On 17 June 2026, ESO will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fellowship Programme with events in Garching and Vitacura. The Director General, the Director for Science, and Fellows from across the years will come together to share memories, revisit moments and anecdotes, and reflect on the experiences that have shaped ESO from within.
50 Years of the ESO Fellowship: Pioneers Across Two Continents (1976-2026)
Published: 21 Apr 2026
This anniversary marks more than longevity. It celebrates a model of scientific training. ESO Fellows have not only passed through one of the world's leading observatories; many have helped shape it, particularly in its early years. They have learned to do science where it happens -at the intersection of instruments, observations, operations, collaboration, and place.
This milestone comes at a defining moment. As ESO approaches first light of the Extremely Large Telescope, a new generation of Fellows is preparing to step into the unknown. Once again, they will be pioneers, working alongside ESO staff and the wider community to explore new frontiers.
Fifty years on, the ESO Fellowship remains what it has always been: an experience that shapes people -and through them, shapes ESO and our understanding of the Universe.
For those who have been Fellows, it is a lasting bond.
For those who are, it is a defining moment.
For those who will be, it is an invitation to stand at the frontier -and help move it forward.