Dear Readers

The year 2020 has been challenging for all of us. When I took over as new director of the Austrian Press and Information Service and editor-in-chief of the New Austrian Information just over a year ago, no one would have been able to imagine the challenges we had to face in this annus horribilis – in Austria, in the United States, and the whole world.

The successful development of new treatments and promising vaccines against the new disease and the rapid transition of society to a “new normal” have shown us, however, the importance of a well-developed science and research sector, a future-proof education system, and international cooperation for overcoming a global crisis – be it the current pandemic or the global climate crisis. We therefore decided to dedicate this year’s issue of the New Austrian Information to the transatlantic aspects of research, science and education.

Produced in cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research, it presents many insights into the Austrian research and education system and the various areas of Austrian-American cooperation in this field: From pioneering quantum research in Innsbruck and Vienna and scientific excellence at Austria’s Institute for Science and Technology via transatlantic exchange programs like Fulbright Austria to the many success stories of Austrian researchers in the United States. Nobel Laureate Martin Karplus talks about the central role education has been playing throughout his life and Thomas Strasser shares his experiences as young Austrian physics teacher in New York City.

Finally, our series Meet the Consul features Gregory Montanaro, Austrian Honorary Consul in Philadelphia and Vice President of Drexel University. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Federal Minister Professor Heinz Faßmann, to his team and to all authors for their most valuable contributions to this first issue of the New Austrian Information under my supervision, and I hope you will enjoy the reading as much as I did. Sending you warm wishes for a safe and healthy year 2021, I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Johannes Dopsch
Editor-in-chief