The summer is nearing its end and a new academic year will soon be under way. As usual, the semester is getting off to an early start with new students arriving, curious and eager, in our Uppsala. It bodes well for the future to see them already discovering the city and moving into their student rooms. They will have plenty to do, as will we all. Sitting with my calendar, I can already see the last gaps filling up. There are conferences, meetings, the inauguration of professors, anniversary celebrations, Nobel Week, travels and still more meetings. It’s going to be fun and interesting, but hard work as well, of course – finding time for everything that needs to be done during the semester and everything that needs to be discussed and decided for the University to run even better than it does today.
Over the summer, I hope that those of you reading this have had time to reflect on what has gone well and what remains to be done. (Perhaps you’ve had some stroke of genius.) I at least have reflected and a little distance from all the activities has given me more of a perspective on all the good and important things we did last semester at our fantastic University. As I reflected, I felt growing pride and joy at being part of Uppsala University. I hope you feel the same way.
I would now like to wish you a warm welcome to what I hope will be the best autumn the University has ever experienced.
