Hermanni Kaartokallio

Leading Researcher, PhD

© Eeva Elonen-Rasimus

Contact information

E-mail: firstname.surname@syke.fi
Tel: +358 295 251 247
Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
Marine and freshwater solutions
Freshwater and marine management
Address: Building EE, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, Viikki Campus, Helsinki

@Google Scholar

@Researchgate

Current Tasks

I work as a leading scientist in the Freshwater and marine management group and lead an active research group. My duties include leading, supervising and evaluating research as well as everyday research work in the lab and behind the desk. I engage in international expert work on protection of the marine environment under Arctic Council PAME and HELCOM. I also participate in international marine science collaboration in UNESCO International Oceanographic Commission and International Arctic Science Committee. 

Background

I hold a MSc (1988) and PhD (2006) degrees in marine biology from the University of Helsinki. I also am an adjunct professor (title of docent) in University of Helsinki, Marine biology. My research concentrates on microbial activity, diversity and importance in biogeochemical cycles in cold marine environments. In particular I have studied microbial communities living in extreme cold conditions inside sea ice.

Current Research Topics

• Bacterial communities in cold marine environments in the Baltic Sea and Arctic
• Degradation of bio-based and biodegradable plastics in marine environment
• Interaction between dissolved organic matter and microbial communities
• Bacterial biopolymer production in cold marine environments

Research Projects

• Biodegradable plastic polymers in ocean coastal waters – degrader communities and their enzymes (BIPOD), Academy of Finland 2020–2024
• Iron limitation of primary productivity in the Marginal Ice Zone of the Southern Ocean –unraveling the role of bacteria as mediators in the iron cycle (IMICROBE), Academy of Finland 2021–2024
• Strengthening the knowledge base to improve the state of coastal waters in the Archipelago Sea region (MAAMERI), 2020–2022

Other activities

Member or national delegate in:

• UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)
• International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Marine working group
• Arctic Council, Protection of the Marine Environment (PAME), Group of Experts on Ecosystem-based Management and Assessment
• National steering group for UN Decade of Ocean Science implementation

Publications

My scientific publications mainly include peer-reviewed scientific articles (c. 50). I also have written scientific textbooks as a part of an author team for major international scientific publishers (Springer, Wiley, Oxford University Press). Up-to-date list of my publications can best be found on my Google Scholar page.