Oulu arkistot - Page 5 of 6 - Oulun ylioppilaslehti

Dude, Where’s My Bike?

Bike theft is the most common crime in Europe, with the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Japan and Sweden having its highest rates. Over 17, 000 bikes were reported as stolen to insurance companies in Finland last year. This is approximately 6,000 more than in 2012. Still, the police do not believe bicycle thefts to be associated with organised crime.

In English

TEKSTI Margarita Khartanovich

KUVAT Minna Koivunen

“The biggest problem is the people who steal the bikes in order to sell them”, says Tiina, a student at the University of Applied Sciences in Oulu and continues: “Why don’t the police try to catch them? It is clearly an organized crime!”

Tiina’s bike was stolen from the yard of her own house (Puolivälinkangas) at night. It was locked.

“I was so sad because I just fixed it by myself and painted it yellow. Also, I had to go to the dentist that morning, so I had to leave in a hurry.”

“My bike was stolen from the yard of my building too”, explains Atte Koskela, an economics student at the University of Oulu.

“It was chained to a pole! I was very surprised as it had been at that same spot earlier.”

Koskela contacted the police and the thief was caught through other crimes.

“They found pictures of my bike in his cellphone but, unfortunately, the bike had been already sold. The thief has many crimes on him so I don’t believe I’m getting any compensation any time soon.”

Bicycle Black Market

According to Konsta Korhonen, Senior Detective Superintendent at Oulu Police Department, 1700 bikes have been reported stolen in the last 12 months (as for the period 1.9.2014 –31.8.2015). Investigators specializing in bike thefts are working at those cases but only 6–7% of bikes (111 items) have been returned to the original owners.

“It is so frustrating”, admits Tiina. “Police should really do something about it! I don’t want to buy an expensive bike because someone is going to steal it anyway.”

Kaleva reported some months ago that a fencer (person who buys stolen bikes and later sells them) was convicted. There are unfortunately several others like him but Oulu Police are targeting them. Apart from fencers, those involved in narcotics steal bikes to get enough cash to keep up with their habit. Nowadays it is just too easy to traffic stolen bikes by simply selling them online.

“My bike is somewhere now waiting to be sold. I looked for it in front of the bars, in the woods nearby and also on the Internet. Someone might have bought it already as no one cares whether it is a stolen bike. They just want a new bike at a cheap price”, says Tiina.

Atte Koskela confirms that those who steal locked bikes are usually those who do it regularly and sell them through websites like Tori.fi. They find buyers by contacting those who post bike purchase requests.

The riskiest place to leave your bike in Oulu is the city centre (around Rotuaari), according to Oulu Police.

Some bikes get stolen for temporary personal need, such as for returning home after a night out. The thieves abandon them later outdoors or by roadsides. In this case, Facebook groups like “Varastetut pyörat/Stolen Bikes Oulu” might be of some help. You can add a picture of your stolen bike there and see what happens.

“By using the connectivity of Facebook and the power of information we can cripple this cowardly act, this lucrative underground business”, claim the founders of the group.

Tiina says that quite many people find their bikes this way. The group’s active members take care of the bikes left in the woods, for example, and try to reach their owners.

It Can Happen to Anyone

The riskiest place to leave your bike in Oulu is the city centre (around Rotuaari), according to Oulu Police.

Atte Koskela lists Toppila and Kaukovainio as well. As for a type of a bike, generally the most popular brands, like Jopo, and bicycles worth less than one thousand euros get thieves’ attention. This is basically the majority of the bikes in Oulu. So, what can you do to protect your property?

“People should photograph their bikes and have serial numbers written down”, recommends Konsta Korhonen.

“Only then it is possible for the police to reliably return the bike even though components have been switched and/or the identity of the bike altered.”

In addition, always fasten it from the frame to a fixed object, such as a stand or pole.

“You need a strong U-lock and also don’t keep new and expensive bikes outside. Now I keep my new bike inside”, tells Atte Koskela.

And remember – a bicycle is a property; for many of us it is also a dear friend. Keep it in mind next time you buy someone’s stolen bike. If you refuse to purchase a bike without documents and serial number, you will help change the situation. Besides if found both the seller and the buyer will be fined, and depending on the circumstance both risk getting a criminal record and a possible jail sentence.

Julkaistu 11.11.20151.2.2023

Margarita Khartanovich

UUNI Editor, Master’s degree in Journalism (University of Tampere). Interested in politics, history, music, social issues and education. Twitter: @marthatcher

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New Solar System Research Opportunity At Our University

The International Space Station, the NASA New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Europa Multiple Flyby Mission - these are all international scientific collaborations that are considered humankind’s most ambitious experiments. And do you know that the University of Oulu is now taking an active part in NASA’s Mission to Moon Europa?

In English

TEKSTI Margarita Khartanovich

KUVAT Alisa Tciriulnikova

We asked Juergen Schmidt, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oulu, how the university happened to become part of a NASA mission.

“I have been working with Sascha Kempf (a research associate at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, LASP, at the University of Colorado) for a long time in the team of the Cosmic Dust Analyser instrument on board the ESA/NASA Cassini spacecraft at Saturn,” said Schmidt.

“After Kempf had accepted a position at LASP, I became a Co-investigator of his proposal to NASA for the development and building of SUDA for future space missions. This instrument was recently selected by NASA for the forthcoming Jupiter mission.”

This exciting collaboration between the Faculty of Science of the University of Oulu and LASP of the University of Colorado is an obvious advantage of internationalization, fully supported by the administration of both universities. Just to understand the scale of the project we will tell you that in 2016 NASA will spend 30 million dollars to formulate the mission to Europa. It has already selected nine science instruments (and SUDA is one of them) to investigate whether the mysterious icy moon could harbour conditions suitable for life.

“This is a giant step in our search for oases that could support life in our own celestial backyard,” said Curt Niebur, Europa program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“We’re confident that this versatile set of science instruments will produce exciting discoveries on a much-anticipated mission.”

Another interesting fact about this project is that students can make their contribution too.

“Students from the University of Oulu can participate in this project”, confirms Schmidt.

“I will begin to formulate tasks of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses related to the dust instrument on the mission. Besides, students may have an opportunity to do their doctoral studies in this context.”

According to Professor Schmidt, working on the international projects of this kind is an excellent reference for students, which can boost their chances in first-class research institutions. And for Finland it might be a good boost too, for its scientific recognition globally.

Julkaistu 21.10.20151.2.2023

Margarita Khartanovich

UUNI Editor, Master’s degree in Journalism (University of Tampere). Interested in politics, history, music, social issues and education. Twitter: @marthatcher

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Hi 5, Companies in Oulu You Would Like to Work For

Normally companies which are steadily growing are also the ones hiring, whether they are young and perky rising companies or older, experienced, and expanding into new ventures.

In English Työelämä

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

Siili Solutions

Siili means ‘hedgehog’ in Finnish. However, this company has nothing to do with actual living, breathing, prancing hedgehogs. What Siili Solutions specializes in is digital services, from design to implementation and data management. At the time of writing this, there are sadly no open positions for recently graduates in Oulu but they still encourage you to drop them your CV. And what do hedgehogs have to do with digital services? Why don’t you ask them? Your interest might pique theirs.

VTT

VTT is a leading research and technology company. They are constantly looking for talented and innovative people (I assume). They even have PhD programs. Their areas range from Chemical Synthesis, Chemical Process Engineering, Software, and Applied Mathematics. VTT’s webpage explains that they are looking for trainees and thesis workers. By starting as either of those positions you can gain a solid platform to launch your career.

Elektrobit

Elektrobit is a company which deals with embedded software for the automotive industry and is a child company of Continental AG, an automotive manufacturing company. Elektrobit is hiring at the moment, looking for both experienced and newly graduated individuals, provided they know a thing or two about programming, security in software development, or software testing. So if you are like Neo and think you are the One, why don’t you apply? Deadline is 30th of September, so chop chop.

The Big Four (PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte)

Let’s get down to business! Heh, “business”. Get it? Because they are busin- no? Okay… Ahem, the so-called Big Four are the most prominent auditing companies in the world, and won’t you know it, three of them have offices right here in Oulu. Every year they hire people in the business and law areas. Granted, not so many, but if you got what it takes, you should look into applying for their traineeship programs.

Technopolis

Technopolis offers networking services and office space services, among other things. At the moment of writing this piece, Technopolis has no open positions in Oulu, but you may send them an open application through their website. Office and working space is something that is and may always be in demand, so it is likely that this company will continue to grow and hire more personnel in Oulu as new companies are formed.

Julkaistu 23.9.20151.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

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Staying In Oulu After Graduation?

Finish school, learn a profession, find a job. Easier said than done. The traditional ways of getting employed don’t seem to work anymore, which evokes despair and scares the living daylights out of university graduates. We talked to Oulu students and learnt how they saw their future.

In English

TEKSTI Bianca Beyer

KUVAT Anni Hyypiö

When you ask people close to their graduation what they plan to do next, the answer is straightforward: Find a job. But what kind of a job and, more importantly, how, and where? Does everybody have to start as an unpaid intern? Are all these years of grinding away at the university assignments and thesis not supposed to be a free ticket into the first best manager position?

It’s true that the unemployment rate has increased in Finland in the recent years, especially among the young people*. In the North of the country the chances of finding a job are particularly scarce, last but not least due to the less dense population up here. “Northern graduates” choose to move south even before exploring and experiencing the local labor market. It’s hard to find a student in Oulu, who does not instantly plan a move to Helsinki.

From Oulu to the big world

Johanna Tolonen has graduated from the University of Oulu this year and is currently employed by her alma mater as a research assistant. Working at the university was never part of her plan but she enjoys the experience. Even though she could stay and continue her job, she is sure to move south when the contract ends in October.

“I always wanted to move south after graduating. I have lived in Oulu my whole life, and it’s time to see something new!” she explains.

Besides, the vacancies in her field, marketing, tend to be open mostly in the Helsinki area. She does not exclude a comeback to Oulu, perhaps for a PhD, but now she feels it’s high time to explore different regions.

So, the Finns escape from Oulu to the south. What about those who come from abroad and pick Oulu as a place to study and live? Do they actually plan to stay?

Puya Purbaba has just moved to Oulu from Iran to do his Master’s in Wireless Communications Engineering. He says that his life so far is exactly how he planned it. He has chosen this university because it has a great reputation in his field, and he wants to work in the industry after finishing his studies. Most probably not in Oulu though – he is used to living in bigger cities.

While for Purbaba our beloved city seems to be just a stepping-stone, Endrit Dosti from Albania, who coincidently starts studying in the same program this year, is more open for staying. He has already adjusted his plan by adding a possibility of working at the university and, if he decides for Academia, Oulu is definitely his first choice.

Back to the roots

Oulu does get some plus points on the students’ evaluation list but quite few show their interest in settling here. Probably, for young people this place is too small to satisfy their hunger for adventures, their ambitions and to fulfill their life-long dreams. The thing is that the situation can change once they experience the world, pay their dues and grow older.

Petteri Keinänen graduated from the University of Oulu with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has worked in Helsinki and occasionally all over Finland for years, and is planting his trees in Oulu again by opening his own business here – Exit Oulu, an “escape room”. Those of you who watch Big Bang Theory know what this is about – solving riddles in a closed room in order to get out of there.

He could have done it in any other city but Oulu is his sweet home. Even though he has lived in Helsinki for quite a while, he never really felt like he belonged there. Nevertheless, if you ask him now whether he has planned this all along, he’ll definitely answer with a “No”. He came up with this idea just a year ago. It wasn’t part of his “plans for the future” when he graduated.

Traveling around and seeing lots of places might bring us back to the one we’d like to settle in, as in Keinänen’s case. Being flexible and open for opportunities, like in Johanna Tolonen’s case, might bring us valuable experience. After all, life doesn’t really care much about your plans. It has been well said that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

*Source: Statistics Finland, 25 August 2015.

Julkaistu 23.9.20151.2.2023

Bianca Beyer

When I don’t sit over plans to erase all evil and meet unicorns, or dream of eating cotton candy, I believe in hard facts and science, doing my PhD in Accounting at the University of Oulu. Using writing as an information transmitter, outlet for creativity or simply for mere entertainment, I believe I am totally living the dream with all my current jobs. Blog: beapproved.wordpress.com

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Hi 5, Tips For Surviving Your Autumn In Oulu

The Autumn semester is beginning and with it, a whole lot of possibilities and challenges. So remember to stay warm, shop smart, eat well, get some D, and remain at all times at least 30% sober.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

Eat Well But Don’t Overdo It

Winter is coming! So it is only natural that your body will want to get some reserves for the upcoming season. But if you are like me and are half human and half potato, it might be in your best interest to not get too excited with the sweets and candy, lest you are not able to return to your beach body in time for next summer.

Go Get That D

Autumn is the time of the year where the nights get increasingly longer and the days shorter. This lack of sunlight will most certainly deprive you from much needed vitamin D. This vitamin is good for your bones, skin, and immune system. Lack of D can result in winter depression or, as I like to call it: “The Darkness Syndrome”. Dramatic names aside, the lack of sunlight can impact your mood and energy levels negatively, so take a small trip to the supermarket and get a big bottle of D for those long, dark, and lonely nights.

Be Mindful of Your Shopping

Tuesday afternoon, you’re walking down a supermarket aisle, thinking what to get for dinner. You end up with butter, beer, and 5 kilos of chocolate ice-cream – a typical day or as they say ‘normipäivä’. I’m not judging since I’m all up for stuffing my face with delicious goodies. However, goodies tend to be expensive and then there’s no money left to do cool things like traveling, going out, and saving for a new ice-cream machine. Try making a list of things you need before shopping and stick to it.

Layers, Layers, Layers

Did you know Finland is cold during winter? I’m talking about licking-a-metal-pole-and-getting-your-tongue-stuck cold, not that I would know. The secret to warmth is layers. Layering is an art as much as it is a science, and each person has their own way of doing it. This is my recommendation for extreme cold (-25°C or -13°F): start with an undershirt and undertrousers, followed by t-shirt and trousers. Next, put on a fleece cardigan or pullover, and if necessary add a larger pullover. The last layer can be a ski jacket and pants, as they are trendy and useful. For your feet: two pairs of socks and insulated boots should do the trick. To protect your hands wear undergloves and warm windproof mittens. For your neck, a combination of neck gaiter and a scarf is unbeatable. Finally, a warm headband followed by a beanie will complete your transformation into an unbeatable anti-cold machine. Easy peasy!

Enter Sandman (a.k.a. Nukkumatti)

They say you never forget how to ride a bike. And if you don’t know yet, I would say it’s high time you did. Oulu has one of the best cycling roads in the world, and since the land is relatively flat, it makes the ride much more pleasant. All you need is a pair of wheels, and you are able to explore this beautiful city’s splendor. Just remember to always lock your bike with a sturdy U-lock so you can be sure that your new best friend is safe.

Julkaistu 26.8.20151.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

Lue lisää:

Life Is a (Cheap) Journey

Pack your bags, grab your camera, it’s summer! It’s time to travel. Low-budget traveling does not only save you money; it is also way more fun than a standard “hotel-beach-repeat” vacation.

In English

TEKSTI Bianca Beyer

One of the biggest advantages of having a daily life in Finland is the existence of the ultimate holiday month – July. Sticking around your working place that month would make little sense because no one else will be there but you. And even if workaholics block the doorway in your office to prevent your escape, you won’t be able to reach any of your customers.
Because in July, Finnish people pack their necessities and move to a cottage in the woods, far away from civilization, the Internet and phones. Sure, if you are a student, you might need to earn some money doing a summer job, but we claim there’s always some leverage in July.
What if there is time, but no money, you ask? Worry not, our second promise for an awesome experience is based on the assumption that low-budget holidays offer more fun, experience, wisdom and great times than “normal” vacations, anyways!
The options are numerous. You don’t need to fly thousands of kilometers in order to see something new. A good way to travel is for instance by train. If you are under 26, you get special prices for Interrailing.

Through Europe by Train: Interrail

If you want to see more than two countries and have some extra cents to spend, it makes sense to book a “global” pass for up to 30 countries. To keep costs low, you could for example focus on Eastern Europe – this is how Laura Riuttanen and Jere Väisänen did it on their Interrail trip. They visited Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Czech, and the living costs were “nothing compared to Finland”.

“Choose restaurants that are not touristic – if they don’t have an English menu, for example, it’s a good sign you will get cheaper and more original meals,” explains Riuttanen.

Unlike Riuttanen and Väisänen did, who flew to Poland first, Maria Vilas Trias is traveling with her friends now starting directly from Finland. They have 22 travel days and will spend a bit over a month in total, and so far they paid 300 euros each – for train tickets, ferries, and hostels.

If you like trains, there are also options outside Europe. Santiago Osorio, for instance, will go with four other friends by Trans-Siberian express from Moscow to Beijing. That trip takes about two weeks with some stops, and is only slightly more expensive than an Interrail trip. The good thing: the train contains beds already, so while moving forward, you spare costs for a hotel. And in Mongolia, when visiting Ulan Bator, they will stay at a couchsurfer’s place instead of a hostel – low cost, high cultural interaction.

Work & Travel

If this has not convinced you, or you don’t like trains, have you thought of doing something good while being abroad? With AIESEC, for example, in the scope of the Global Citizen Project, you can help in a developing (or any other) country for board and lodge, and you only need to pay for your transportation.
Or if you have Erasmus-friends, how about paying them a visit? Finally, if you are really broke and cannot go anywhere, you could offer your own place for couchsurfers and get to know people from all around the world without moving an inch. You’ll be surprised what a popular destination Oulu is!

Be prepared

The better you prepare, the more you will have from your trip. Eventual visas, vaccinations, what to pack – find information online in blogs or in books. For the Interrail, for example, Laura Riuttanen recommends Europe on a Shoestring.

Don’t be naïve – the world is a little bit less safe outside Finland. Take a lock with you, and don’t leave any valuables ever behind, not even in a hostel. Don’t keep all your belongings in the same place and try to carry important things close to your body. Pack light because half of the clothes you take you won’t need.

Plan variety – after the 7th capital, even the biggest city fan gets tired of hot pavements. Some nature, a lake, some beach in between will keep you interested and relaxed. And don’t ever try to save money on necessary essentials like accommodation or food – you will be thankful for a good night of rest after days or weeks on busy trains.

Just do it

While all this might seem to you like an unfair teaser to show you what other people can afford and you can’t – don’t get us wrong. While we cannot stress often enough how important traveling is, we also continuously show how easily achievable it is. It will improve your knowledge, your language skills, but most important, it will help you to be open minded, tolerant, patient and experienced – great soft skills on a CV, by the way.

No one can take away what you learn in your trip from you: the people you meet, and the cultures you explore. If you are thinking of buying a new TV or of asking your parents for a new phone – rather invest this amount of money in traveling. Especially now, as a student, or as an employee in Finland with mentioned July-sabbatical, you have a chance to experience something great.
And even though this phrase sounds corny: you might regret not taking the chances, later when circumstances change. You never know how drastically it might change your life. Gilberto Oliveira Neto, on his 4th volunteer placement for AIESEC, landed in Oulu – and has been staying here for two years now studying in a whole new program, just because he fell in love with the country.

Life is a journey, so go travel it!

Julkaistu 1.7.20151.2.2023