Recipients of University of Tartu honorary decorations announced

On 28 October, the senate of the University of Tartu decided to award the highest recognition granted to university members – the University of Tartu Grand Medal – to Professor of Art History Juhan Maiste, Professor of Science Education Miia Rannikmäe, and Legal Counsel Aliis Liin. Rector Toomas Asser also approved the recipients of the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation, Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu”.

Recipient of the University of Tartu Grand Medal, Juhan Maiste is a Professor of Art History, essayist and poet. In addition to years of teaching at the University of Tartu, the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Estonian University of Life Sciences, he has been a visiting professor at the universities of Rome, Helsinki, Turku etc. Besides academic activities, he has been a passionate advocate of heritage conservation and stood for preserving the Estonian manor culture. Maiste is Doctor Honoris Causa of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of the Estonian Landscape Architects Union.

Miia Rannikmäe has been working at the University of Tartu since 1975. In 2008, she was elected the Professor of Science Education. In 2013, she became the Head of the Centre for Science Education. She has led many international research projects and projects funded by the Estonian Research Council, worked as a Fulbright Scholar in the USA, and is a member of the steering committees of international professional organisations. In 2015, Rannikmäe was elected the honorary doctor of the University of Eastern Finland.

Aliis Liin graduated from the University of Tartu School of Law in 1999 and defended her master’s thesis, “Academic freedom and autonomy of the university”, in 2010. She has been working as the Legal Counsel of the University of Tartu for 25 years. In a discerning and meticulous manner, she scrutinises most documents governing the university’s day-to-day activities. To her credit, the university bylaws serve, for their high level, as a model for other universities and, more widely, to the public sector of Estonia. In addition, she is actively involved in the revision of Estonia’s higher education and research legislation.

Rector Toomas Asser recognised university members with the University of Tartu Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu”. Non-university individuals who have rendered considerable services to the university were honoured with the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation.

The rector will present the university’s honorary decorations to the recipients at a ceremony on 25 November.

All university members may nominate candidates for the honorary decorations of the university. They must submit the candidate’s name and a brief justification of the nomination on the university’s website. The senate makes the decision on awarding the Grand Medal at its meeting in October; the rector decides the awarding of the Medal, the Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu” immediately after the senate’s meeting in October.

Further information:

Tõnis Karki, Academic Secretary, University of Tartu, 737 5605, 529 7917, [email protected]

Please find below the list of recipients of University of Tartu honorary decorations.

Recipients of University of Tartu honorary decorations in 2022

University of Tartu Grand Medal

• Aliis Liin, Legal Counsel, Rector’s Strategy Office
• Juhan Maiste, Professor of Art History, Institute of History and Archaeology
• Miia Rannikmäe, Professor of Science Education, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences

University of Tartu Star of Appreciation

• Janika Hango, MTÜ Tartu Welcome Centre, CEO
• Taavet Hinrikus, entrepreneur and investor, founder of Creative Destruction Lab and partner
• Vahur Kraft, business executive and banker, University of Tartu council member until 2021
• Neinar Seli, entrepreneur, President of Estiko Group
• Anna Sumyk, MTÜ Ukraina Maja, Board Member
• Sten Tamkivi, entrepreneur and investor, founder of Creative Destruction Lab and partner
• Tiiu Vitsut, Education and Cultural Specialist at the Embassy of the USA in Estonia

University of Tartu Medal

• Kristi Kerge, Head of International Cooperation, International Cooperation and Protocol Unit
• Jana Kivastik, Associate Professor in Human Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Kairi Kreegipuu, Professor of Experimental Psychology, Head of Institute, Institute of Psychology
• Reet Kurg, Professor of Molecular Biomedicine, Director, Institute of Technology
• Karmen Lust, Associate Professor in Physical and Electrochemistry, Institute of Chemistry
• Asko Lõhmus, Professor in Conservation Biology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
• Arne Merilai, Professor of Estonian Literature, Institute of Cultural Research
• Heiki Pagel, Head of Estates Office
• Karl Pajusalu, Professor of History and Dialects of Estonian Language, Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics
• Erik Puura, Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Technology
• Ivika Puusepp, Head of Study Information System and Analysis Unit until 2022, Office of Academic Affairs
• Kristel Reim, Head of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Kõu Timpmann, Associate Professor in Biophysics, Institute of Physics
• Ülo Valk, Professor of Estonian and Comparative Folklore, Institute of Cultural Research
• Viljo Vider, Head of Institutional Development Service, Estates Office
• Säde Viirlaid, Lecturer in Organic Chemistry until 2022, Institute of Chemistry
• Vallo Volke, Professor of Endocrine Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Andres Võrk, Analyst, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies

University of Tartu Badge of Distinction

• Dmytro Fishman, Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, Institute of Computer Science
• Roomet Jakapi, Associate Professor of History of Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
• Pelle Jakovits, Lecturer of Distributed Systems, Institute of Computer Science
• Kristel Kajak, Conservator, Institute of History and Archaeology
• Külli Kalamees-Pani, Coordinator for Nature Education, Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden
• Martin Kaljula, Senior Specialist for Research Projects, Institute of Computer Science
• Maire Karelson, Associate Professor in Dermatovenereology, Institute of Clinical Medicine
• Rein Kermes, Lecturer in Propaedeutics of Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine
• Liisa Marie Kerner, student of Medicine
• Arvo Kikas, Associate Professor in X-ray Spectroscopy, Institute of Physics
• Marco Kirm, Professor in Experimental Physics, Institute of Physics
• Vambola Kisand, Associate Professor in Materials Science, Institute of Physics
• Gerson Stefan Klumpp, Professor of Finno-Ugric Languages, Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics
• Marko Kohv, Research Fellow of Applied Geology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
• Kadri Koorem, Research Fellow in Plant Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
• Janek Kraavi, Lecturer of Estonian Literature and Contemporary Culture, Institute of Cultural Research
• Karl Kruusamäe, Associate Professor of Robotics Engineering, Institute of Technology
• Agnes Laasimer, Senior Laboratory Assistant, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Liina Lepp, Lecturer in Didactics, Institute of Education
• Kaia Linkberg, Academic Affairs Specialist-Secretary, Institute of Clinical Medicine
• Kristi Lõuk, Project Manager, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics
• Eva Mõtte, Coordinator, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Urmas Nõmmik, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Studies, School of Theology and Religious Studies
• Ester Oras, Associate Professor of Archaeology, Institute of History and Archaeology; Associate Professor in Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry
• Anu Ormisson-Lahe, Junior Lecturer in Art History, Institute of History and Archaeology
• Ivika Ostonen-Märtin, Professor in Root Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
• Alina Paas, Intellectual Property Analyst, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Marika Padrik, Associate Professor of Speech Therapy, Institute of Education
• Kärt Puura, Senior Specialist for Salary Arrangements, Human Resources Office
• Kersti Pärna, Associate Professor in Health Promotion, Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health
• Aigi Rahi-Tamm, Associate Professor of Archival Studies, Institute of History and Archaeology
• Hannes Ruusmaa, bachelor’s student of Gene Technology
• Ranet Rõõmussaar, Academic Affairs Specialist, Institute of Education
• Ingrid Sahk, Curator, University of Tartu Museum
• Marina Semtšenko, Professor of Evolutionary Plant Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
• Marten Seppel, Associate Professor of Early Modern History, Institute of History and Archaeology
• Olena Solohub, Coordinator, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
• Kadri Suija, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health
• Alar Sõrmus, Assistant in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Clinical Medicine
• Maria Žuravljova, Junior Lecturer in Youth Work, Narva College
• Katrin Tamm, CDL-Estonia Program Manager, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
• Tiit Tammaru, Professor of Urban and Population Geography, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences
• Igor Taro, master’s student of Strategic Management
• Pierre Clément Thévenin, PhD student of Law
• Kalle Tihemets, Senior Specialist for Information Technology, Information Technology Office
• Raul Toomla, Lecturer in International Relations Theory, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies
• Andreas Tulver, student of Medicine
• Marko Uibu, Associate Professor of Social Innovation, Institute of Social Studies
• Dominique Unruh, Professor in Cryptography, Institute of Computer Science
• Irja Vaas, Junior Lecturer in Didactics of Handicraft and Home Economics, Institute of Education

Decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu”

• Heiki Epner, University of Tartu Library
• Ellen Gvozdkova, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Mare Isakar, University of Tartu Natural History Museum
• Lumme Kadaja-Änilane, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Tatjana Kums, Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy
• Dagmar Kutsar, Institute of Social Studies
• Kristin Lamp, Institute of Clinical Medicine
• Marika Rauk, Institute of Psychology
• Tiit Rosenberg, Institute of History and Archaeology
• Hannes Tomusk, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine
• Asko Uri, Institute of Chemistry
• Richard Villems, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
• Tamara Vorobjova, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine

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Honorary decorations of the University of Tartu. Photos by Andres Tennus, visuals by Maarja Roosi.