Team Members

MEET OUR EPIC GROUP:


AMR IBRAHIM: 
Hello! I'm from Egypt. I’m now master degree student in the institute of Photonics at the University of Eastern Finland. Prior to that I studied for a master degree in Materials science and I have a bachelor degree in nuclear and radiation engineering from Alexandria University in Egypt.
I strongly wish to have an instrumental role in scientific research in the future.  
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: I've lived for one year in Finland, and I know just a few Finnish words.

ANA GEBEJES: 
I come from Serbia, from a small town called Senta. It is a town on the very north of Serbia close to the Hungarian border. I am a Msc of Graphic Engineering and Design but also I have an Erasmus Mundus Master degree from the Color in Informatics and Media Technology (CIMET) program. At the moment I am an Early Stage Research and PhD Student and the University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu. In the past 6 years I lived in 4 different countries. 2009 in Mankato Minnesota in USA. 2010 back in Serbia. 2012-13 in Granada Spain and 2013-15 Joensuu Finland. I can fluently speak 4 language - Serbian, Hungarian, English and Spanish. Finnish I have little difficulties with, but it is on my to do list. I have a passion for martial arts, dancing and climbing. I even instruct BodyCombat and Sh'bam in a local gym! My friends might say that I workout so much just because I love to eat! That is not far from the truth. I love to eat and I love to cook. I can proudly say I can make the best baklava!!!
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: I can touch my nose with my tongue.


KRISTINA SOLOVYOVA:


Hello! I am a fourth-year design student of Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Joensuu, Finland. I originally come from Russia, city of Saint-Petersburg, which is sometimes called Northern Venice. During winter and spring of year 2014 I have been working as a volunteer for the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games in the city of Sochi.


Due to my university I recently got a great chance to participate in such an incredible project as Epic Challenge – Sustaining Humans on Mars! Our team will be creating a plant growing unit which would be used by Earth astronauts to grow food on Mars! Isn’t that amazing?! It really is! I truly enjoy the diversity and uniqueness of our team and really look forward to result we are going to achieve! Stay tuned! It’s gonna be awesome!

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME:  I'm fond of dancing, travelling and cooking, and absolutely cannot live without chocolate.


         
MARIIA SMIRNOVA:

I gained Bachelor's Degree and Alumna in Architecture in Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Russia), in 2012 I moved to Finland to study Design.
Currently I am fourth year student in Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Bachelor's Dehree Program in Arts and Design.
In 2014 I did my internship as an assistant designer with architectural and design duties in Arcadia Oy (architectural office in Joensuu).
2014-2015 due to Erasmus exchange program, I studied Engineer Education Architecture & Design in Aalborg University (Denmark), MSc in Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Science. In addition, I am fond of architectural and travel photography. I had a couple personal exhibitions in 2013, 2014 in St. Petersburg and in Joensuu. Moreover, my interest lies in the field of sustainable approach. Regarding the Epic Challenge program, it is my ambition to develop a project of sustaining people on Mars for NASA, and I plan to write my thesis based on the project.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: My hobby is photography.
         
         
 MATTI PÖLÖNEN:

I'm from Joensuu, Finland. I'm in my late 20's. I have experience in machining and metal working. At the moment I'm studying mechanical engineering at Karelia University of Applied Sciences. It's my 3rd year now and I'm specializing in mechanical designing . Last spring I was a trainee at Karelia UAS precision working laboratory and last summer I worked at Thermo Fisher Scientific as a machine operator. 

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: I grew up on a farm.
         

         
SONJA KUOKKA:

I'm currently a student in Joensuu Normaalikoulu high school. I have lived my whole life in Joensuu but I love travelling and want to see as many new places as I can. My interests include astronomy, physics and everything that has something to do with space. My childhood dream was to be an astronaut. Nowadays I mainly want a career that has to do with research and physics.
Because I'm still in high school, I don't have as much experience or knowlege as other team members. Despite that I'll definetly try my best in both creating solutions and learning in the process.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: I'm a huge fan of fantasy literature. Because everything is better with dragons.

         
TIMO ILO:

I have a Bachelors degree in Natural Sciences and I’m currently studying for Masters degree in Biology. I’ve always been very interested in space and science fiction.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: My hobbies are quite unrelated to science; I do thaiboxing and other martial arts!






KRISTA HOLAPPA:

Hi! I’m a third year media-student from the University of Applied Sciences here in Joensuu, and I have done my matriculation examination in the Upper Secondary School of Arts and Music, in Savonlinna. I love boardgames and art, and in the future I would like to have a creative job.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: I have a Maine Coon cat, Maul, and he is named after the Star Wars -franchise.




JESSE KORHONEN
I’m 27 years old. By my former profession I am a chef, but now I am studying tourism in Karelia University of Applied Sciences.
I am really into travelling! I am using most of my money on travelling. My enthusiasm to see new places and cultures has driven me to work and live in Norway, Spain and Russia. Last summer I was backpacking in Australia with my girlfriend. We bought a car and lived in it for the whole three months.
In my free time I try to do all kinds of sports, and going in the wild and exploring nature really makes me feel relaxed.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: At the age of 24 I travelled around the world in less than 80 days.


NETTA PUHAKKA: 

Hi, my name is Netta and I’m a student from Joensuu normaalikoulu high school. I’m studying in a science class. My hobbies are Finnish  folk dance, playing clarinet  in folk music band and cycling. 

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ME: I also teach folk dance.







1 comment:

  1. hey, this is sharif from team horus - a team of joensuu epic challenge. i need a contact preferably JESSE KORHONEN or TIMO ILO. i need to talk with someone to fix some issues of our challenge. please help me out

    ReplyDelete