Letter from the President:

Dear EUSCEA members and friends,

It is just a couple of weeks since we came home from Perugia, Italy, after the 9th EUSCEA Annual Conference.

First of all, I want to thank all of you who participated and made the conference such a nice and interesting event. Of course, an especially warm ”thank you” goes to Leonardo Alfonsi and his staff at the Perugia Science Festival who organised it all in such a great way.

Jordi Mas, left his work at the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació, some time ago. He has been a long-time friend of EUSCEA and member of the board, and we look forward to welcoming him back in EUSCEA from a new position. As his successor in the board was Leonardo Alfonsi unanimously elected by the General Assembly – and I am convinced that was an excellent choice. We look forward to working with Leo and wish him most welcome!

I am also very happy that the EUSCEA members in a ”future workshop” thought that the ”project strategy” of EUSCEA has been successful and should be continued. Personally, I think the EU funded projects EUSCE/X and WONDERS have been most important for our organisation and the development of exchanges, visits and networking. I hope that both old and new members will find it interesting to participate in current and future projects like 2WAYS and PLACES.

Several members submitted letters (or, actually, emails) of interest for arranging one of the next two EUSCEA Annual Conferences. That is very encouraging; never before have we had so many good proposals. Finally, Berlin was selected for 2010. For 2011 there are several candidates – and it is the 10th anniversary of EUSCEA so it might be something special. Even more important is that with more members and more projects, the need for larger meetings and conferences is increasing too – and it is good to know that there are a range of great alternatives and members interested in organising them.

Please send me an e-mail whenever you like if there is something you would bring up – I will do my best to answer and/or forward to whom it may concern.

I look forward to seeing you in Berlin 2010!

Best regards

Jan Riise

President