Dear colleagues,
Sometimes, side effects have a greater impact than directly intended goals and means. Electrical cars, for instance, can store electrical energy and help to solve the short-term storage problems of renewables. For many actors, this function might be a more important argument than transport to push e-mobility. We will discuss spin-offs of mobility at our next conference in Philadelphia, September 18-21, and I am very much looking forward to the presentations and debates. I see inspiring papers and many new colleagues on the preliminary program. The conference will be co-hosted by the Pan-American Mobilities Network, and thus be another step towards a closer collaboration of historical and social science mobility studies.

My second term as president will end in 2015: It is a good tradition in our association to elect the new president one year in advance (as president elect) in order to have a year of overlap. I have many fond memories of my joint year with Gijs Mom.

In September, we will have an election of the president’s and vice president’s and some EC positions. The election committee (head: Ralf Roth) has asked and will ask for nominations for these positions. I am thankful, happy, proud and thrilled by the preparedness of Mimi Sheller, Professor at Drexel University, director of the Center for Mobility Research and Policy and local host of our annual conference to serve as a candidate for the presidency of our association. At the same time, we still ask for further candidates for all open positions. Ralf Roth and his team will send out the quest for further nominations and later the voting ballots. Please think about your preparedness to devote time for our association. If you have any questions, suggestions, please send him (Dr.Ralf.Roth@t-online.de) or me an e-mail.

I wish you a nice summer and success in your preparations for the conference in Philadelphia!

Yours,
Hans-Liudger Dienel