Novia Researcher Receives Post-Doc Funding from Nessling Foundation

21.11.2025
Research News
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Project researcher Andreas Otterbeck at Novia University of Applied Sciences has been awarded €73,000 in post-doctoral funding from the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation – one of Finland’s most prominent environmental funders.

The Nessling Foundation recently announced the results of its general funding call for 2025. A total of 29 projects will receive funding, contributing in various ways to the sustainability transition, with a combined total of €2.84 million. The funded projects cover themes such as technological criticism, risk management related to the ecological crisis, transformation in agriculture and forestry, and cultural and behavioral change.

Otterbeck’s two-year post-doc project is titled “From the Sea to the Sahel (and back?): wintering grounds of uncertainty.”

Research on the Caspian Tern

Otterbeck’s research focuses on the Caspian tern in the Baltic Sea region (Finland, Sweden, and Estonia) and its wintering grounds in Africa. The project investigates why the birds choose certain habitats over others, how these areas have changed over time, and how increasing drought in the Sahel region (south of the Sahara) affects populations.

– Right now, I’m studying how Caspian terns move between colonies in the Baltic Sea, how faithful they are to their nesting sites, and how predator protection can strengthen colonies. Predation is a major threat, and our unique dataset of nearly 300 GPS-tracked terns gives us a solid foundation for analysis, says Otterbeck.

Nessling Foundation – A Leading Actor

The Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation was established in the 1960s in Helsinki with the aim of promoting technical and scientific research to prevent air and water pollution and strengthen environmental protection. The foundation awards grants and research funding, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, and disseminates scientific knowledge to accelerate the green transition.

With the motto Pro Aere, Aqua, Terra – for the best of air, water, and earth, the foundation has become a key player in building an ecologically sustainable society.

For Novia, the funding is an important recognition of the university’s research in sustainability and biodiversity.

– This grant is absolutely crucial for our research on the Caspian tern and strengthens Novia’s role in international research on bird populations and the effects of climate change, says Otterbeck.

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