In 2019, we were deeply shocked and disturbed to learn that the life of our dear friend and colleague, Suzanne Eaton, came to a tragic end in Crete on July 2, 2019. We are remembering her with profound respect and admiration. Suzanne was an exceptional and inspiring scientist, a loving spouse and mother, as well as a truly wonderful person beloved to us all.
On July 1, 2009, we learned at the Institute with shock that Marwa El-Sherbini, the wife of PhD student Elwy at the MPI-CBG, was stabbed to death and Elwy got seriously injured at an appeal hearing before the Regional Court. Marwa had resisted the verbal abuse and defamation she had experienced. She and her unborn child were victims of this terrible attack in the courtroom. To this day, we are deeply shaken by what has happened. Marwa and Elwy are still in our thoughts today. Every year on July 1st, we place white roses in the entrance hall of the institute which remind us of Marwa.
The institute celebrated its 15th anniversary from October 27-29, 2016. In 2001, the MPI-CBG came to Dresden with a vision: We wanted to build a new institute from scratch and bring it onto the map of the scientific world. In 2016, the MPI-CBG celebrated that this vision came true with an Anniversary Symposium featuring talks, lab reunions and parties.
What is just as great as the scientific success story of the MPI-CBG: We managed to bring to life an institute with a unique spirit. It is not just a flowery phrase to say that we are like a family – we indeed are.