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Panu Pulma

Panu Tapio Pulma
2 October 1952, Kajaani, Finland

Master of Arts 1980
Doctor of Philosophy 1985 (Finnish and Scandinavian History)
Docent in Finnish and Scandinavian History (University of Helsinki) 1986

Assistant, Associate Professor, and acting Professor (University of Helsinki and University of Joensuu) 19822015
Historical researcher, Kajaani City, 1987–1992
Senior researcher, Academy of Finland, 1997–2000
Academy Research Fellow, Academy of Finland, 2001
University lecturer in Finnish and Nordic History 2001-
Project Manager, Academy of Finland, 1988–91 and 2010–2013

Publications, research projects and other scientific activities

Research interests: Poverty, child welfare and social policy history, family history, urban history, history of minorities

Awards and special achievements
Väinö Voionmaa Award for best local historical research 1996: Pikkukaupungin unelmia. Kajaani 1907-1977 (‘Small town dreams: Kajaani 1907-77’), co-author Oiva Turpeinen
State Award for Public Information 2013: Suomen romanien historia (‘The history of Finnish Roma’), co-authored with a research group
Gunnar Mickwitz Prize for work on Nordic history 2013

Written by Panu Pulma and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.)
Translated by Joe McVeigh and John Calton. Revised by John Calton.

My best memories of the University

In all the years I’ve been working in the University, the best thing to have happened to me is the chance I’ve had to work with some top-rate scholars, and yes, strong personalities! Eino Jutikkala, Yrjö Blomstedt, Matti Vikari, Matti Klinge, Heikki Ylikangas, to name but a few. I have the deepest respect for these paragons, as well as the right to disagree - not always an easy circle to square. But what an unbeatable school for thought!

The best has been the opportunity to cross disciplinary boundaries through unanticipated teamwork and friendships: the now famous Pam-Pam seminar which back in the 1980s got together scholars of history, sociology, philosophy, jurisprudence and mathematics. It’s a pity that that kind of arrangement seems to be pretty much ruled out these days. Efficiency + effectiveness = dullness!

Another, more positive, plus has been the good fortune to be constantly in touch with young people: teaching and supervision are the academic spice of life - when the interaction works and the taught learn, that is!

My most beautiful and touching moment however was when my students and colleagues sprung on me a magnificent 60th birthday festschrift Viapori – linnoitus, lähiseutu, maailma/Sveaborg, fästning och omvärld (‘Suomenlinna –the fortress, the locality, and the rest of the world’) and a seriously enjoyable party in the new student house in Mannerheim street.

A blog of the Sveaborg-Viapori project, an Academy of Finland project 2010-13, is available here.

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