The Academic of the Year recognition for 2026 has been awarded to Emilia Palonen, Associate Professor of Political Science and Programme Director in Datafication. Known for her research on democracy, populism and political polarisation, Palonen is being recognised for her long-standing commitment to advancing the scientific community.
‘Emilia Palonen’s merits extend far beyond her own academic achievements. Alongside her research, she has taken on extensive responsibilities in learned societies, organisations, and positions of trust. This kind of invaluable work often remains invisible, even though the scientific community could not function without it’, says Antti Pajala, President of the Union of Research Professionals.
Palonen’s contribution has been particularly significant in the development of open science and open access publishing. Through her work with the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies (TSV) and regarding the national coordination of open science, she has helped build practices that improve the transparency, accessibility, and societal impact of research. She has also been involved in developing research infrastructures and collaborative initiatives that support access to knowledge and benefit the entire scientific community.
There would be no scientific freedom without Scientific communities
According to Palonen, learned societies and peer networks of researchers play a crucial role in safeguarding the conditions for science and research in Finland, despite operating with limited resources. The peer-reviewed journals and books published by learned societies, as well as the events they organise, constitute the foundation of the scientific infrastructure in many disciplines. Their work also supports the continued use of Finnish as a language of science.
Palonen also highlights the challenges surrounding the funding of open access publishing.
‘The costs of domestic open science are largely borne by researchers themselves through society membership fees and voluntary work. Universities, meanwhile, benefit from open-access publishing through the Ministry’s funding model, yet very little of that funding finds its way back to the learned societies that maintain scientific journals. In a sense, this represents a transfer of resources from employees to employers’, Palonen says.
At the same time, she encourages researchers, especially those at the beginning of their careers, to take an active role in scientific communities and science policy discussions.
‘Researchers’ voices must be heard in science policy, and it is important to participate in the preparation of decisions that affect us. It does not matter if you are the youngest person or, least experienced at the meeting, or if you disagree with others. Disagreement and debate are essential for the development of the scientific community.’
Palonen is delighted to receive this recognition but views it, above all, as a collective achievement.
‘I feel that this is also a recognition for the broader voluntary work carried out within the scientific community and for learned societies. There would be no free science without the communities that sustain it.’
Adjunct Professor Emilia Palonen
Secondary occupations:
- Leads of Helsinki Hub on Emotions Populism and Polarisation research group.
- Finnish Federation of Learned Societies (TSV), as representative from the Finnish Political Science Association board member (2021-26; 2015-20) and vice-chair (2023-25)
- Working group chair for solving OA journal funding at the TSV steering board (2023-25)
Representing the TSV associations:
- The Finnish National Computer Service Centre (CSC), Research Information Hub /Tutkimuksen tietovarannot, steering committee (vice member, 2021-25; 2026-28);
- Heureka Science Centres’ Foundation Board (2024-27);
- National Open Science and Research Steering Group (2021-26);
Finnish Political Science Association (FPSA) board member 2009-2022, chair in 2020-22
Representing the FPSA in
- Board of Finnish Association of Scholarly Publishing boad member (2016-18, Chair in2018)
- Kotilava: Finnish Journals for Immediate OA steering group member 2016–18, Chair in 2018
- International Political Science Association (IPSA) Executive Committee Member nominated by the Nordic Political Science Association (2022-25);
In personal capacity:
- Council of Finnish Academies of Science:
- Member of the All European Academies ALLEA Task Force on Integrating Research Security and Academic Freedom (2025-27) as proposed by the Finnish Academies of Science
- Member of the Human Rights Committee of the Council of Finnish Academies 2019-24;
- Treasurer of the Society of Scientists and Parliament Members TUTKAS (2019-23), Society in the support of TUTKAS board member (2024-27)
- University of Helsinki Aleksanteri Institute board member (2022-26); National board member (2027-2031)
- University of Helsinki UH Faculty of Social Sciences Research Committee 2022-28; UH SKY doctoral programme’s Steering Committee 2022-24; Several Masters’ programme’s steering committees.