For a few days, Sopron was the heart of European Earth science!

We are living in a time when ensuring energy security, reducing the risks posed by geological hazards, adapting to climate change and exploring critical raw materials give the Earth sciences greater importance than perhaps ever before. These challenges also bring enormous opportunities and responsibilities for our field.

Over the past few days, our institute and Sopron became, if we may say so without undue modesty, one of the capitals of European Earth science.

During an exceptionally rich six-day scientific programme, leading Hungarian and international researchers from many fields of the Earth sciences met in Sopron. We consider it especially important that, alongside the scientific presentations and professional discussions, we were able to offer wide-ranging training and networking opportunities to our younger colleagues, as well as to those who have been young for a little longer.

In recent days, we hosted events of TOPO-EUROPE, the International Lithosphere Program (ILP), Topo-Transylvania, AdriaArray, EUROBIG, EPOS ERIC and the Rybach Research Centre, as well as the Hungarian Petrological and Geochemical Conference.

We were especially honoured that numerous distinguished Hungarian and international scientific leaders and experts attended the events of the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science in Sopron in person, including:

• Mihály Pósfai, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences;
• Taras Gerya, President of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP);
• Tivadar M. Tóth, President of the Hungarian Geological Society;
• Lili Freda, Head of EPOS ERIC;
• László Rybach, namesake and patron of the Rybach Research Centre;
• Hans Thybo, former President of the International Lithosphere Program;
• Gábor Tari, Chief Geologist at OMV.

Their presence not only raised the profile of our events but also confirmed that Sopron and our institute play an increasingly important role in European Earth science collaboration.

We would like to thank all speakers, participants, organisers and supporters for contributing to this exceptionally rich and successful week of science!

We trust that the new ideas, professional connections and collaborations born here will enrich Hungarian and international Earth science research for many years to come.