People of ICEBERG—Ilkka Olkku from Kaskas

Throughout the ICEBERG project, we will introduce the people working on the project. In this personnel introduction, Ilkka Olkku from Kaskas introduces himself and shares what inspires him about ICEBERG.

My name is Ilkka Olkku, and I work as a Coordinator at ICEBERG partner Kaskas. Kaskas is a Finnish consulting agency focused on sustainable development, with a background in science communication.

As the communications partner of ICEBERG, we’re responsible for the big picture as well as the day-to-day tasks of the project’s communication. From my point of view, the most important goal for us is to help our researchers make their work visible.

I joined the ICEBERG team during my internship at Kaskas in spring 2024 and have continued in the team as a Coordinator since then.

I hold a Master of Arts degree in Finnish Language. Having minored in subjects such as International Relations and Sociology, I have a broad understanding of human behavior and its societal dimensions, and I’m quick to learn new skills. All of this has helped me a lot in my communications work for the project.

My job in the ICEBERG communications team is quite hands-on. I’m responsible for coordinating and publishing most of our social media posts and blog texts. I also lend a helping hand to any consortium member who needs support with communications—for example, by drafting news pieces and other texts.

The guiding principle of my career is making a positive impact. With topics such as studying Arctic pollution and its effects on local communities, ICEBERG aligns perfectly with this goal.

It has also been heartwarming to have the opportunity to work with such talented researchers. Not only are they excellent at conducting research—they also provide us in communications with amazing photos, videos, and texts from the field, laboratories, and the scientific events they participate in.

"The guiding principle of my career is making a positive impact. With topics such as studying Arctic pollution and its effects on local communities, ICEBERG aligns perfectly with this goal."

During the project, I’ve already learned so much about pollution and how it is studied in the Arctic. Before ICEBERG, I didn’t know, for example, how snow and sediment samples are taken or that beach cleanups are a valid way of gathering research material.

I’m eagerly looking forward to reading the results that our different work packages produce through their research. And most importantly, I’m excited to press “publish” on yet another great blog post or social media update produced with our amazing researchers!