We are starting a new academic year – a wonderful moment! Many of our students and staff know the feeling of tingling excitement, joyful impatience, great expectations, peppered with new resolutions along with a pinch of fear of the uncertainty that comes with replacing the known with the unknown. And these feelings are even more pronounced in our new students. We would especially like to welcome the 'newcomers' to our university and to their studies!

We will make every effort to exceed your expectations, be it in research or in teaching. Choosing the University of Lucerne as your alma mater was a good choice. We are personal and small, but we are also growing. New faculties are on the horizon, as are large and innovative research institutes – and in particular the Institute for Blockchain Research, which we are in the process of establishing in close cooperation with the Canton of Zug.

At the same time, we live in times of uncertainty. The covid pandemic is so well under control that we can manage without any drastic restrictions, but for how long remains uncertain. The war in Ukraine is a dramatic situation for security and stability in our world in every respect. An energy crisis is just around the corner, and our relations with the European Union pose major challenges for the Swiss research landscape. Nevertheless, we should remain hopeful and make a small contribution to knowledge and therefore to the improvement of our societies through our research and teaching.

I wish you all, esteemed students, a good start into the academic year!
Prof. Dr. Alexander H. Trechsel, Vice Rector for Research