Mailing of December 18, 2024

Dear colleagues,

Christmas is just a few days away and, like you, we are already looking forward to this special time of the year: enjoying cozy gatherings with friends and family, the festive atmosphere, delicious christmas meals – and all the other moments, be they big or small, that make Christmas so unique.

Beyond all these joys, Christmas is also a time for reflection. It gives us the rare opportunity to step away from our daily routines and calmly look back on the year. What is it that we want to remember and what are we grateful for? On behalf of HZDR, we would like to express our gratitude for the extraordinary dedication you have shown in 2024.

We are proud of how the HZDR has developed this year. Thanks to the new research facilities and the many collaborations we have established with partners around the world, our center has grown once again. With the High Energy Density Institute (HEDI) in Rostock, for which we signed the letter of intent in 2024, a new location could even be added soon.

Across all three research areas – energy, health and matter – we have achieved remarkable results throughout the year. This is evidenced by the high-profile scientific publications you have released, the prestigious awards you have won, and the important funding you have acquired – it is impossible to list all the achievements here. Each of them helps to ensure that we continue to be recognized as a leading institution for top-tier research in Germany and worldwide.

But it’s not just in research where we’ve made great strides. Our digitization program, involving numerous departments, is modernizing and streamlining our center. With new buildings and infrastructure, we have managed to position our research sites excellently for the future. And thanks to new initiatives in corporate culture, such as the leadership guidelines, we are strengthening teamwork and mutual appreciation.

None of these successes would have been possible without you and your valuable contributions. Thank you for your outstanding efforts! Let us take pride in these achievements together and approach the challenges of 2025 with the same ambition and passion. For instance, the scientific evaluations in the first half of the year, or the Open Lab Day on August 23, which we will hold again after a long pause. We are confident that with such a strong team, we can tackle any task successfully.

Now is the time to take a break and recharge. Enjoy a cheerful and relaxing Christmas celebration with your loved ones – you’ve earned it!

We wish you happy holidays and look forward to seeing you again in the new year, healthy and full of energy, at HZDR.

Sebastian M. Schmidt and Diana Stiller