As I begin my term as Chair of the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA) Council, I’m honoured to work with such a dedicated group of colleagues who share a deep commitment to CITA’s mission and its future. Together, the Council plays a central role in steering CITA’s direction, strengthening its vital connections across Canada and worldwide, and fostering a thriving future for our national astrophysics community.

This year marks 40 years of CITA – a milestone that highlights the Institute’s lasting impact — from advancing ground-breaking research to training the next generation of leading scientists. Building on this legacy, I look forward to working with the Council to further CITA’s threefold mission: to train forefront researchers, foster national collaboration, and extend the institute’s reach across Canada and internationally.

A key priority for me is to enhance the impact of the CITA National Fellows program so it continues to benefit the entire astrophysics community nationwide. I also hope to work with the Council to make it more affordable and accessible for institutions to host and hire postdoctoral fellows. This will broaden opportunities for early-career researchers and strengthen our national network. At the same time, I recognize the vital role CITA plays in selecting and supporting its in-residence postdoctoral fellows at the University of Toronto, whose research excellence and leadership are indispensable to the institute’s success and its contributions to the wider community.

Beyond our research, I’m deeply committed to helping CITA become an even more inclusive and impactful community. We aim to be an organization that truly reflects the diversity of talent across Canada, empowering everyone to contribute their fullest to our shared scientific endeavours.

The CITA Council gratefully acknowledges the continued support of NSERC and other funding partners (the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and the University of Toronto), whose investments sustain CITA’s research, fellowships, conferences, visitors, and national programs.

It’s a privilege to serve alongside the Council and CITA’s remarkable community into its next chapter as we continue building on 40 years of achievement and looking forward to an even brighter future together.

Sincerely,

Samar Safi-Harb
Professor, Canada Research Chair (Extreme Astrophysics)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Manitoba