Professorship of resilient futures

The professorship of resilient futures aims to engage students and staff of the University of Tartu as well as the wider public. As a rule, the professor is invited for one academic year. In future, all members of the university may nominate candidates for the professorship. The position of the professor of resilient futures is interdisciplinary.

Lectures by professors of resilient futures are open to everyone. The lectures will be recorded and uploaded to the video portal UTTV.

In the 2026/2027 academic year, General Martin Herem is Professor of Resilient Futures

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Martin Herem is the first Professor of Resilient Futures of the University of Tartu. Over the course of a long career in the Estonian Defence Forces, including as Commander of the Defence Forces, he has shaped public understanding of national defence as a field that concerns the entire society. Herem’s academic interest in Estonia’s history of resistance, his experience in interpreting the lessons of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and his ability to explain complex security issues clearly make him a strong link between the defence sector, research and public debate.

General Martin Herem brings to the University of Tartu’s research and development activities a unique combination of strategic leadership experience, practical expertise in national defence, and a forward-looking perspective. Herem supports research on defenders of the state, border security, crisis preparedness, societal resilience, disinformation, and the impact of emerging technologies. His extensive experience as Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces provides a valuable bridge between research-based knowledge and practical national defence, strengthens interdisciplinary cooperation, and helps address security issues within a broader societal and future-development context.

In the autumn semester of 2026/2027, Herem delivers a series of public lectures (in Estonian). Besides Herem, the lectures will feature experts from a range of fields who will jointly examine the main risks to the continued viability of the free world and encourage the exchange of ideas among participants.