The opportunity to meet profound, sophisticated and empathetic people has been very important to me. These encounters include the analytically precise presentations given by Jaakko Hintikka, the edifying influence of Esa Saarinen, and the many conversations at ihmettelijöiden klubi (‘the wonderers club’) founded by Andrew Chesterman and Kirsti Lonka. Collaboration with Mika Pantzar has greatly added to my understanding of society, economics and communities. Together with Krista Lagus I have been able to develop many socio-cognitive themes.

I have had the privilege of discussing research strategies as well as the place of research in society with people such as Anna Mauranen, Kari Raivio, Bengt Holmström, Pirjo Hiidenmaa and Syksy Räsänen.

The circle of people I have discussed languages with is so large that I can only mention a small fraction by name: Arto Mustajoki, Kimmo Koskenniemi, Jan-Ola Östman, Tiina Onikki-Rantajääskö, Fred Karlsson, Terttu Nevalainen, Liisa Tiittula, Atro Voutilainen, Matti Miestamo, Jörg Tiedemann and Jarno Raukko.

Kristiina Kalleinen and Mikko Tolonen have greatly increased my understanding of historical research.

I have been able to delve into the digitalisation process of libraries and human sciences with Kai Ekholm, Maj-Lis Bremer-Laamanen, Krister Lindén, Jukka Kervinen, Kimmo Kettunen, Tuula Pääkkönen, Kalervo Järvelin and Jessica Parland-von Essen.

Ilkka Niiniluoto, Esa Saarinen, Matti Sintonen, Uskali Mäki, Tarja Knuuttila, Paavo Pylkkänen, Pentti Määttänen and Juha Himanka have all contributed to my understanding of philosophy, while my understanding of psychology and cognitive sciences has been furthered by Kirsti Lonka, Göte Nyman, Mauri Kaipainen, Ilkka Pyysiäinen and Kai Hakkarainen, and my knowledge in the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence research has been increased by Aapo Hyvärinen, Samuel Kaski, Mikko Kurimo, Jorma Laaksonen, Erkki Oja, Tapani Raiko, Harri Valpola, Amaury Lendasse, Risto Linturi, Markus Koskala, Eero Hyvönen, Henry Tirri, Patrik Floréen, Hannu Toivonen and Petri Myllymäki. Hundreds of people, for example in international contexts, will unfortunately have to remain unmentioned here.

I feel a kinship with Aleksi Neuvonen in the endeavour to create a better world. Conversations and friendship with Aapo Hyvärinen cover a large area, from the philosophies of life and psychology to the methods of understanding the phenomena related to these fields. I should mention the formative influence that two professors from Oulu, Pentti Kerola and Kari Kuutti, exerted over me during my early studies, helping me gain new perspectives and adding depth to my thinking. Without the Academician Teuvo Kohonen, most of the work in my career would have been left undone because of deficiencies in my methods and the lack of a determined role model. I have been able to share the joys and challenges of research with my insightful spouse Nina Janasik-Honkela.