Welcome messages

	Hannele Pokka Governor [Message]
	Matti Pelttari Mayor of Rovaniemi [Message]
	Erkki Kaila Symposium Chair [Message]

Welcome to Lapland

by Hannele Pokka, Governor

On behalf of Lapland, the northernmost province of Finland, I have the great pleasure to welcome you to the International Symposium on Advanced Technology in Environmental and Natural Resources.

Nature has always been a matter of significance to the people of Lapland. The relationship between the residents of Lapland and nature is indeed still strong, even though people are increasingly migrating to the population centres.

The nature of Lapland as a source of both livelihood and recreation is still the greatest treasure of the region's in- habitants, a treasure which has been preserved and nurtured and shall remain so in the future.

Over 90 percent of the country's total area of nature reserves are located in Lapland. Within these areas, the Lapps' traditional right to traverse the natural environment, hunt, fish and engage in reindeer husbandry, are generally ensured.

These protected lands have also proved to be the support pillar of tourism, since most who visit Lapland do so in order to participate in the adventures and experiences provided by nature. The travel industry is a rapidly growing source of income for us Laplanders.

Finland's purest waters, cleanest air and the largest number of areas that are still virtually in a natural state are all found in Lapland. Europe's last great wilderness regions are located in this northern area. Their value continues to grow as the proportion of natural land elsewhere decreases.

Lapland is an especially good place in which to live and have one's home. There is room here to work and space to think. We Laplanders number only about 200 000, with practically the same number of reindeer.

Today co-operation with the neighbouring regions, as well as with more distant regions, is one of Lapland's primary interests. Finnish Lapland is a part of the New North.

I hope you will enjoy your stay in Lapland and wish you a fruitful Symposium.

Welcome to Rovaniemi

by Matti Pelttari, Mayor of Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and at the same time one third of Finland, is a centre of commerce, education and administration. The changing seasons (and their constancy) represent Lapland at its very best. Summer, the period of "night without night", as well as the "blue weeks" during the winter, invariably provide both local residents and visitors with wonderful experiences.

The University of Lapland, boasting four faculties, is the flagship of education in the region. The international apex of the university is its Arctic Centre, where the life, nature, survival and future of the Arctic world are studied and the relevant details collated and presented. The exhibits of the Science Centre at Arktikum Hall, together with the displays of the Provincial Museum depicting Finnish Lapland, represent sites which are a "must" for every visitor to Rovaniemi. One never reserves enough time to make a proper round of Arktikum!

Rovaniemi, serving as the centre of the Barents region, is one of Finland's most international cities (indeed, it is often referred to as Finland's "Second Capital"). The city is currently home to 36,000 inhabitants.

We would like to bid our conference guests a cordial welcome to Rovaniemi. We also hope that you will have the time to get better acquainted with Rovaniemi, its environs, the Arctic Circle and - last but not certainly least - Santa Claus.

Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and at the same time one third of Finland, is a centre of commerce, education and administration. The changing seasons (and their constancy) represent Lapland at its very best. Summer, the period of "night without night", as well as the "blue weeks" during the winter, invariably provide both local residents and visitors with wonderful experiences.

The University of Lapland, boasting four faculties, is the flagship of education in the region. The international apex of the university is its Arctic Centre, where the life, nature, survival and future of the Arctic world are studied and the relevant details collated and presented. The exhibits of the Science Centre at Arktikum Hall, together with the displays of the Provincial Museum depicting Finnish Lapland, represent sites which are a "must" for every visitor to Rovaniemi. One never reserves enough time to make a proper round of Arktikum!

Rovaniemi, serving as the centre of the Barents region, is one of Finland's most international cities (indeed, it is often referred to as Finland's "Second Capital"). The city is currently home to 36,000 inhabitants.

We would like to bid our conference guests a cordial welcome to Rovaniemi. We also hope that you will have the time to get better acquainted with Rovaniemi, its environs, the Arctic Circle and - last but not certainly least - Santa Claus.

Welcome to the Symposium

by Erkki Kaila, Symposium Chair

On behalf of the whole organizing team , I have the greatest pleasure in welcoming you to the Resource Technology '98 Nordic Symposium and to Rovaniemi.

All the signs indicate that we are going to have a most intensive and interesting event. With regard to the scientific programme of the symposium, it covers most of the intended topics and after seeing some of the papers, I have to say that a very high standard of quality will be met. The cavalcade of applied information technologies will inspire new conversation during and after the symposium.

"The World of Information" certainly is international, and so is also RT'98; we host delegates from 25 different countries in addition to a large group of "virtual delegates" all over the Internet.

I am convinced that you will enjoy your stay in Rovaniemi and wish you a most successful Symposium.