Three papers from my projects in the BioEM2009 in Davos

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Meeting of The Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS) and the European BioElectromagnetics Association (EBEA) was held in Davos, Switzerland in June 14th – 29th 2009.

There were three papers from my projects in the BioEM2009 in Davos.

1) “Measuring exposure to electric and magnetic fields at 110 kV substations in Tampere region” Tom Laurila, Lari Österholm, Rauno Pääkkönen*, Riitta Lehtelä, Leena Korpinen,Tampere University of Technology, *Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

2) “Magnetic field exposure of 110 kV underground power cables” Riitta Lehtelä, Tom Laurila, Lari Österholm and Leena Korpinen, Tampere University of Technology

3) “Measuring exposure to electric and magnetic fields near 110 kV transmission lines in Tampere region” Lari Österholm, Tom Laurila, Riitta Lehtelä and Leena Korpinen, Tampere University of Technology

The papers present the results of the project “Evaluation of the exposure to electric and magnetic fields near 110 kV power lines and at 110 kV substations”  The main aim of our project was to investigate public exposure to electric and magnetic fields of 110 kV power lines, substations and underground power cables. Last summer we measured the exposure to electric and magnetic fields near 110 kV transmission lines and at 110 kV substations in the Tampere region and the exposure to magnetic field of 110 kV underground power cables. The project ended this year.

New studies and publications of exposure to electric and magnetic fields

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We started a new project “Occupational exposure of electric and magnetic fields at 110 kV substations” in April 2009. The aim of the project is to investigate occupational exposure at 110 kV substations using measurements. In addition, the aim is to also study the current densities in the neck and total contact currents (induced by electric field), if the action value (10kV/m) of directive (2004/40/EC)is exceeded. The project will last until the end of the year 2010.

The physiological effects and exposures of electromagnetic fields have been studied at Tampere University of Technology (by an Environmental Health research group ). One aim of the studies was to examine the exposure of the electric and magnetic fields at substations and power lines and evaluate their possible biological effects on workers.

Our newest article, “Evaluation of current densities and total contact currents in occupational exposure at 400 kV substations and power lines”, by Leena Korpinen, Jarmo Elovaara, and Harri Kuisti was published in Bioelectromagnetics in April 2009. The main aim of the project was to investigate the current densities in the neck and total contact currents (induced by electric field) in occupational exposure at 400 kV substations and power lines using measurements.

In another project “Evaluation of the exposure to electric and magnetic fields near 110 kV power lines and at 110 kV substations” we measured the exposure to electric and magnetic fields near 110 kV transmission lines in the Tampere region and the exposure to magnetic field of 110 kV underground power cables. The project ended this year. The results of these measurements will be presented at BioEM2009 in Davos, June 2009.

There is quite a lot happening regarding the topic of exposure to electric and magnetic fields. New research results flood in and the new directive causes all kinds of preparatory work. This seems to have remained a very timely issue year after year and seems to be that even today.

Two papers from my projects in the 19th EAEEIE Annual conferences in Tallinn

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The 19th EAEEIE (European Association for Education in Electrical and Information Engineering) Annual Conference is held in Tallinn, Estonia in June 29 – July 24, 2008.

There are two papers from my projects in the 19th EAEEIE Annual conferences in Tallinn.

1) Virtual course “Environmental Issues of Electric and Electronics Industry”, Katri Kesti, Jari Latva-Teikari, Toni Långsjö, Riitta Lehtelä, Leena Korpinen, Tampere University of Technology

The paper presents a virtual course “Environmental Issues of Electric and Electronics Industry”. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the suitability of virtual teaching for this kind of course by analyzing students’ opinions and feedback on the course and its teaching material collected during two courses. The students were asked to give comments every three weeks on a feedback form. According to the feedback, the virtual course was a positive experience, and its material was suitable.

2) “Vaasa Region E-Girls – Education of Electrical Engineering for the Senior Secondary School Students”, Leena Korpinen, Maarit Vesapuisto, Timo Vekara, University of Vaasa and Tampere University of Technology

This paper presents the Vaasa region E-Girls project in which the WWW- course “Electricity, electronics and environment” was further developed for the use of senior secondary school girls in particular. The aim was to pave the way for girls to help them take up studies in technology and consequently seek employment within the technology industry. Local cases were incorporated into the course content. Students’ feedback was quite positive.

Vaasa Region E-Girls project ended

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The E-Girls project of the Vaasa region aimed at making it easier for girls in particular to start studies in electrical engineering or electronics. The goal was to increase the number of female students in technology and, with time, also the number of women working in technology industry. In addition, one aim was making girls more interested in industry as such. It is common knowledge that the proportion of women working in technical jobs in industry is very low at the moment.

The project worked on developing further a web course for senior secondary school students, called Electricity, electronics and environment. The course was supplemented with local viewpoints by adding a few case examples bringing in information about local enterprises. The cases touched the following themes: 1) Climate change raises discussion 2) Stumbling on slippery streets ? can technology help? 3) Recycling a car is free 4) Increasing airport comfort through technology 5) Seeking bids from energy companies is possible 6) Electricity production in India 7) Using a microwave oven at home.

The new version of the web course Electricity, electronics and environment was given in the autumn of 2007. Students in Ostrobothnia region comprised of students from Härmä, Kauhajoki, Laihia, Ylistaro and Vaasa senior secondary schools, as well as the comprehensive schools of Vähäkyrö, Mustasaari and Laihia. In addition, there were students from Pirkkalan yhteislukio. 53 students signed in for the course and 41 completed it (77 %). 18 (44 %) of the students were girls. 25 students were senior secondary school students and 16 were from comprehensive school level.

Student feedback showed that the web course was considered interesting and the subject matter useful. It is likely that the web course will form a part of the instruction program of the University of Vaasa even after the project. The web course brought the students closer to the computer and the Internet and familiarized them with new ways of learning. Moreover, senior secondary school students also became a little more acquainted with the industry of Vaasa region.

The project was funded by The European Social Fund (ESF), the County Administrative Board of Southern Finland and state. The partners in cooperation were Vaasan lyseon lukio, Nicefactory Oy, The Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, Wärtsilä Finland Oy and The Tritonia Learning Center.

A day without electricity – a practical assignment that roused a lot of interest among the senior secondary school students

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In the virtual course Electricity, electronics and environment, developed in the E-Girls – Towards technology – project, the senior secondary school students selected three out of seven practical questions to be answered. 97 (90,7 %) of them answered the question: ‘What would it be like to spend a day without electricity?’. This topic was clearly the most popular one both among girls and boys.—

107 students (54 girls and 53 boys) have completed the course ‘Electricity, electronics and environment’ so far. Six of the participants were girls from the upper classes of comprehensive school and the rest were senior secondary schools students..

Practical assignments form one part of the course. The students get to choose at least three of them. It is, of course, possible to answer even more questions. The students answer the question on their own and send the answers to the teacher as part of the feedback diary.

We received altogether 373 answers. The most popular assignment was the very hands-on question discussed in the introduction ‘What would it be like to spend a day without electricity?’ It inspired almost all the students (90,7%). The most distinctive difference in popularity between girls and boys was with the practical assignment ‘Find out how electric appliances are recycled in your own hometown’. Girls were more interested in this one than the boys were. In fact, girls formed 62% of the respondents. For girls this was the third most popular topic, whereas for boys it was the least popular.

The second most popular topic for boys was ‘Find out where there is a pole-mounted transformer station or pad-mounted substation closest to your home” As for girls, this topic shared the third position with the above mentioned recycling theme. No clear distinction was to be found between the topics chosen by girls and boys.

The most interesting fact in the results was to see how much interest the topic about a day without electricity roused. Electricity is quite essential for us today even if we do not always see it. Maybe that is why the topic was so interesting even to senior secondary school students. Admittedly, the fact that the task was the first exercise of the course might have had an effect on its popularity.

E-Girls – Towards Technology project was concluded at the end of 2006. However, the course is being developed further in the E-girls project of Vaasa region in the Faculty of Technology at the University of Vaasa, which is due to last till the end of 2007. This project is funded by European Social Fund (ESF) and the State Provincial office of Southern Finland.It will be interesting to see which exercises will be the most interesting ones in the future. The lively debate in media about global warming is most probably reflected in the interest of the senior secondary school students.