Faculty Chair Markus Kissler was elected by the Faculty in October and will start 1 January 2007 Bob Fosbury will step down after three years as chair

Elections Three complaints were received: 1.only one candidate 2.ballots not anonymous; electronic ballots 3.definition of majority (was also given as a reason for several non-votes)

Fellowships We received 116 applications: 31 for Chile, 62 for Garching, 23 without preference Selection in Chile finished  list forwarded to the DG Selection for Garching to be finished tomorrow Offers shall be made before Christmas Marina Rejkuba will take over the FSSC chair in Garching as of 1 January 2007

Mentoring [Scientists] need multiple mentors, at multiple levels, within and outside astronomy. Senior people should mentor young [researchers], and young [researchers] should seek out mentors themselves. Some of the most effective mentoring is from one peer to another. One concern is that some astronomers are prejudiced against mentoring, believing it is a sign of weakness if needed, but this may stem from a misunderstanding of what mentoring should be. Simply put, mentors provide information and career support. The former includes explaining formal and informal rules of the game, giving advice on strategic career moves, offering an informal evaluation of the junior scientist against the established criteria for advancement, and acting as a scientific advisor (only) if asked. Mentoring is not "telling someone what to do" or "giving them science projects!" The second aspect of mentoring, career support, means suggesting the mentored colleague for talks, prizes, and honors, as appropriate; recommending her/him to colleagues in casual conversation as well as when letters of recommendation are requested; and offering resources, where possible and appropriate. It is surprising how frequently senior astronomers assume (wrongly) that mentoring means directing a colleague’s scientific research! The confusion about mentoring clearly shows the need for training in how to mentor. Patricia Knezek and Meg Urry, AAS Newsletter, Dec. 2003

DGDF We received 41 proposals: 21 Chile and 20 Garching The evaluation by the committee is done  forwarded to DG for decision Notifications before Christmas

Visitors to Garching There are places for scientific visitors to ESO/Garching Please check out the manifesto of the visitor programme at Contact Harald Kuntschner for more information

IMPRS The IMPRS selection for students is open again. Should you be interested in having a student get in touch with Marina Rejkuba (see her from 8. December) Information on the IMPRS can be found at Update your PhD thesis topics on the Web site!

Excellence Cluster in Munich As part of the German initiative for excellence in research a large collaboration between TUM and LMU concentrating on Origin and Structure of the Universe ( was funded (PIs: Stephan Paul, TUM, and Andy Burkert, LMU) The excellence cluster will be based on the Garching Campus (ESO contacts: M. Kissler-Patig, B. Leibundgut)

Office move ESO needs more offices possibly the Office for Science (together with parts of other divisions) will have to move to the north of the campus (near U-Bahn station)