A Century-Old Residence Meets The Planet of the Microbes” – Seminar
Please note that this event is not hosted by Finnbrit Helsinki and those who wish to attend should NOT book via this page. See below for how to register.
Friday, 25 September 2026
12:00 – 17:00
The Federation of Finnish-British Societies in collaboration with British Embassy Helsinki invites you to the annual Autumn Seminar on the topic of:
“A Century-Old Residence meets The Planet of the Microbes”
on Friday, the 25th of September 2026, from 12:00 until 17:00, at British Embassy Helsinki, Itäinen Puistotie 17, 00140 Helsinki
Important:
Visitors will need a photographic ID.
The cost, including lunch and coffee/tea €40
Reserve your seat for the seminar by booking your place at kaarina.ojasti@elisanet.fi by 15 September.
The autumn seminar programme:
12:00-12:55 Lunch at the Embassy Residence
13.00-13:40 Dr Ville Jalovaara: ”The Hundred-Year History of the Residence”
13:45-14:15 Nina Pulkkis, Howy Jacobs: ”Introductory remarks on the Planet of the Microbes”
14:15-15:00 World premiere of ”Planet of the Microbes”
15:00-15:30 Coffee/tea break
15:30-16:30 Discussion with the film team
The 2026 Finnish-British Embassy seminar will showcase the world premiere of Planet of the Microbes, a full-length science documentary, tracing the role micro-organisms have played in shaping the earth as we know it, and showing how their rich chemistry can be mobilized to solve the most pressing problems of our time.
The documentary has been co-produced by Photino Science Communications of Helsinki and 1895 Films of Hollywood, in co-operation with Tampere University. The team behind the production is the same one that previously brought the award-winning science documentary series Suomen tulevaisuus (The Future of Finland) to Finnish TV screens. It is led by executive producer/director Nina Pulkkis, of Photino, and her British co-screenwriter Professor Howy Jacobs of Tampere University, with graphics and animations by freelance designer Szymon Wiktorowicz, and production services coordinated by Rob Kirk of 1895 Films.
Microbes were the earliest cellular life forms on earth and remain the most numerous, most diverse and most versatile of all the organisms that inhabit our planet. Over 4 billion years of evolution they have developed an enormous repertoire of chemistries into which biotechnologists are now tapping, to replace our non-sustainable technologies based on fossil resources. Microbes today are spearheading a DNA-driven revolution to develop the medicines, energies, foods and materials of tomorrow. Featuring interviews with globally leading experts in evolutionary biology, microbiology and bioengineering, Planet of the Microbes is also the pilot episode for Infinity, a planned series of high-quality documentaries covering the many scientific domains that will shape our future.