This is the eleventh in the series of short statements from candidates in the coming CODATA Elections at the General Assembly to be held on 27-28 October, 2023.  Leo Lahti  is a candidate for the CODATA Executive Committee as an Ordinary Member. He was nominated by Finland.

I have a background in computational science. Throughout my 20-year research career I have developed algorithmic solutions for data-intensive problems in a range of application fields from molecular life sciences to ecology, computational history, and computational social sciences. The focus of our research team is the analysis and modeling of complex natural and social systems, and the development of open data science frameworks that help to bridge the gap between theoretical and applied research.

After my doctoral degree (2010) at the Department of Information and Computer Science, Aalto University, Finland, I spent 7+ years abroad in central European research laboratories before establishing my own team at the University of Turku, Finland, where I was recently nominated as professor in Data Science.

I have advocated open science throughout my career, including the development of open research software in microbiome research and open government data analytics (altogether ~10,000 downloads/month), supported by regular international workshops in applied data science. I act currently as vice chair for the national coordination on open science in Finland. As part of this work, I led the working group that developed national policy on open access to research methods and infrastructures (2023). In addition, I am board member in Open Knowledge Finland NGO and its representative in the Ministry of Justice work group that is preparing an updated version for the law on public information in Finland. In 2021 I received national open science award by the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies.

I joined CODATA as the national delegate for Finland in 2022, based on my activities in the relevant areas of research and research policy. As part of CODATA I have participated in the national forum and the Data Ethics work group, which will present its recent activities during the International Data Week in Salzburg, Austria. In addition, I have led the national branch in Finland, which brings together the relevant national actors. I am looking forward to continue this work and strengthen the links between CODATA and Northern Europe. I  am willing to develop data science training to promote CODATA mission and responsible openness, with a particular focus on the methods of data science in research and policy work.