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One of the most important decisions in creating a new academic unit is its name. The focus field of healthy and sustainable lifestyle has reached the point of becoming the “School of Natural Sciences and Health”.

This may sound like the most rational version, but reaching this has been a journey of many stages. The name should join various competences and reflect both the theme of natural sciences and environment, as well as their connection to human activities, behaviour and health.

The first versions of the new name were generated at the end of January, when 86 experts in psychology, ecology, mathematics, natural sciences, arts, health and sport sciences participated at the development seminar.

Among the nine names proposed at that seminar, there were many good ones, such as the Institute for Valuable Life, but which did not have a proper Estonian equivalent. Most names had two parts and included words such as the environment, health, human, science, nature and well-being.

All names proposed were put up for elections, with the possibility of casting a yes- and a no-vote. Most yes-votes were cast upon two names. The School of Natural Sciences and Health got 20 votes and 2 countervotes, whereas the School of Natural and Human Sciences stood at 16:1.

We would like to thank all the participants! The names will be confirmed by the Senate.

Mihkel Kangur
Director of the Institute of Ecology

Sirje Vaask,
Project manager of the  Rectorate Management Office