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VERONICA STOLTE-HEISKANEN sosiologist pioneering science studies 1934-1994 Professor Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen was a true cosmopolitan and an ambassador for Finnish sociology. She was a pioneer of empirical science studies in Finland and an internationally recognized expert in social studies on science and technology. Veronica Stolte was born in Budapest, but after the Second World War, her family had to flee first to Germany, then to the U.S. After studying at the universities of Columbia and Chicago, she moved to Finland, having married a Finnish colleague. Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen received her doctorate in 1967 as the second female sociologist at University of Helsinki. She became Professor of Sociology at the University of Tampere in 1982 and the first female Vice Rector of the same university in 1990. She was also the first woman ever to chair the Finnish sociologists' professional association, the Westermarck Society in 1974-1977 and was elected to the International Sociological Association Executive Committee. The family sociology interest of her early career soon gave way to science and technology studies. Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen influenced significantly and in many fora the establishment and enlargenment the field of science and technology research in Finland. She studied the changing nature of research work, research evaluation, utilization of research results, research ethics, problems in research systems of small countries and the position of women in science. 1 2 3 4 5 1 Hungarian schoolgirl Veronica Stolte with her family. Photo: Eva Heiskanen's family archive. 2 Born in Hungary, study years in USA, an international research career in Finland: departure and arrival were an essential part of the life of Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen from early on. Photo: Eva Heiskanen's family archive. 3 Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen at her home in Siltasaari, Helsinki in 1980s. Photo: Tarja Tuppurainen. 4 Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen. Photo: Eva Heiskanen's family archive. 5 Veronica Stolte-Heiskanen with her daughters Eva and Susan, early 1970s. Photo: Eva Heiskanen's family archive.