A groundbreaking Finnish research study on ice fishing has gained international recognition by being featured on the cover of the renowned scientific journal, Science. The study, which was conducted by a collaboration involving the University of Eastern Finland, the Technische Universität Berlin, and the Max Planck Institute, involved monitoring 74 Finnish ice fishers over two years across ten various water bodies. In total, 477 ice fishing trips were analyzed, emphasizing the rigorous nature of the study that not only highlights Finnish ice fishing culture but also contributes to broader ecological understandings.

Despite the significance of the research being rooted in Eastern Finland, the cover image chosen by Science depicts ice fishers in Minnesota, USA, rather than highlighting the actual locations of the study. This discrepancy has sparked conversations among the researchers and university officials about the representation of their work and the potential impact of the cover feature on the visibility of Finnish research. Tapio Määttä, the rector of the University of Eastern Finland, expressed joy over the publication in a Facebook post, underlining the achievement's importance for the institution.

Raine Kortet, a professor of aquatic ecology at the University of Eastern Finland, shared insights about the situation as well. Although the researchers provided images from their original study sites for consideration, there may have been miscommunication or editorial choices that led to the selection of the Minnesota image. This incident raises questions not only about the visibility of regional studies in international journals but also about the portrayal of local cultures and practices in mainstream scientific discourse.