Muccians around the world – Mirka Viitala and Katja Lahikainen from LUT University at the Aquatech Amsterdam fair
Mirka and Katja participated in Aquatech Amsterdam exhibition on November 6–9, 2023. LUT University participated as an exhibitor together with other Finnish water experts at the Finnish Pavilion. We shared our stand with Blue Economy Mikkeli (BEM) and Mipro Oy.
The main aim of the participation was to create new contacts in order to expand the collaboration both in the Master’s Programme in Water Technology and in the research activities of the Department of Separation Science. In addition, we promoted our International Conference on Emerging Trends in Water Treatment 2024.
The participation in Aquatech Amsterdam provided fruitful discussions with both Finnish and international professionals. One of the most promising discussions was with the representatives from Wetsus, which is a local research institute and part of WaterCampus Leeuwarden. They have a similar type of Master’s Programme that we offer at LUT University, and we could learn a lot from them, especially concerning the implementation of company collaboration in teaching. Another interesting contact was a scientist from US EPA, who studies emerging micropollutants. He was interested to give joint lectures for LUT University and Xamk with a focus on PFAS compounds.
During the exhibition, we also met Finnish companies who were interested to collaborate with our Master’s Programme. These discussions will continue via email. During the exhibition, Mirka and Katja also followed multiple presentations concerning topical water related issues, such as industrial water circulation and emerging contaminants, including PFAS compounds.
- Mirka Viitala, Post-doctoral researcher, Coordinator of Master’s Programme in Water Technology,
Department of Separation Science, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, mirka.viitala@lut.fi, Mobile +358 504 341 057 - Katja Lahikainen, D.Sc. (Econ.&Bus.Adm.), Director, Centre for Separation Technology (CST), LUT University, LUT School of Engineering Science, Department of Separation Science, katja.lahikainen@lut.fi, Mobile +358 400 570 603