Our alum Johannes Malkamäki: Molecular biology was a philosophical journey which led to magic and event hosting

Cell biology and life’s big questions

In his character, Johannes Malkamäki is an interesting combination of deep scientific curiosity and playfulness, interactivity and great emotions. His university studies started in a fairly traditional way: he applied for and was admitted to biotechnology studies at Tampere University in 2012. Johannes says that his studies called for an independent approach and a lot of self-directed reading.

“I for one enjoy this kind of studying. It was easier for me to learn independently by reading books than to attend lectures. The materials included many interesting, international books. For me, the very first course on cells proved to be decisive for my future focus. I got very enthusiastic about the topic, and I also ended up completing my master's studies in molecular biology," Johannes reminisces.

Johannes says that the university gave him first and foremost a world view. His studies provided scientific knowledge and taught him scepticism as well as a deep, genuine understanding of science.

I was more interested in knowledge as such than what you could do with that knowledge. For me, the studies were a kind of a philosophical journey. I wanted to know how life ultimately works.

Johannes Malkamäki, magician, host, entrepreneur, Hämmästy Oy

“I was more interested in knowledge as such than what you could do with that knowledge. I did think seriously about a researcher’s career, and for some years I actually worked as one, but it was not really my ambition. For me, the studies were a kind of a philosophical journey. I wanted to know how life ultimately works,” Johannes says.

Fool me once

In his thesis, Johannes studied the prevalence of enteroviruses in the spleen and built a method in which fluorescent markers are attached to tissue and laser light is shot at the tissue to dye it. He worked in Professor Heikki Hyöty's research group under Jutta Laiho’s supervision. Johannes says he was in very good hands.

“Heikki is a great guy, very down to earth. He is top of his field even globally, and he has had a key role in studying the link between viruses and type 1 diabetes, currently the dominant hypothesis in virology,” Johannes says.

After graduation, a promising researcher’s path opened up before Johannes – but what ultimately led him to magic?

The zest first sparked when Johannes was a teenager. Card tricks made a lasting impression on him.

“It was an amazing moment in lower secondary school when this guy did a card trick and got me fooled. It was a funny feeling, something else completely. Magic offered something you don’t otherwise experience in life,” Johannes says.

Hämmästy!

Johannes' journey from science to magic advanced through a few intermediate stages – quite logical ones, in retrospect. An important part of this transition was science communication in which scientific phenomena are explained to a wider audience. Science communication has always been close to Johannes' heart, and in 2017, he opened his own science-themed YouTube channel. It was presumably the world’s first YouTube channel that popularised biotechnology and microbiology.

My researcher background is still reflected in my work, however, as I like to use that side of my personality when creating my shows.

Johannes Malkamäki, magician, host, entrepreneur, Hämmästy Oy

“I ran my own production company for 2.5 years, and frankly speaking, I was working too hard. I funded my YouTube videos by doing magic, which had been more of a hobby until then. Eventually I gave up science communication and concentrated on magic shows and hosting services. My researcher background is still reflected in my work, however, as I like to use that side of my personality when creating my shows,” Johannes says.

Much of Johannes' day-to-day work currently has to do with running his own company, Hämmästy! Oy, and attending to all the practical aspects of his shows. He must also squeeze in enough time for practice: the impression of ease and spontaneity can only be achieved through careful planning and hard practice. Once all the practicalities are in place, the sound and other arrangements checked, full focus can be given to the event itself, unique experiences and, above all, the people.

A few seconds of free fall

Typical programme service customers are companies that organise various customer and staff events. The audience may include dozens of people, sometimes even hundreds. Often the programme starts with a show for the whole audience and then continues with close-up magic and dexterity tricks among the attendees.

My earnest will is to create fun moments of community for the audience, moments in which we are all part of something bigger. Much of the magic can only be transmitted live, so you have to be present in the moment. Therefore, it is also something rather limited and exclusive, something in which the logical, compartmentalised world is swept aside for a minute.

Johannes Malkamäki, magician, host, entrepreneur, Hämmästy Oy

“My earnest will is to create fun moments of community for the audience, moments in which we are all part of something bigger. Much of the magic can only be transmitted live, so you have to be present in the moment. Therefore, it is also something rather limited and exclusive, something in which the logical, compartmentalised world is swept aside for a minute,” Johannes explains.

Sometimes Johannes finds himself wondering if it would be wiser to work with something that leaves a more permanent mark in the world. The magic is gone in an instant, after a few seconds of free fall.

“The longer I've been doing this, however, the more I like that very transience. I enjoy creating great, powerful moments for the audience, with humour and audience interaction also playing a big part in the experience. In that moment in time, all we have is the present.”

 

Alum: Johannes Malkamäki

Degree and major: Master of Science, molecular biology

Graduation year: 2019

Current work: magician, host and entrepreneur

Text: Tiina Leivo

Photo: Jonne Renvall, Tampere University