Our alumna Sanna Marin: Science helps to solve significant problems that concern the entire society
− This year, the global coronavirus pandemic has demanded much from citizens and various societal actors. Higher education institutions have also had to introduce exceptional arrangements, and I would like to thank you for your contribution to helping to contain the epidemic in Finland, Sanna Marin said.
Despite her young age, Sanna Marin is an experienced politician. She was elected to the Tampere City Council as a representative of the Social Democratic Party in 2013 and chaired the City Council from 2013 to 2017. Marin has been a Member of Parliament since 2015. She served as Minister of Transport and Communications in the Government of Prime Minister Antti Rinne.
Sanna Marin was born in Helsinki. At the age of eight, the family moved to Pirkkala close to Tampere where Marin spent her school years. In 2017, Marin graduated from the University of Tampere with a Master’s Degree in Administrative Sciences. During her studies, she was a member of the Council of Representatives in the previous University of Tampere’s Student Union (TAMY) and the University’s Collegiate Body.
Marin has said she got involved in politics because she wanted to influence the way society perceives its citizens and their rights. Both human rights and equality as well as, for example, environmental values are close to Marin’s heart. She sees science as playing a key role in solving global challenges.
− Science helps to solve significant problems that concern the entire society. Science, research and innovations are key to tackling current and future global challenges such as climate change or pandemics in a sustainable and equitable way.
Picture: Jukka-Pekka Flander
Text: Minna Puntila