Vassilis Charmandaris, a Professor of the Department of Physics of the University of Crete and Associated Researcher of the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of FORTH, has been appointed a member of the Scientific Council of the National Institute of Earth Sciences and Astronomy, INSU, http://www.insu.cnrs.fr/en/node/4722) of France for the five-year period 2019-2024. INSU is one of the ten directorates of the National Center for Research in France (CNRS). CNRS is the largest state-run research organization in France and the largest research organization in Europe, employing over 30,000 research staff, of which about 2,500 belong to the INSU. The 24-member Scientific Council has an advisory role to the Director of the INSU. Professor Charmandaris is one of the only 3 members of the Council working in research organizations outside France.

At the same time, Prof. Charmandaris was elected a member of the Astronomy Working Group (AWG, https: //www.cosmos.esa.int/web/awg/home) of the European Space Agency (ESA), for the three years period 2019-2021. The AWG has an advisory role on scientific issues, mainly to the Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC). Members of the AWG are scientists from the ESA member countries specializing in the scientific areas covered by the AWG. Professor Charmandaris is the only AWG member from Greece.

These distinctions are an international recognition of the high level of research characterizing the members of the Astrophysics Group at IESL-FORTH and the Department of Physics of the University Crete. The recent establishment and upcoming operation of the new Institute of Astrophysics of FORTH will provide even more opportunities to attract new, high-quality researchers in Crete and it will make a tangible contribution to the international recognition of FORTH and the development of research in our country.