What I particularly appreciate about the University is how it takes into account the different goals of its students. Not everyone can or should become a researcher. At its best, an education in the humanities is extremely comprehensive and prepares you for a wide variety of work. At least for me it has worked out well. I minored in archaeology. The field work course taught me practical skills, and getting away for just a week to concentrate on research had a definite impact on my ability, as a young student, to recognise what was relevant. Similarly, Leena Hakli’s near legendary course on museum technology expanded my horizons. Students for that six-month course were chosen from different fields related to museums, illuminating museums’ interdisciplinary significance. It has been a pleasure to observe how the modern, interactive, visitor-friendly way of presenting information used abroad has spread to Finland. Museums really are something more than glass cases full of dusty artefacts.

In my current job at the Finnish Red Cross, we are constantly thinking about those living amidst catastrophes and conflicts and how to best help them on their own terms. Underlying many global problems are cultural issues, which have been brought to a head by such things as the pressure put on people’s livelihoods by climate change. The Red Cross tries to help those less fortunate, regardless of ethnic background or the reasons for their hardship. Humanity is our guiding principle.

If I ended up doing research now, I would study the nature of volunteer work. I have done a lot of volunteer work myself, been an active girl scout and worked at organisations that encourage volunteering. In the past this kind of work was done by the local community on the basis of reciprocity, and it was simply part of life—neighbours were asked to help out in the fields and you returned the favour by doing something else for them. Nowadays voluntary work is not as reciprocal, and it is not necessarily done for those closest to you. Of course workers are also rewarded by knowing they have helped someone. It would be interesting to investigate more deeply why once again this autumn so many people want to help people who are complete strangers to them.

Another interesting topic for research could be cultural phenomena and the mechanisms for their creation. A recent sport-related example concerns something I am part of: Susijengi (‘The Wolf Pack’), Finland’s national basketball team and its fan club. It has enticed thousands to attend basketball games, and suddenly the sport is on everyone’s lips. The incredible community spirit that the fans share, the support, the positivity and the patriotism are just part of the rush that us basketball fans have been able to experience both in Bilbao in 2014 and Montpellier in 2015. In addition to these sporting experiences, travelling to basketball tournaments has enabled us to visit wonderful places full of cultural significance.