Academician of Science Leena Palotie is portrayed on a new postage stamp issued today on the International Women´s Day, 8th March, 2010

Academician of Science Leena Palotie and five other distinguished Finnish women are portrayed onnew postage stamps issued on the International Women's Day today (March 8th 2010). The other prominent women on the stamps are Professor Laila Hirvisaari, Professor Elina Haavio-Mannila, Director Maria-Liisa Nevala of the Finnish National Theatre, Designer Ritva-Liisa Pohjalainen and Dance Artist Aira Samulin.

This is the first full series of Finnish stamps dedicated to influential women of today. All of them have achieved their influential position, many of them even internationally, through their own deeds," says Director Markku Penttinen of the Philatelic Centre.

Designed by Päivi Vainionpää, each stamp shows the silhouette, signature, and an illustration of something specific about the distinguished woman in question, such as a DNA double helix for Leena Palotie.

By issuing this booklet of stamps, Itella wants to honour Finnish women in general and their strong know-how in many sectors. “These six women were now chosen for the stamps following a long deliberation; there were many candidates," Penttinen says.

In all, 250,000 Distinguished Women stamp booklets were printed.