Willy Benz elected ESO Council President

ESO's governing body, The Council, has today elected Professor Willy Benz of the Space Research & Planetary Sciences Division (WP) of the University of Bern and of NCCR PlanetS as its next President. ESO, the European Southern Observatory, is the leading European organisation for astronomic research and provides modern research facilities for astronomers and astrophysicists, allowing them to conduct science in the best conditions. Willy Benz, Professor of Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Bern and Director of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, has now been elected as the President of its Council. He will take up his duties as President on January 1, 2018. Christian Leumann, Rector of the University of Bern, congratulates Willy Benz on his appointment and regards it as a confirmation of Bern as a site of research: "This choice is indicative of the first-class space research at the University of Bern and the strong international networking of our researchers." - Continuation of long-standing cooperation. Willy Benz is looking forward to his new position: "I feel very honored that the Council entrusted me with this significant responsibility. I'm delighted to be offered the possibility to take a more active role in ensuring ESO's capability to provide the community with world-class astronomical facilities across wavelengths, techniques, and telescope sizes.