Holiday Greetings to the InterPore Community

As we approach the end of 2023, I look back on milestones from the past year – the launch of the InterPore Journal, the 50th edition of Porous Media Tea Time Talks (organized by the Young Academy), publication of the Album of Porous Media: Structure and Dynamics, a new National Chapter in Japan, the first InterPore Academy webinar, and the event that was probably the highlight for many people: the return to a fully in-person annual meeting with the highly successful Edinburgh conference.

Looking ahead, the 2024 Calendar includes new milestones: the long-awaited Annual Conference in Qingdao, China (twice postponed in earlier years due to the pandemic), the first issues of the new InterPore Journal, and the anticipated formation of new National Chapters. We will also publish a formal strategic plan, which emanates from surveys and interviews with the community, and which will define where to target our efforts and investments to best impact the future of the society and benefit its members.

While there are many individual and organizational achievements to celebrate from 2023, we all know that the past year also brought tragedy, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Africa and renewed conflict in the Middle East – events that affect some of our friends and colleagues directly. These realities can make our career achievements seem small, and as a highly international organization this difficult balance will always be with us.

For me, the holiday season is always a time to be reminded of InterPore – literally, because abstract-due-date reminders happen around the same time as fall semester exams, commencement, holiday travels, or New Year celebration. It’s true this year, with abstracts due Jan 8! I’m sure many of you also have similar memories and may be finalizing or planning submissions as you read this. If so, I wish you the best with your abstract preparation, and I also send out holiday greetings and my very best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!

Karsten Thompson
InterPore President