I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and safe. As we approach the closing of another year, one that has seen more intense conflict and sorrow in many parts of the world, we may be tempted to lose sight of our collective future as CITAzens and as humans. Instead of yielding to this temptation, let us be mindful of our cosmic perspective in these times and remember that while our planet and our species may not be special in any Copernican sense we are, nevertheless, precious. Let us envision and ensure a future filled with peace and deeper understanding of our Universe and one another.
I came to CITA because I believe in the power of theorists to imagine the future. Not just in understanding cosmology and magnetic flares and dust grains and planets, but in understanding the “effective theories” of social relations, economics, computation. I believe in the power of theorists to create not just new understanding of the world, but new vistas and horizons for humans to explore. I cherish the role of theory in this endeavor and I am committed to its flourishing wherever I am. Remember, as Marcus Aurelius reminds us, we are 鈥渂orn for cooperation鈥�.
As I look back on 2023, I see so many achievements and so much progress. I am deeply proud of everything we have accomplished together as a community, only a very tiny fraction of which is contained in these pages. I wish you a happy, healthy holiday season and a peaceful New Year.
-Juna
