2014 and 2015 have been tempestuous, both in the life of professor Honkela and in society in general. One of the world’s most experienced neurosurgeons, Juha Hernesniemi, also a professor at the University of Helsinki, removed a tumour found in the visual cortex of Timo Honkela’s brain in December 2014. The operation went well, and Honkela was able to return to work in autumn 2015.

In 2014, the rector of the University of Helsinki tasked the VISIO400 team with charting out the University’s prospects over the next 25 years. Honkela was appointed to the team and was active even during his convalescence. The VISIO400 team, led by Dean Anna Mauranen, handed over their report to Rector Jukka Kola in September 2015. The team has since been active by, for example, preparing a public statement, at the initiative of Honkela, emphasising the important role University research and education plays in society. Honkela has been involved with discussions on University strategy since he became a member of the University Collegiate in 2014. In 2014, Honkela participated in a working group that laid down the principles of the University’s data policy.

Over the years Timo Honkela has held various positions of trust in learned societies. These earlier posts include the chairmanship of the Finnish Artificial Intelligence Society, the vice-chairmanship of the Finnish Cognitive Linguistics Association, board membership of the European Neural Networks Society, and membership on the editorial staff of the scientific magazine Tieteessä tapahtuu. In this last position, Honkela was instrumental in the publication of a series of articles on science and its interaction with society.