Recognitions for contributions to science
The awards and recognitions are part of the duty of TSV to promote the operating conditions of science in Finland. They give visibility to the long-term work of individuals, communities and scientific societies and encourage the development of science and its operating methods. TSV presents the following awards:
- The Learned Society of the Year Award is awarded every two years for contributions to scientific societies and science. TSV presents the award in cooperation with the Alfred Kordelin Foundation.
- Open science awards are awarded annually to promoters of open science and open learning.
Learned Society of the Year Award
The Learned Society of the Year Award is given to a society or association whose operation to promote scientific communication and open scientific publication is particularly commendable. This recognition given by peers highlights the societal significance of scientific societies.
There are more than 300 scientific societies and associations in Finland whose activities are largely based on voluntary work. The societies publish studies and scientific journals and pass on researched information in an understandable manner to a wider audience. They play a key role in strengthening societal discussion, promoting openness in science and building active interaction between different disciplines.
Read more about scientific societies and their operation
The award was previously known as Tieteellisten seurain valtuuskunnan tiedepalkinto (TSV Science Award) and it has been granted at regular intervals since 2018. The award is worth 10,000 euros. The award is granted from the Alfred Kordelin Foundation’s 100th Anniversary Fund of the Council of Finnish Academies.
Who can receive the award?
The award may be granted to a scientific society or other similar scientific community.
Award criteria emphasise
- currency and significance of the activities
- scientific work done mainly on a voluntary basis
- and producing scientific information for the benefit of society.
The award can also take into account long-standing distinguished service to science.
How to nominate
You can nominate a member society of TSV or a scientific association or community that is otherwise accomplished as the recipient of the award.
The scientific societies and their members may submit nominations for the award when the proposal period is open. You can send the nomination and its justifications using an electronic Webropol form. The same nominator may make more than one nomination.
TSV and the Alfred Kordelin Foundation will announce the start of the proposal period on their websites. The proposal period for the 2027 award ended on 30 September 2026 and the winner will be announced at the Science Forum in January 2027.
Selection of the winner
The award committee, consisting of representatives of TSV and the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, evaluates all nominations and makes a proposal for the winner. The final decision is made by the board of the Alfred Kordelin Foundation.
The role of the Alfred Kordelin Foundation
The Learned Society of the Year Award is granted from the Alfred Kordelin Foundation’s 100th Anniversary Fund of the Council of Finnish Academies. The fund supports activities that raise the awareness of science, science events and other science-related activities.
For more information about the fund, visit the Alfred Kordelin Foundation’s website
Granted awards
| Awarded | Year |
|---|---|
| Maritime Archaeological Society of Finland | 2025 |
| Finnish Musicological Society, Tapio Onnela, MA | 2023 |
| Hanko Bird Observatory (Tringa ry) | 2021 |
| Ursa Astronomical Association, Matti Leskinen | 2019 |
| Society for European philosophy | 2018 |
Awards for open science
Every year, TSV awards open science awards to individuals, research groups and communities that have promoted open research, open learning or open operating methods in Finland. The awards are tributes and do not include a monetary prize.
National Open Science Award
The National Open Science Award is awarded to a person or research group who has promoted or increased the awareness of open science in their research or teaching work.
Champion of Open Science
The Champion of Open Science award recognises persons, communities or projects that have promoted the introduction of open practices and supported others in their development.
Open Science and Research Expert Award
The expert award highlights long-standing development carried out in open science expert groups.
Awards for open education
Awards for open education recognise activities that promote the openness of learning in Finland.
The awards:
- Open Education Influencer
- Open Educational Resource of the Year
- Open Educational Practice of the Year
How to nominate
You can make nominations for awards for open education annually through an open application process. TSV will announce the start of the application process on its website and communication channels. The recipients of other awards for open science are selected on an award-specific basis from nominations made by the national steering group or other evaluation groups.
Previous winners
TSV publishes news on the award winners and the grounds for the awards annually on its website.