2018 Luomus began to systematically focus more of its work on teaching. Luomus experts are focusing on research-based teaching on various species, their distribution and evolution. In addition, the Natural Sciences Unit is teaching geology and the use of chronology methods in studying the past.
Luomus researchers have traditionally taught in University of Helsinki species identification and fieldwork courses both in the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. An important new emphasis is to develop digital teaching materials, which in terms of species names and images will be integrated into the IT systems of the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility. Luomus is also responsible for the apprenticeship training of taxidermists in Finland.
The Botanic Gardens of Luomus support both university education and gardening students in secondary and higher education by offering opportunities to complete on-the-job training modules. The intention is to increasingly take advantage of the exhibitions in the Natural History Museum as a basis for university teaching. Every year, Luomus also hosts several trainees from the fields of tourism, biology, museology and communications as well as comprehensive school pupils completing their work experience periods (TET).
Luomus researchers supervise master’s theses and dissertations, primarily but not exclusively for the University of Helsinki. In 2017 and 2018 a total of 11 doctoral dissertations and 15 master’s theses were completed under the supervision of Luomus staff (Table 13). In addition, Luomus staff has contributed to dozens of University of Helsinki courses every year.
