We collaborate with various science education organizations. From the page, you can read more about our international partners and the National LUMA Advisory Board.
International Cooperation
The LUMA Centre Finland network and regional LUMA Centres engage extensively in international cooperation through projects, research, science education, and teacher training. The network also maintains ongoing collaboration with several universities and international organizations. Among others, the following networks are our partners:
Science on Stage network brings together teachers of LUMA subjects from across Europe to share best practices. Read more about our national Science on Stage activities here.
EU STEM Coalition network develops STEM education and highlights its importance in education policy.
International Dialogue on STEM Education (IDoS) network provides international professional exchange of best practices among member organizations.
StarT – Inspiring Learning Together Worldwide
Since 2016, StarT, created by LUMA Centre Finland, has grown into a global movement that transforms science, mathematics, technology, and sustainability education through creativity and collaboration. The name says it all: every child and young person can be a Star, and the T stands for teamwork. At its core, StarT is about learning together through projects and sharing ideas across borders to make education meaningful and exciting.
From 2016 to 2022, the International StarT LUMA Competition brought together thousands of participants from more than 60 countries. Each year culminated in the International StarT Gala, a vibrant celebration of creativity and best practices, where young innovators and educators inspired one another. In addition, local LUMA Centres have organized regional StarT festivals with award ceremonies in Finland. Many of the projects and teaching practices are freely available in our open material bank.
Since 2023, StarT has expanded through the International StarT LUMA Science Clubs Programme, linking formal education with informal learning environments. These clubs, co-designed through research, offer children, teachers, and student teachers opportunities to engage in project-based STE(A)M learning beyond the classroom. StarT LUMA also inspires families: they are welcome to join the final club session and see their children’s projects.
An open online course on project-based learning supports teachers and educators with implementing clubs and projects that foster creativity, collaboration, and culturally sustainable practices.
Today, StarT is more than a programme; it is a community-driven platform for sustainable STE(A)M education, aligned with global goals and local needs. It invites everyone—students, teachers, and families—to become co-creators of knowledge and solutions. By fostering creativity and a sense of agency, StarT helps young people see themselves as active contributors to a better future. Contact information: Director, Professor Maija Aksela.
LUMA Advisory Board
The National LUMA Advisory Board serves as a consultative discussion forum for the Board of LUMA Centre Finland. The Advisory Board meets 2–3 times a year. During the meetings, current issues of the LUMA Centre Finland network are addressed, and participants have the opportunity to contribute to planning and communication. The Advisory Board also jointly prepares new initiatives and statements and shares information on current science education activities both in Finland and internationally.
The chair of the Advisory Board is Sari Harmoinen, Chair of the Board of LUMA Centre Finland, and the vice-chair is Leena Pöntynen from Technology Industries of Finland. The Director of LUMA Centre Finland is also a member of the Advisory Board.
Representatives from numerous partner organizations have been invited to join the Advisory Board:
| Organisation | Representative | Deputy representative |
| Subject Teachers’ Association | ||
| Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (Arene) | Sami Suhonen | Mikael Paronen |
| Association of Biology and Geography Teachers (BMOL) | Teppo Kuusela | |
| Energy Industry | Henna Hirvonen | |
| City of Espoo | Minna Kukkonen | |
| Helsinki Science Upper Secondary School | Kaisa Tikka | |
| Innokas Network | Tiina Korhonen | Leenu Juurola |
| Development Centre Opinkirjo | Minna Riikka Järvinen | |
| Chemical Industry Federation of Finland | Hanna Hyyryläinen | |
| Association of Craft Teachers | Liisa Vuolas | Minna Hankala-Vuorinen |
| Finnish Museum of Natural History (Luomus) | Jouko Rikkinen | |
| Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) | Eeva Sievi | Juha Heikkilä |
| Association of Mathematics Teachers (MAOL) | Jasmin Välimäki | Päivi Hyttinen |
| Forest Industry | Venla Kaplas | Albert Häme |
| National Council of Women of Finland | Annamaija Eskola | |
| Ministry of Education and Culture | ||
| Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) | Tuomo Laakso | |
| Finnish National Agency for Education | Leo Pahkin | |
| Sanoma Media Finland | Jukka Ruukki | |
| Finnish Academy of Science | Pekka Aula | |
| Finnish Chemical Society | Pekka Joensuu | |
| Finnish Physical Society | ||
| Principals of Finnish Teacher Training Schools | Antero Hietamäki | |
| Finnish Class Teachers’ Association | Karita Koskinen | Saara Kokko |
| Finnish Network of Nature and Environmental Schools (LYKE Network) | Maija Ihantola | |
| Finnish Forest Association | Jaska Salonen | |
| Finnish Study Counsellors’ Association (SOPO) | Anne Sivén | |
| Finnish Principals’ Association | Pertti Tuomi | |
| Association of Finnish Science Editors and Journalists | Riina Linna | |
| Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities (UNIFI) | Elina Oksanen | |
| National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) | Tiia Virtanen | |
| Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) | Juhani Nokela | Tuula Pihlajamaa |
| Technology Academy Finland (TAF) | ||
| Museum of Technology | Anssi Tuulenmäki | |
| Technical Association of Finland (TFiF) | Annika Nylander | |
| Association of Technical Subject Teachers (TAO) | Timo Saarinen | Katri Köngäs |
| Technology Industries of Finland & Technology Industries Centennial Foundation | Leena Pöntynen | |
| Health Technology | Saara Hassinen | |
| Science Centre Arktikum | Jonna Katajamäki | |
| Science Centre Heureka | Jutta Kujasalo | |
| Science Centre Pilke | Heikki Hepoaho | |
| Science Museum Liekki / Observatory | Päivi Harjunpää | |
| Science Education Association | Mari Nuutinen | |
| Science Communication | Reetta Kettunen | |
| Astronomical Association URSA | Markku Sarimaa | |
| Early Childhood Teachers’ Association (VOL) | Sari Sirniö | |
| Matriculation Examination Board | Vesa Paajanen |
Forum for Teacher Education, Research, and Development in LUMA Subjects
LUMA Centre Finland maintains a national network of teacher educators, educational researchers, and developers in LUMA subjects. The goal of the network is to promote collaboration among teacher educators, researchers, and developers from different higher education institutions, and to facilitate the dissemination of best practices between educational and research units.
The forum consists of academic experts from universities across Finland. The chair of the forum is Professor Jan Lundell, Director of LUMA Centre Finland. The forum was established in autumn 2014.