So, no scheduling meetings, taking minutes of meetings, ordering lunches, being a source of information for all questions, and all those other tasks that you are busy with all day, and that at the end of the day will make you think: what have I actually done?

Of course, it remains to be seen whether that last feeling will change with a new position.  My first impression after a month? Many more meetings in my new role, both at the Communication Expertise Center (CEC) and at ID. I have gained a large number of enthusiastic, new CEC colleagues whose names I hope I will know in a few months. In addition, I still have my own desk with my old, trusted team at the department.

It's really an atmosphere of rest and regularity on floor 10 of Atlas, where no students are present. So, no buzz from the student spaces. A very neat pantry, no exciting projects or incomprehensible experiments on the desks.

The switch from experienced colleague who knows everything, to a new colleague who has to ask everything, is not always easy. The panic of the first week - what did I begin with? how am I ever going to remember all this? can I go back to my comfort zone? what was wrong with routine chores anyway? - gives way to acceptance. Yes, I am new. I wanted more of a challenge: I have it now. I can't know everything yet, but I'm going for it.

The first event: the open day on October 7. We expect around 4800 visitors on campus. A busy day, but our team is ready and I'm looking forward to it.

Editorial note

The amount of journalistic freedom at Cursor is very unclear at the moment. In collaboration with the unions, the editorial staff has submitted a proposal letter with suggestions regarding press freedom to the Executive Board, and a first discussion has taken place. This article was published in anticipation of the outcome of the negotiation process.