Prof. Dr. Barbara Horejs

Scientific Director, Austrian Archaeological
Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences

"The collaboration between life sciences and the humanities has in recent years become more and more important, as a special focus in prehistoric archaeology has been on ancient DNA and isotope studies. These studies are revising our understanding of major events, such as the origins and spread of agriculture and the evolution of diseases and human resistance to them. A very current topic in our times plagued by COVID-19. The collaboration and scientific exchange with CeMM and its very energetic director are particularly enriching to me as an interdisciplinary archaeologist. It was a great pleasure for me to be part of the Scientific Advisory Board GENOM AUSTRIA from 2014 to 2018 and to work with Giulio Superti-Furga in various committees of the Austrian Academy, trying together to ease the bureaucratic burden. Browsing through the inspiring annual CeMM Research Report makes the reader wish to be part of this vibrant research community, and particularly the connection between art and science is a topic to admire at CeMM, art being an elementary form of expression of humankind from prehistory onwards until our present turbulent times."