My Ancestral Home Finland Suomi By Doug Piirto

My Ancestral Home Finland (Suomi) By Doug Piirto January 30, 2007 (Updated February 10, 2015)

Objectives ► Let’s explore Finland § § § § Geographic information Climate Demographics Religion Language Finnish Culture History ► Seinajoki University ► ► Forest Management Emerging Trends in Bioenergy Ancestral Heritage Conclusion § My role § MOU

Geographic Information ► Between 60 th and 70 th degrees of latitude ► Easternmost of Nordic countries ► 7 th biggest country in Europe ► Covering approximately 130, 500 sq. mi. § § Water— 10% (188, 000 lakes) Forest— 69% Cultivated— 8% Other— 13% ► 721 miles long and 336 miles wide

Climate Adjacent to Atlantic Ocean ► Gulf Stream ► Temperate climate ► Summers warm, long days ► Winters are cold with snow in many areas ►

Demographics ► 5. 2 million people ► 40 people per sq. mi.

Religion ► 85%--Lutherans ► 1%--Orthodox ► 1%--other ► 13%--no religious denomination

Churches

Language (i. e. , mother tongue) ► Finnish--93% ► Swedish--6% ► Other— 2% ► English is widely spoken

Finnish Culture ► Legendary § § § Books Kalevala The Seven Brothers The Egyptian

Recent History Independent nation December 17, 1917 ► Member of European Union since 1995 ► Major Conflicts ► § § ► Winter War Red/White War with Germany Club War Times are changing…Yet there remains a concern of unjust influence from neighboring countries given their history

Seinajoki University ► Founded in 1992 ► Polytechnic focused on working life and regionalism ► In Etela Pohjanmaa—South Ostrobothnia § A region of 200, 000 inhabitants ► Approximately 4000 enrolled students ► Personnel totals 300 people

Seinajoki Programs In Seinajoki ► § § § ► § § School of Business School of Engineering School of Information and Communication Technology School of Social Work School of Health Care and Social Work Regional Schools Finnish School of SME Business Administration--Kauhava School of Agriculture and Forestry—Ilmajoki ► § § ► Tuomarniemi School of Forestry--Ahtari School of Culture and Design--Jurva School of Food Management—Kauhajoki 22 degree programs, 3 graduate programs