nearby cities of Pori and Rauma. Research As defined in its strategy 2030, the university's multidisciplinary research is profiled through six thematic areas which are biodiversity and sustainability; future technologies and digital society; cultural memory and social change; children, young people and learning; health, diagnostics and drug development; and sea and maritime studies. The University of Turku has been involved in many research projects in the Peruvian Amazon. With the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana – IIAP), based in Iquitos, has been studying the Amazon in the BIODAMAZ Project. Famous alumni Sauli Niinistö – 12th and incumbent President of Finland Mauno Koivisto – 9th President of Finland Liisa Hyssälä – Member of Parliament, Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Lehtomäki – Member of Parliament, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Pekka Puska – Member of Parliament, physician Ville Niinistö – Member of the European Parliament Timo Airaksinen – Professor of Moral Philosophy Jarmo Viinanen – diplomat, Secretary General of the Presidential Office Heli Laaksonen – poet Kaisa Sofia Matomäki – mathematician and SASTRA Ramanujan Prize winner Rectors Chancellors The Chancellor, appointed by the President of Finland upon proposal of the Finnish Government, was to promote science and scholarship, look after the general interests of the university and supervise its activities. The Chancellor confirmed the standing orders and other corresponding general regulations of the university. The most visible task of the Chancellor was the appointment of the Professors and the Docents of the university. Professor Pekka Puska was the last person to hold this position until it was abolished based on the decision of the University Board. The duties were reassigned to the Rector. See also List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945) References External links The University of Turku Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS) Educational institutions established in 1920 University of Turku Universities and colleges in Finland 1920 establishments in Finland