Spatial reasoning : theory and practice
Marco Aiello · Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) · 2002
I believe that a PhD thesis is not the effort of an individual, but the final outcome of a synergy.Since there is officially one author, I feel the urge to thank in these initial pages the people involved in a way or another with my PhD project.I arrived in Amsterdam four years ago as a lost soul.Unlike Voltaire's Candide, I found generosity, humor, inspiration and, most importantly, solid scientific values to believe in.I realized my conversion to the 'Amsterdam school' was complete when I received an email in which I was addressed as a "modal logician."What a joy.I did not even know what a 'modal logic' was till I moved my first steps in Amsterdam.If today someone may recognize me as a credible scientist, I own it first and foremost to Johan van Benthem.One of the many qualities of Johan I had the privilege to appreciate, and I am sure I share this feeling with many others, is his natural disposition of putting everyone at ease.I could always raise a question, no matter how silly, and get a simple yet illuminating answer.Every occasion to meet, discuss or even exchange emails with Johan have been pleasurable events which I have and I will be looking forward to.In short, Johan thank you.I am deeply in debt with Arnold Smeulders for his continuous interest in my work, for his warm supervision, and for an extreme availability.He provided me with visionary questions, while leaving me a considerable amount of freedom in my research.I only wish I could have answered more of his questions.