Society

Vaisala is involved in active discussion with different stakeholders, promoting advancement, particularly the development of natural sciences and environmental measurement.

Collaboration with research bodies and universities
Vaisala also closely collaborates with a number of meteorological authorities around the world. Some significant partners are the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Deutsche Wetterdienst in Germany, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States, and the International Civil Aviation Organization. Vaisala is also an active member of the UN World Meteorological Organization, WMO. The World Meteorological Organization grants two professor Vilho Väisälä Vaisala awards every year. The awards are sponsored by Vaisala and have a combined total of USD 20,000.

One of the Vilho Väisälä awards for 2008 was awarded to three French researchers to recognize their scientific paper dealing with measurement instruments and observation methods, and the other was awarded to four European researchers for their investigation that dealt with weather observations and their measurement, and the implementation of instruments of observation.Further information is provided on the WMO website.

Vaisala grants research scholarships to universities, students and researchers in both the United States and Finland. In 2008, Vaisala was involved in many research and development projects with universities and other providers of higher education. In the 1960s, Professor Vilho Väisälä, the company’s founder, donated Vaisala shares to the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, and these shares were used to establish the Vilho, Yrjö and Kalle Väisälä Fund. Read more in the Research and Development section.

The fund annually gives grants for research in mathematics, physics, geophysics, meteorology, and astronomy. In 2009, the Fund granted a total of over EUR 1.3 million in awards and scholarships.

Campaigns in the USA to prevent damage caused by severe weather
Lightning is one of the most dangerous weather phenomena in the USA. It can be very impressive but it is, above all, a violent discharge of electricity which can pose a serious threat to people and property. Each year lightning causes dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries throughout the USA.

The annual Thunderstorm Safety Awareness Week is an effective way of campaigning to prevent damage caused by lightning and severe weather. The campaign is run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other lightning experts. Vaisala is an active sponsor of the week, participating on the national and regional level, particularly in Arizona.

Active member of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries
Vaisala is a member of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, and the CEO of Vaisala is a member of the Federation’s Board of Directors. Vaisala also actively participates in the undertakings of the Federation’s different working groups, such as the Working Group for Environmental Issues,  which observes environmentally relevant legislation and promotes cooperation between authorities, companies and environmental experts. This activity also provides Vaisala with new insights on how to use environmental perspectives in improving the company's competitiveness.  In 2008 Vaisala signed up to the voluntary energy efficiency agreement of the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries. The agreement aims to improve energy efficiency, generate cost savings, and counter climate change.

Vaisala involved in the UN Global Compact initiative
Vaisala is a participant and stakeholder in the UN Global Compact initiative. Global Compact enlists companies and other organizations to ensure and improve human and labor rights, environmental protection and action to combat corruption. Vaisala is committed to complying with these values in practice and has embedded them in its Code of conduct. The company published its first Corporate Responsibility Report in Mrch 2009. Read the report.