Helsinki Institute of Science and Technology Studies

Helsinki Institute of Science and Technology Studies (HIST) is a network unit established by two prominent Finnish universities, the University of Helsinki (UH) and Aalto University (AU). HIST aims at strengthening research and graduate education in the field of science and technology studies (STS), not only in the two founding universities but in Finland at large. Its ambition is to become Finland’s focal point for internationally recognized STS activity.

The key objectives of HIST fall under two broad categories: to advance research and graduate education in the STS field and to strengthen the institutional basis of STS and other closely related fields of research in Finland. More specifically, the research and education activities of HIST focus on

• the production of scientific knowledge and technical innovations, and their diffusion in society;

• the preconditions of science and technology processes as well as their societal and environmental consequences; and

• the development of methods and practices to make research results relevant in decision making.

The task of institutional strengthening focuses on

• facilitating high-quality, internationally recognized research in the STS field; and

• conducting commissioned policy analyses.

HIST is funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture. In addition to the ministry funding, the two member universities of HIST have invested significant matching resources in the institute.

HIST's report of activities 2010-12 can be found here (in Finnish):