The Union of Research Professional’s Academic of the Year 2025 award was presented to researcher and author Timo R. Stewart. The justifications for presenting Stewart with the award state that he has been clear and tireless in introducing into public discourse research-based knowledge about a socially and politically challenging conflict.
Timo R. Stewart, 45, has specialised in the conflict between Israel and Palestine, European and US Middle East policy as well as religious nationalism. He is a Doctor of Social Sciences in political history. He has worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) and is a highly-valued, liked and visible media commentator on the situation in Gaza.
Research Professionals feels that Stewart has strengthened the role of science in public discourse and promoted the use of research-based knowledge in societal decision-making. He has brought his expertise forward in a consistent and understandable manner, dissecting the current state of the Israel-Palestine conflict, its historical background and potential solutions. Stewart’s statements have offered the Finnish audience research-based viewpoints in a situation where finding common ground has been challenging even for the Finnish Government.
“Timo R. Stewart’s research-based, open and clear communication has been very welcome in a situation where public social and political discourse has been extremely divided and difficult. He has not shied away from bringing a researcher’s critical observations to the discussion. It is not always easy due to the smear campaigns and harassment aimed at researchers and experts”, states Antti Pajala, President of the Union of Research Professionals.
“The war in Gaza created a great need for interpretations of fast-moving and highly dramatic developments. I have done my best to provide the public with a research-based analysis that is also founded on an understanding of the region’s political reality. What has helped me is that my work has, for several years, focused on various conflicts, and this one in particular, and that I have researched the Western ideas connected to it. It feels good that my work has been recognized and is appreciated”, Stewart says.
I consider it very important for researchers to engage in social discourse
The ending of Stewart’s fixed-term employment with FIIA has highlighted the uncertainty of the academic world from an employee perspective and the fragmented careers of research professionals. His situation has brought wider attention to the importance of safeguarding the prerequisites for long-term research and valuing the work of researchers.
“Research Professionals’ member surveys emphasise, year after year, how stressful the uncertainty of work is. Stewart’s situation is a cruel example of the working life that many researchers experience: even if you are an esteemed and socially significant actor in your field, the continuity of work is uncertain. We are talking about top experts, researchers, whose competence is a cornerstone for the growth, education and development of the entire nation”, states Antti Pajala.
Timo R. Stewart will no longer be commenting as a FIIA representative on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. How will his scientific career continue?
“Many things are still open as far as the future is concerned. What is clear is that I want to continue both doing my own research and communicating it to the general public as well. I consider it very important for researchers to engage in social discourse, for both the open society and researchers themselves”, Stewart states.
The Academic of the Year award is worth 5,000 euro and it was presented to Stewart at the Tieteentekijäpäivä event in Helsinki on 7 November.
The Union of Research Professionals has handed out the Academic of the Year award since 1997 to a socially active research professional. Previous award winners include Tuija Saresma, Tapio Määttä and Juha Siltala. Academics of the Year – Research Professionals
Photographer: Milla Talassalo