Editorial issue 74 Editorial article

Author(s): Tamaryin Godhino

There is some exciting news to share: Science in School is moving house!

As you know, Science in School is owned and funded by EIROforum, a group of eight European intergovernmental research organisations (EIROs). Until now, it has been hosted by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). However, next month, EMBL will pass the baton to the next host: CERN! This means that this is the last issue created in the beautiful city of Heidelberg in Germany; the next issue will come to you from Geneva in Switzerland.

The city of Heidelberg, situated on the banks of the river Neckar in Germany
Image: Fatemeh Alizadeh/Unsplash, CC0

EMBL has been an amazing host; it’s inspiring to be embedded in such a vibrant organisation full of passionate scientists and communicators, and the EMBL Communications and IT teams, in particular, have provided an enormous amount of practical support and expertise since Science in School started back in 2006. A big thank you, on behalf of Science in School, to everyone involved!

A 360 view of the EMBL Heidelberg site, which is nestled in the hills above Heidelberg. The spiral building near the centre is the Advanced Training Centre, where Science in School has been based.
Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBL, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

But what does the move mean for Science in School ? Well, the important things will stay the same. The mission statement is still:

To support teachers in the delivery of their STEM curricula, by connecting them to inspiring, cutting-edge science and technology, in order to foster positive attitudes towards the science that shapes their lives, and attract students to careers in these fields.

So, Science in School will continue to bring you engaging online STEM teaching resources that are free to access. What will change is the editorial team. At the end of September, I will pass the magazine into the capable hands of the new executive editor, Dr Nathalie Wössner, and you can look forward to hearing from her in the next editorial. She will be joined by the current editorial assistant Chiara Obermüller, who will carry the Science in School torch from Heidelberg to Geneva.

Geneva, Switzerland
Image: Xavier von Erlach/Unsplash, CC0

On a personal note, I think this will be an exciting new chapter for Science in School but I’m also very sad to end my time at the magazine. It’s been such an inspiration to work with so many engaged and creative teachers, educators, scientists, and science communicators since I was given the opportunity to head this unique project back in 2020. I’d like to personally thank all the people who’ve contributed to the magazine in that time, as well as the EMBL Communications team for being such wonderful colleagues, and the EIROforum Editorial Board for their unfailing support. Finally, I’d like to thank the awesome, talented editorial assistants I’ve had the good fortune to have on my team over the past five years: Dr Rosaria Cercola, Dr Maria-Paola Pisano, and Chiara Obermüller. It’s been a joy and a privilege.

The executive editor on holiday: you can take the scientist out of the lab, but you can’t take the scientific curiosity out of the scientist
Image courtesy of Mary Wray