Centre for Environmental Research

Welcome to the pages of Aronia, and the Centre for Environmental Research at Campus Raseborg!

The Aronia centre for environmental research was launched in late autumn 2000. The basic idea was to create a joint platform for research serving a traditional academic institution, the Åbo Akademi University (ÅA) and a University of Applied Science, Novia, the former Sydväst Polytechnic. The centre was to create and coordinate research crediting both academia and real operative management of natural resources based on knowledge. From the very beginning, the Aronia Centre for environmental research focused on coastal ecology.

The research and development profile of Novia encompasses adaptive coastal management, briefly in European Union jargon ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management). Basically, the research done at Åbo Akademi University the Department of Biology, Environmental and Marine Biology links closely to the research done at Aronia. The idea is that these two parties in a joint venture should create something useful and innovative!

At Novia Raseborg, the centre also work together with the international programme in Integrated Coastal Zone Management and the degree programme in environmental planning.

Mikael Kilpi has headed the centre for environmental research at Aronia since the beginning, together with Wille Fortelius. The centre now works in close alliance with the Aronia coastal zone research team, yet another joint operation. At ÅA, prof. Kai Lindström co-heads this team.

We can be found at the Novia Campus Ekenäs, halfway between Helsinki and Turku, close to the Hanko Peninsula at Ekenäs, Raseborg. We do ecological research in a coastal and archipelagal environment, both basic and applied research to meet management needs. Our area is rich in coastal biodiversity, and holds large nature reserves, and also serves an increasing pool of people seeking leisure at sea and on the islands.

Gustavsvärn Lighthouse, Hanko. Photo: Mikael Kilpi