Editorial

Dear readers,

The start of a new year is often compared to a fresh page. But the title of this year’s chapter for me for 2021 is clear: optimism. Because despite the impact the pandemic hit us all with in its various ways and forms, the kick off to the vaccination campaign gives me hope. For a long time at the beginning of the pandemic last year it was not clear if or how quickly a vaccine would be found. Or how long it would take before it could be administered. Now we have several compounds, production is running at full blast and the vaccination centres have opened for business. There is still much to do, that is certain. Scientists are tirelessly contributing towards clarifying these exceptional circumstances and are doing so across multiple disciplines. This issue of unizeit, for example, looks at the development of the vaccine and its safety, EU financial policy and medical ethics.

Despite and perhaps precisely because of the coronavirus, there are now scientific issues which are more relevant than ever before and which all take a solution-oriented look at social problems. Be it fair climate financing, the effects of 5G networks or alternative mobility concepts.

I hope you enjoy reading this varied issue!
Prof. Dr Simone Fulda
President