For more than a decade, Michele Punturo and Harald Lück have played key roles in shaping the vision, structure and international community behind the Einstein Telescope – a third-generation gravitational-wave observatory designed to explore some of the most profound questions about the Universe.
Long before the first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015, the outgoing spokesperson and deputy spokesperson were among the first to initiate the discussions on a next-next-generation observatory back in 2004. In 2005, the Perugia ET exploratory workshop, funded by the European Science Foundation, served as the kick-off meeting for preparing the ET design study proposal. Punturo and Lück initiated and coordinated discussions across the scientific community on the future of gravitational wave research, addressing challenges in science, technology, data analysis and collaboration. They established the first Einstein Telescope community, developed early design concepts for a next-generation observatory, and secured funding for foundational studies.
Building on major milestones, including the 2011 design study outlining a detector far more sensitive than existing instruments, their work has helped transform the Einstein Telescope from an initial concept into a mature and internationally recognised scientific endeavour.
Today, the ET Collaboration has grown into a large network of researchers and institutions across Europe and beyond. It brings together more than 2,000 scientists from over 90 research units in 34 countries and represents an estimated €2 billion investment.
Reflecting on this long journey, Michele Punturo, outgoing spokesperson and Research Director at INFN Perugia, said:
“I am proud to have been part of this extraordinary journey from the very beginning. Together with colleagues across Europe and around the world, we have built not only a scientific vision but a vibrant and committed community. It is especially rewarding to see a new leadership team take over at such an important stage for the Einstein Telescope.”
Harald Lück, outgoing deputy spokesperson and Lead Scientist at Leibniz University Hannover and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI) in Hannover, added:
“I feel privileged to have contributed to building the foundations of the Einstein Telescope together with this remarkable community — from the earliest ideas to the vibrant and strong international collaboration we see today. As the project now enters a decisive and exciting new phase, I am confident that the new team will lead it successfully all the way to realisation.”
The Einstein Telescope Collaboration now welcomes its new spokesperson team: Michele Maggiore (University of Geneva) and Angélique Lartaux (IJCLab – Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie), who are taking over leadership at this important moment in the project’s development.
Photo of Harald Lück: Silvia Steinbach
Photo of Michele Punturo: INFN
