Research Assessment Exercise 2020 report : international evaluation of research at the University of Oulu has been published: http://jultika.oulu.fi/Record/isbn978-952-62-3112-9

We have done very well. Our overall scoring was /6 and ranking of RUs evaluated by the Biosciences, Health and the Environment (BHE) panel was 6^th.

EcoGen - Ecology and Genetics

Assessment results: 

• Scientific quality and impact of the research = Very good
• Societal impact of the research = Excellent
• Quality of the research environment = Excellent
• Future potential = Excellent
• OVERALL ASSESSMENT = Excellent

General description of the RU

In Ecology and Genetics Research Unit high quality research is carried out in several research groups in

various fields of biology. The main topics include (i) community, population, evolutionary and behavioural

ecology, (ii) conservation, population and ecological genetics and genomics, (iii) biodiversity genomics

and DNA-barcoding, (iv) ancient-DNA and domestication studies, (v) improvement of natural resources

(e.g. forest, freshwater, wildlife, berries), and (vi) interactions between organisms of different trophic levels

and ecosystem processes and vii) global change ecology and biogeochemistry. The emphasis in the unit

is on basic research with some application linked to development of natural resources or lifelong health.

Research of the unit have had a wide societal impact including environmental education and environmental

legislation, co-operation with the general public and authorities in nature related issues, development of

scientific platforms for scientist and general public, development of new medical treatments and even

supporting creation of new spin-off companies.

Current description of the RU (rating 5)

EcoGen members conduct a range of diverse research broadly held together by the theme of arctic

biodiversity. The topics include three broad areas, including research on arctic climate, genomic

techniques in breeding arctic organisms, and biodiversity assessment (barcoding). Overall, most projects

show a high degree of interdisciplinarity, in part stimulated by the collaborations within the unit and with

groups across the faculties at Oulu.  The EcoGen RU comes across as influential and active in the wider

communities of a range of fields of biology, however the quality and impact of the different contributions

are somewhat variable. The research output is good, given the size of the RU, and a good proportion of

publications are in the highest Jufo 3 category. EcoGen members are represented in multiple national

and international scientific boards and committees, as partners in EU projects, are involved in review

panels, and contribute to other activities such as development of global biodiversity databases. The unit

is well connected nationally and internationally, with multiple collaborative projects, networks and grants

held jointly with other universities (mainly in Finland, Scandinavia and EU) and research institutes. The

impact on society is through excellence of science, e.g., topics of climate change on weather patterns

(snowfall) or intriguing experiments on bees to improve the public understanding of the importance of

insect decline. Several research groups and their collaboration networks have clear societal and applied

aims, particularly in the areas of resource use, ecosystem restoration, and conservation.

Future potential of the RU (rating 5)

EcoGen has an ambitious aim for developing excellence in research at the forefront of biodiversity and

Arctic research. The RU is well set up to provide leadership in arctic ecology, by integrating the various

research foci on freshwater, forests, insects and biodiversity. The planned research is strongly targeting

relevant UN SDGs, and presents a range of research trajectories to deliver this research. This research is

of great interest to society and eminently fundable. There is an ongoing generational change, with new

hires predominantly in tenure-track positions, several of them only recently announced, and available

positions have attracted high quality applicants. Great emphasis is on mobility at all levels from PhD

students to senior staff, which adds to the future potential of the RU.

Highlights, strengths and development areas, recommendations and overall rating (5)

Highlights:

• A substantial expansion of the biodiversity genomics (barcoding) programme has recently been funded by the Finnish Academy.
• Recent high-profile papers on climate change have attracted great interest from the science community and general public.

Strengths and development areas:

The integration of different aspects of arctic biodiversity and sustainability research, together with a

multidisciplinary methodological approach (from genomics, to ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry)

has great potential.

Recommendations:

The RU has the potential to deliver high impact research, and has potential for scientific leadership in

several research areas. As presented, the future goals may not be sufficiently ambitious; the RU should

take a more proactive approach and seek leadership internationally.

The RU would benefit from a more coherent approach for individual PIs to contribute towards developing

an internationally leading role in focal areas. The unit should strive for greater integration, given the different

disciplines represented. It is not clear what is the formal status of the “Biodiversity Unit” which appears

separate from the Ecology & Genetics RU. Equally the arctic biogeochemistry group seems incompletely

integrated with the other components. 

The Action Plan has a very promising overall ambition, but without presenting a very concrete plan on

how to deliver it. Clear, achievable goals are needed to capitalise on the unique sets of expertise and

interdisciplinarity.

Thus, well done everybody and congratulations.

Jouni