4 / 2021 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS 3
Editorial
Dear Members and Friends of the Leopoldina ,
With the fourth wave of the pandemic upon us , in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic , we are being urged to exercise caution more than ever . We have to prepare ourselves to having to live with the coronavirus and its variants interminably . In its most two recent ad hoc statements , the Leopoldina focusses on the urgently needed measures to curb the fourth wave of infection swiftly and efficiently ( page 4 ). It also outlines possible courses of action for developing medication to reduce the risk of developing severe illness in the current and in future pandemics ( page 6 ).
The 10th ad hoc statement on the COVID-19 pandemic published on 27 November urgently shows that social distancing is an indispensable tool to rapidly flatten the curve . Controlling infections in the medium- and long-term requires driving forward the vaccination campaign with determination now . One of the reasons why COVID-19 vaccines became available so quickly is the basic research carried out by Christoph Huber , physician and co-founder of Biontech . Christoph Huber has been honoured with the Carl-Friedrich-von- Weizsäcker-Prize awarded by the
Prof . ( ETHZ ) Dr . Gerald Haug , President of the Leopoldina
Leopoldina and Stifterverband
Image : David Ausserhofer | Leopoldina
( page 13 ).
Although the coronavirus always seems to be at the forefront of our minds , we are in no position to neglect the important topic of climate change . The related challenges were discussed at some length during the recent German parliament election campaign . And the Leopoldina continues to be part of the conversation , most recently with a symposium on “ Climate change and human rights ” held in partnership with the Royal Society of Edinburgh / UK shortly before COP26 started . I sincerely hope that we can apply the lessons we have learnt from our pandemic response to the fight against climate change . Even as we put our all into our efforts to find the best path ahead , we must remember to take breaks along the way to allow us to recharge and regroup before we continue to forge ahead . Hopefully the upcoming festive season will provide the perfect opportunity to do just that .
I hope you find this issue an interesting and inspiring read !