Professor Patric Östergård becomes a member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters

Patric Östergård, Professor of Information Theory, was elected a member of the Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters on December 15, 2025. Östergård works at the Department of Information and Communication Engineering at the School of Electrical Engineering.

'Information theory is a mathematical framework that plays a broad and critical role in ICT, for example, in making efficient and error-free transfer of information possible. A significant part of my research focuses on constructing various mathematical structures, employing algebraic, combinatorial, and computer-assisted methods,' Östergård tells. 

The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters is a science academy that, for example, promotes scientific discussion, publishes scientific literature, awards prizes and provides financial support for research.

Finnish and foreign researchers are invited to become members on the basis of their scientific merits. The academy was founded in 1838, and it has four sections: Mathematics and Physics, Biosciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Östergård is a member of the Mathematics and Physics section. In addition to Östergård, the academy has six other members with an Aalto University affiliation: Professor Emeritus Gustav Gripenberg, Professor Tuomas Hytönen, Professor Markus Linder, Professor Emeritus Rolf Stenberg, Professor Päivi Törmä, and Professor Monika Österberg.

'It is a great honour to become a member of Finland's oldest science academy. Each section has only 30 members under the age of 67. The membership provides an excellent opportunity for networking and connecting with top scientists from various fields,' says Östergård.

This news item was originally published on the Aalto University website on 19.1.2026