In recent years, professor Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila’s research has focused on cultural interaction in the Middle East. He heads Fidipro project The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, financed by the Academy of Finland. The project examines a time period lasting over 2000 years during which cultural influence between the Middle East (cuneiform writing in Mesopotamia, Arabian-Islamic culture) and Greece flowed in both directions.

My best moments at the University of Helsinki have been those occasions when I have had the opportunity to follow the development of talented young researchers from student to independent researcher. When I followed, usually as a presiding official, or custos, the public defence of a doctoral thesis, and had the opportunity to see my students outgrow me, at least in their specialist area, and become independent researchers who have internationally important things to say, I reckon that I have done my job well.

Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila is not only a respected researcher but also a popular lecturer. He has taught at the University of Helsinki since 1984. In addition, he has given dozens of public presentations at scientific associations, in the government, in the media, in schools and in many other forums. He has also frequently performed readings of his own poems or translations. He has given thousands of interviews and played a prominent role in various campaigns.