Personal acknowledgements · family · origins
This page is dedicated to my family—the people who, for more than ten years, gave me the time, support and freedom needed for this extensive research.
01 / The gift of time
Research requires concentration, perseverance and long periods in which an idea has yet to produce any visible result. My family carried that time with me. They gave me the space to pursue questions for years, to accept detours and to develop early ideas into an open research programme. For this, I am deeply grateful.
02 / To my father
My particular thanks go to my father, intellectually one of the most impressive people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. His openness of mind and the seriousness with which he approached thought and knowledge have had a lasting influence on my own path.
03 / To my parents
After my vocational training, my parents gave me the opportunity to enter university. They financed this path so that I could concentrate on learning without having to work alongside my studies. Such support was a profound privilege even then—and today it is anything but something to be taken for granted.
04 / To my sister
I also wish to express my personal and explicit thanks to my sister Anne. As part of my family, she has accompanied my life and research path over many years. Family support is found not only in singular, grand gestures, but also in enduring connection, understanding and the knowledge that we can rely on one another.
05 / To my wife
My deepest personal thanks go to my wife Susanne. Throughout our daily life together, she directly carried the long years of research with me, gave me time and freedom, and remained patient through phases in which ideas demanded more perseverance than certainty. Without her closeness, loyalty and support, this research programme would not have been possible in its present form.
06 / Legacy
From this experience comes an essential part of my intention: intellectual development should not depend solely on whether someone has time, money or the right starting conditions. Knowledge should open doors. Research should encourage people to think for themselves, unfold their abilities and grow beyond the limits of their origins.
I thank my family not only for their support. I thank them for the freedom to turn curiosity into responsibility.
Bernd von MallinckrodtPersonal acknowledgements for the BenchEWS Research Programme