Season’s Greetings

With the festive season upon us, it has become the habit at this time of year that we look back and reflect on recent research achievements, activities, and ambitions.

Research highlights this year span again across disciplines, ranging from machine learning and how it can help to design a new generation of proteins to a veritable double bang: By studying the centuries-old remains of a supernova, our astronomers and their collaborators obtained for the first time visual evidence that a star meets its end by detonating twice.

Our main activities in 2025 include our bi-annual alumni meeting, which again brought together different generations of alumni for a day full of networking and exchange. The keynote speech of the event centered on “the lucky mindset”, i.e. how to attract career opportunities that are aligned with our strengths, desires, and ambitions.

Speaking of which – the two projects selected as a Cluster of Excellence in the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments of Germany in May this year are further proof of the outstanding quality of our research across disciplines.

With Christmas drawing near, many of us also look forward to finding and receiving the perfect gift. But we live in a world where so many face a very different season and are in increasing need. To extend a helping hand has long been a valued tradition at HITS, so instead of investing in cards or presents for our friends and partners, we have made donations to two local charities again. This year, the money allocated to us generously by the Klaus Tschira Foundation has gone to the Bahnhofsmission Heidelberg (Train Station Mission, https://www.bahnhofsmission.de/index.php?id=1933) and the Children’s Hospice Sterntaler (https://www.kinderhospiz-sterntaler.de/en/).

We wish you and your families a peaceful holiday season and a healthy and happy New Year.