Holiday greetings and awards

Dear staff members,

Unfortunately, due to the current situation, we cannot hold a Christmas party this year. Therefore, we have decided to write a few words here.

As always, I would like to thank everyone for their willingness and enthusiasm to work here at the FMF and, in accordance with our motto "We think the unthinkable and make the impossible possible", for working scientifically brilliantly even in this difficult year. Even if it was at times almost impossible to work on solutions together on site, sufficient opportunities were found to exchange ideas via the most diverse platforms and to progress step by step.

It was particularly unfortunate that we were not able to convey our spirit to the general public this year, as it is usually the case at the Hannover Messe, the Science Days, the Ersti-Tag and all the other important events. But fortunately we were able to hold our colloquium in a hybrid format. And come what might, we will organise it again next year.

The new Board of Directors is bringing new momentum and new ideas with it. We are looking forward to seeing what happens next and are positive that this change will be good for the FMF. The administration team is ready and willing to go along. My special thanks go to the entire administration, technology and IT team. It was not easy to keep everything up and running, to coordinate all the activities and to stay positive at all times, and yet they all managed to do so.

Thanks to all who keep the FMF afloat in the way it is meant to be. Thanks also to Mr Mülhaupt for his years of work and support. We hope that we will be able to have a proper farewell for him in 2021.

Before I wish you a happy, restful and peaceful Christmas, let us not forget our tradition: The honouring of the two winners for "Best Presentation" and "Best Abstract". This was not a gender mistake, this time the full female power was chosen by you: Hannah Buchheit won "Best Abstract" and Frederike Klimm "Best Presentation". Congratulations from my side!

I wish you a Happy New Year 2021, for which I am sure we all wish for the return of normality and above all: Stay healthy!

Stefanie Meisen