My best memories from the University of Helsinki

My best memories from the University concern moments when I've been part of a team of colleagues achieving something collectively. My particular favourite is the third Nordic intellectual history conference for post-graduate students (NIHK), organised by a group of post-graduate students from the Department of History in 2001.

There were seven or eight of us who enthusiastically took on the task of organising a successful conference, and indeed we managed to pull off the whole project. Everything was planned and prepared, funding, practical arrangements, academic content, keynote speakers, dinners, et cetera, down to the minutest detail. When the actual conference opened, you could feel we had given it our all. Those of us who were there organising the NIHK2001 conference will treasure those memories for as long as we live.

I remember renting a bicycle for the wife of a Princeton professor, taste-testing different menus at the restaurant in the Suomenlinna Officers' Club, and many other practical details. That was true teamwork in action and we accomplished something great.

By Peter Stadius (Tomas Sjöblom ed.). Translated by Tero Heikkinen, revised by Matthew Billington.

Peter Stadius

Born January 16, 1970, Turku

Master of Arts 1997, PhD 2005 (history), University of Helsinki

Acting professor of Nordic studies 2013–15, professor 2015–, University of Helsinki
Research director of the Centre for Nordic Studies (CENS) 2013–, University of Helsinki
Acting university lecturer in Nordic studies 2006–13, University of Helsinki
Project secretary for the Zacharias Topelius Skrifter project 2005–06, Society of Swedish Literature in Finland
Acting research associate in Scandinavian history 2000–01, University of Helsinki

Research themes:
The image of the Nordic countries, national and regional stereotypes, Nordic cooperation, minority cultures, the north and south of Europe, the culture of memory

Publications, research projects and other academic activity

Photo: Linda Tammisto / Helsingin yliopisto
Written by Peter Stadius (Tomas Sjöblom, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington