An unexpected “tribute” at my leaving do at ESTEC this evening that I’m sure comes with a degree of ribbing that’s entirely deserved 🤷♂️🤪
It’s people that design, build, & operate space missions & do the science which opens our eyes to the universe, & I’ve had the privilege to work with many amazing scientists, engineers, managers, administrators, & communicators over the past 15 years.
I shall miss my friends & colleagues here deeply, but very much hope we stay in close touch 🙇♂️
@astrokiwi Ah, thank you, Michele – lots of science & outreach ahead of me, that's for sure. Indeed, there's a very good chance that I'll be in Australia in August, so it wouldn't be impossible to consider another trip to NZ if the right invite came ;-)
(It's quite a lengthy trip to Australia already, mind you, so I'd need to be sure I'd be allowed to be away from home for that long.)
@skyglowberlin Thanks, Christopher – I'd call it more of a phase change than real retirement. I have a lot of scientific stuff I still want to do with JWST & other telescopes, plus plenty of outreach-type activities around the world, so I think I'm going to be pretty busy 😬🖖
@markmccaughrean If I could magically retire tomorrow, I wouldn't stop doing scientist work. I would just drop all of the annoying parts and focus on the fun parts. So that's my wish for you 😀
@markmccaughrean Best wishes in all your forthcoming endeavours!
Hope to see you / catch up at a future event.
…they could have used one of my dodgy pics on the shirts! 🤪
@doddington Thanks, Mike – you'd have to talk to Mr Taylor about that, as I think he was the main culprit.
But rest assured, the gallery of your pictures that adorns my office door will be carefully removed & curated, & yes, I plan on remaining busy with science & outreach, so I very much hope we bump into each other again soon.
@hfalcke Thanks, Heino – as I plan to remain active in science with JWST & other facilities, in part through my adjunct position at MPIA, I hope we have the chance to run into each other again. Plenty of outreach work in progress too, so another opportunity to touch bases, I expect.
@HasiProf Thanks, Günther – much appreciated. Lots of science & outreach things planned and lined up, so once we've made the move back to Germany, I expect I'll be busy. 63 is far too young an age to consider real retirement 😉
@DetlefKroeze Thank you, Detlef – I’ll continue doing outreach, not least with Space Rocks, and as Space Rocks will have continued role at the ESTEC Open Day, I’m sure I’ll be back 🙂
@AnnetteKroeze@DetlefKroeze Good to hear that, Annette. I have no plans to actual retire in any meaningful sense though – plenty of science & outreach to be done in the coming years. Am looking forward to it.
@markmccaughrean Must have been kinda scary to be confronted by so many "mirrors"! Hoping you had something other than bottled water on the table to the left to celebrate!
Sorry if I look a little grumpy in this picture – I was smiling in the others that were taken, but Anja was hidden behind Kate in those, so I went with this one. Besides, some would say that look fits me best 🤷♂️🙂
@alexwitze Ha, no – Heidelberg 🙂 While the overall elevations might not be quite so extreme as in Colorado, the gradients on a local scale can be equally daunting 😱
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