Timo R. Stewart. Photo: Milla Talassalo
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Timo R. Stewart has received the 2025 Scientist of the Year award from the Finnish Union of University Researchers and Teachers for his contribution to public understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The union said Stewart had consistently communicated research-based information in a conflict that has been politically and socially divisive. He was praised for his public presence and refusal to withdraw from difficult discussions.
Stewart, 45, holds a doctorate in political history. He has specialised in Middle East policy in Europe and the United States, with a particular focus on religious nationalism.
He has been a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and is a regular commentator in Finnish media on the conflict in Gaza.
According to the union, Stewart has strengthened the role of research in public debate and helped support informed decision-making on sensitive foreign policy issues. His work has clarified the historical context of the conflict and explained the complexity of the current situation.
“Timo R. Stewart has communicated in a clear and open way during a period when public discussion has been highly polarised,” union chair Antti Pajala said. “He has not avoided raising critical issues despite the risk of harassment and defamation, which many researchers face.”
Stewart said he had aimed to help the public understand developments in Gaza through evidence-based analysis.
“The war in Gaza created an urgent demand for interpretation of fast-moving and dramatic events,” Stewart said. “I have tried to share perspectives grounded in research and political knowledge of the region. Years of working with this conflict, and analysing Western views on it, have given me tools to contribute in a useful way.”
The recognition comes at a time when Stewart’s contract with the Finnish Institute of International Affairs has ended. His case has drawn wider attention to job insecurity in academia.
In the union’s own membership surveys, insecurity remains a constant concern. Pajala said Stewart’s situation shows how even respected experts with public value face uncertainty in their careers.
“Stewart’s case is a stark example of life in the research field,” Pajala said. “Even when a researcher plays a major role in public understanding, employment continuity is not guaranteed. We depend on these experts for the nation’s knowledge and growth.”
Stewart is no longer commenting on the conflict on behalf of the institute. He said his future in science remains open but that he plans to continue his research and communication with the wider public.
“I believe that researcher participation in public discussion is essential. It matters for democracy and for science,” Stewart said.
The award was presented in Helsinki on 7 November. The prize includes a sum of €5,000.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
