Dear reader,

This year we celebrate IMAU’s 60th anniversary. While preparing for these celebrations, I realized something that made me pause: IMAU and its director are (almost) leeftijdsgenoten — peers. It is a meaningful age at which to look back, and -perhaps even more importantly- to look ahead.

Like in my own life, I only know the earliest years of the institute through the stories of others. My personal connection to IMAU now spans more than two decades, and these past 20 years have been a period of profound change. We have witnessed the growing and undeniable impact of climate change on our planet and on our societies. Topics that once occupied niche corners of research have moved to the very top of global agendas.

When IMAU was founded in 1966, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was about 321 parts per million, and methane concentration approximately 1330 parts per billion. At that time, documenting the influence of human activity on climate had only just begun, notably through the pioneering measurements at Mauna Loa observatory initiated in 1958. Over the lifetime of IMAU, CO₂ levels have risen to 426 ppm and methane to 1940 ppb as of 2025.

Anthropogenic climate change is no longer an abstract concept—it is all around us. The energy transition touches nearly every aspect of our lives, both professionally and privately. Many of us are making conscious efforts: improving energy efficiency, installing solar panels, travel only when necessary, lowering heating, and rethinking our diets. Within IMAU, the research program of my own group has a strong focus on understanding and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, despite these efforts, private and scentific, greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere continue to rise.

Scientists who understand the climate system are urgently needed, and we continue to educate and train them with dedication. The societal impact of IMAU is therefore not only significant, but essential. Policy decisions must be grounded in well-established facts, supported by rigorous research in the natural sciences—even, and especially, in times when scientific evidence is increasingly questioned in parts of society.

At the age of 60, IMAU is not only reflecting on its past but also taking a significant step towards the future. This year, we will move within the Utrecht Science Park from the Buys Ballot building to the Vening Meinesz building. There, we will be in even closer contact with the Faculty of Geosciences, with whom we already collaborate extensively. This move will help foster an even stronger and more vibrant climate research community. At the same time, the new, modern facilities will provide an excellent environment for the next generation of scientists.

As leeftijdsgenoten, IMAU and I have grown up in a world where climate change has moved from emerging science to defining reality. The question before us now is how we will shape the decades ahead. Climate education and climate research must continue to support the necessary changes, accelerate implementation of climate policies and create a feeling of common responsibility which is needed to reach the desired impact. Let us use this 6o year milestone not only to reflect on what has been achieved, but also to renew our commitment to what still needs to be done.

We will celebrate IMAU’s 60th anniversary on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Bunnik. Alumni, master students, faculty, staff and relations of the institute are all cordially invited to celebrate this milestone with us. Save the date and keep an eye on our website!

Sincerely, 

Thomas Röckmann, IMAU director