Geospatial expert named Professor of the Year 2025
Her enthusiasm for satellite positioning has led Heidi Kuusniemi to interesting tasks in product development and research. In her opinion, the recognition of the Finnish Union of University Professors is also a recognition of Finnish positioning expertise.
Being chosen as the Professor of the Year was a pleasant surprise for Heidi Kuusniemi, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vaasa, which she could not believe at first. Kuusniemi, who is known as an expert in geospatial technology and satellite navigation, is still a little confused by the fact that the Finnish Union of University Professors chose her as the Professor of the Year 2025.
"Although I have been doing research and product development in space technology and positioning systems for more than 20 years, I have however worked as a professor at a university only for a few years," she says.
Although Kuusniemi has a business background, she has nothing to be ashamed of in her scientific resume either. In addition to her work as a professor of computer science, she coordinates the University of Vaasa's multidisciplinary Digital Economy research platform and the activities of the Kvarken Space Centre, works as a part-time research professor in satellite positioning at the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute of the National Land Survey of Finland, and holds docentships in satellite positioning at Tampere University and Aalto University. In addition, she is the President of the Nordic Institute of Navigation, as well as a prolific publisher and participant in public debate.
The appreciation of geospatial data is reflected in the selection
Kuusniemi is pleased that the choice of the Finnish Union of University Professors also made Finnish positioning expertise visible. In her opinion, it shows that the scientific world sees geospatial and satellite data as important for society as a whole.
"The importance of geospatial and satellite data has increased over the past twenty years, and their role is emphasised at a time like this, when interference with satellite positioning has increased," she says.
Kuusniemi has studied how interference towards satellite positioning can be prevented. In recent research results, small satellites seem to emerge as one of the ways to develop satellite positioning and make it more resistant to interference. According to her, the European Union's own Galileo satellite positioning system is also in many ways more advanced than other global satellite navigation systems.
As a professor in her dream profession
Kuusniemi, who was born in Pietarsaari on the coast of Ostrobothnia, was interested in technology from an early age. She completed her master's thesis at the Tampere University of Technology in cooperation with Nokia's mobile positioning product development unit at a time when satellite positioning research was still in its early stages. This opened up a long research career for her, which brought her back to her home region in Vaasa around six years ago. Working as a professor is in many ways a dream come true for her.
"Research is my passion, but I also like teaching a lot. I think it's great to bring students to scientific research and teach them the basics of positioning and satellite data."
Kuusniemi also actively informs children and young people about the use of data obtained from space and satellites. In particular, she inspires girls and women to get involved in technology. In the space economy projects of the University of Vaasa that she leads, communication has played an important role, as she believes that the increase in knowledge and awareness will also arouse interest in positioning and related technology.
This article was published in Positio magazine on 28 February 2025.
Text: Johanna Haveri
