Happy new year from the ERRS Council

It is with great honor and enthusiasm that I address you as the newly elected President of the ERRS. I am deeply grateful for your trust and confidence, and I look forward to building upon our society’s strong foundation by fostering collaboration, innovation, and progress in the field of radiation research.

First, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing President, Peter Sminia, for his exceptional leadership over the past two years. Under his guidance, our society has thrived—welcoming new members, forging inspiring collaborations, and organizing outstanding annual meetings, including dedicated sessions for young scientists. His dedication and vision have set a high standard, and I am confident that his continued contributions as Past President will remain a valuable asset to our society.

Looking ahead, I am committed to advancing the remarkable progress we have achieved together. With the collective efforts of the Council, the secretariat, and all our dedicated members, we will continue to strengthen the ERRS’s visibility and impact. Supporting young researchers through awards, mentorship, and opportunities will remain a key priority, as will deepening ties with sister organizations and promoting international cooperation in radiation research.

I am particularly excited about the upcoming 49th Annual Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, in September 2025. This highly anticipated event promises to be another exceptional platform for exchanging ideas, presenting ground-breaking research, and celebrating our shared passion for radiation science.

To our Vice President, Katalin Lumniczky, and Honorary President, George Iliakis, I am thrilled to collaborate with you and the entire council. Your expertise, insights, and unwavering dedication are invaluable to our society. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to our outstanding Treasurer, Sarah Baatout, and deputies Silvana Miranda and Anthony Waked. Your efforts and commitment truly form the backbone of the ERRS, ensuring its continued success.

As we embark on this new chapter, I warmly invite all members to share your ideas, initiatives, and enthusiasm to help propel our society to new heights. Together, we will push the boundaries of radiation research and uphold the legacy of excellence that defines the ERRS.

Wishing you all a fruitful, healthy, and scientifically outstanding 2025!

Warm regards,
Siamak Haghdoost
President, European Radiation Research Society
 

Wishing all of you a very nice, fruitful, healthy and scientifically fantastic 2025! 

Now my two-years term as ERRS president has ended, I would like to thank all of you for your support of our society, for your confidence, for your input, for the fruitful and pleasant collaboration in radiation research. 

Thanks to our members, the council, and above all the very well organized and dedicated secretariat, we together are keeping the ERRS alive and kicking!  Over the last years, many steps were taken:  the website has been renewed, the Early Career Research Network - the Next Generation of Radiation Researchers  NGenR² - has been kicked – off, new scientific contacts and collaborations were initiated. We welcomed many young scientists as new member of our society and strengthened ties with sister organizations such as the European Space Agency. Currently, our society is supported by > 350 members from > 25 European countries and abroad. Financially, our society is healthy, allowing the membership fee to maintain at the reasonable rate of 30 euros per year. Every year, the ERRS supports  young scientists by offering Young Investigator Awards. In addition, best posters are rewarded and an outstanding European researcher is recognized with the Bacq and Alexander award, all with festive ceremonies during the annual meetings.

We can look back to an very successful 48^th annual meeting last September in Aveiro, Portugal, with a broad scientific program, covering all fields of radiation research, dedicated speakers, inspiring scientific sessions attended by a large number of participants from all over Europe and abroad. Memorable social events and delicious food! Once again: sincere thanks to Joana Lourenco, Ruth Pereira, Tânia Caetano & team for the warm welcome in Aveiro and splendid organization! 

With the end of my term, I would like to thank Georgia Terzoudi for the excellent work and support from the role of Past President. Georgia, I am very grateful to you, for your encouragement and advice throughout the years. 

We are very happy that Siamak Haghdoost will guide our society in the coming years as President of the ERRS! It has always been great and pleasant to work with you, your enthusiasm and dedication will move our society forward to continue our so important scientific mission.  

Welcome to Katalin Lumniczky as the new ERRS Vice President! We are very glad with you in the team – we love your kind and modest way of communication! Katalin, your input, fruitful ideas and viewpoints in the council are so welcome and very much appreciated!

Last year, we welcomed George Iliakis as our new Honorary President. Your expert view, your advice and international contacts you share with us, are really beneficial for our society. We enjoy your humor and glee, and your expert photographing! 

Last but not at all least, I would also like to express my gratitude to our secretary treasurer Sarah Baatout and deputy secretaries Silvana Maranda and Antony Waked, who serve our society throughout the years in an outstanding way. We feel grateful with all their activities and immense dedication to our ERRS ‘family’. Thank you so much! 

Finally: Together, thanks to all, we are the ERRS. It has been a fantastic task and great honor to serve the ERRS as President. In my new position as Past President, I am looking forward to continue working with the Council and all members of the ERRS. For the future, I am really confident that we will continue the mission of our society, to share scientific knowledge and generate exciting new ideas and collaborations in the field of Radiation Research.

I hope to meet all of you at the 49^th ERRS Annual Meeting, which will be held in the ‘capital of Europe’, Brussels, Belgium, from the 2^nd to 4^th of September, 2025! 

My best wishes to all of you,

Peter Sminia, Past President, European Radiation Research Society