Two major topics are the focus of the 18th issue of our magazine "target" of GSI and FAIR. On the one hand, the corona pandemic has impacted all areas of our lives. Therefore, we have attached a special supplement to this issue, which is dedicated to the operations and research at GSI and FAIR during this time and our efforts to fight the pandemic. On the other hand, last year we celebrated our 50th anniversary with many activities and events.

Marco Durante, head of the GSI Biophysics Research Department and professor at the TU Darmstadt, has been awarded the prestigious Failla Award 2020 by the Radiation Research Society (RRS). Professor Durante has been invited to give a lecture on his scientific career at the virtual annual RRS meeting in October this year. The award has been announced at the end of June.

Does life exist only on earth? How did the universe we live in come into being? And what holds matter together at its core? Researchers at the Bergische Universität Wuppertal are getting to the bottom of these questions using various large-scale experiments. The astroparticle physicists receive funding for their research from the Federal Ministry of Science and Research, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, represented by the project management organizations DLR and PT-DESY (Deutsches…

Patrick Burghardt, State Secretary in the Hessian Ministry for Digital Strategy and Development and CIO of the Federal State of Hesse, was a guest at GSI and FAIR. His visit focused on the energy-efficient high-performance computer center Green IT Cube and the progress of the FAIR project. He was accompanied by the Hessian Co-CIO Roland Jabkowski.

Superheavy elements are intriguing nuclear and atomic quantum systems that challenge experimental probing as they do not occur in nature and, when synthesized, vanish within seconds. Pushing the forefront atomic physics research to these elements requires breakthrough developments towards fast atomic spectroscopy techniques with extreme sensitivity.

An interactive picture slider provides new insights and shows the progress on the FAIR construction site. It allows to compare the pictures from the beginning of construction and today. The virtual superimposition of the images makes the process of building the large particle accelerator facility clearly visible.

The progress of the FAIR project and the current scientific activities on the campus were the central topics during the visit of Marcus Bühl, a member of the Bundestag. The politician comes from Ilmenau and belongs to the AfD party. He is member of the budget committee of the Bundestag and deputy member of the committee on the digital agenda. He was received by Professor Paolo Giubellino, Scientific Managing Director of GSI and FAIR, Dr. Ulrich Breuer, Administrative Managing Director, and Jörg…

The centers of the Helmholtz Association have agreed to develop and live a common understanding of diversity, inclusion and a diversity-aware organizational culture. Recently all 19 members of the Helmholtz Association, among them also the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, have officially adopted a corresponding guideline in their Assembly of Members.

The physicist Dr. Thomas Friedrich from GSI’s biophysics department is laureate of the Hermann Holthusen Award 2020. The science prize is awarded by the German Society for Radiooncology (DEGRO) for outstanding habilitation theses in the field of radiotherapy, radiobiology, medical radiation physics and technology. With this award the society honours the excellent scientific quality of Thomas Friedrich's work.