We’re not entirely sure how it happened, but somehow it’s already summer.

It feels like we had barely unpacked the moving boxes in our new offices before we were welcoming guests, hosting events, and filling the place with conversations. Safe to say, it has been a busy few weeks.

Before we switch on our out-of-office replies (and hopefully spend a little less time looking at our inboxes), we wanted to look back at some of our favorite moments. And because we can't help ourselves, we're also giving you a sneak peek at what’s already in the works for autumn.

If you've joined us for an event recently, you've almost certainly met Theo.

As ISI's Office & Events Coordinator, Theo is the person making sure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. From welcoming guests to preparing events and keeping our new office running, he's usually one step ahead of everyone else.

Before joining ISI, Theo gained extensive experience organizing cultural and educational events, working with theatres, museums, and civic initiatives across Munich. That mix of creativity, organisation, and genuine enthusiasm for bringing people together makes him a perfect fit for our team.

When he's not making sure everyone else is in the right room at the right time, he's probably planning the next event, supporting community projects, or adding another skill to his ever-growing toolkit.

Read more about Theo here.

Some visits make you check the projector. This one made us check everything.

When Cathleen and James Stone, whose foundation made ISI possible, came to see our new home, we wanted everything to be just right. The coffee was hot, the name badges were straight, and even people who usually discuss wealth inequality suddenly had strong opinions about cable management and picture frames.

Thankfully, by the time the ribbon was cut, our focus had returned to what really matters: bringing together brilliant minds to tackle one of society's biggest challenges. It was a special day, and we're delighted to share a few impressions with you.

When we moved into our new offices, we knew we wanted them to be more than just a place to work. Over the past few months, we've put that idea to the test—and we're happy to report that our event space has passed with flying colors.

In May, we hosted our very first Inequality Day, bringing together researchers from across disciplines to discuss some of the most pressing questions in inequality research. Shortly afterwards, our event space was filled to capacity for a conversation between journalist and author Lara Schulschenk and ISI researcher Lena Radau, proving that inequality can draw a crowd well beyond academia.

For two days, we also turned our space into a gallery. Together with the Department of Design at Munich University of Applied Sciences, we hosted the exhibition CashParaKies, conceived by Professor Stephan Rether and created by design students exploring themes of wealth, inequality, and social mobility. The exhibition was developed with academic support from ISI doctoral researcher Clara Löffler, whose expertise helped connect cutting-edge research with creative design. The result was an exhibition that sparked thoughtful conversations long after visitors had left the room.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming visiting researchers from South Africa as part of the Stellenbosch Exchange, hosting a two-day workshop full of inspiring discussions, fresh perspectives, and new collaborations.

And finally, we gave our Bites of Inequality seminar series the attention it deserves. Every Tuesday at lunchtime, researchers from around the world shared their latest work—accompanied, of course, by good food. Because thinking is always a little easier over lunch.

The series will return this autumn, so here's your friendly reminder: block your Tuesdays now. We'll take care of the speakers—and the lunch.

While we're enjoying a well-earned summer break, preparations for autumn are already in full swing.

One of the highlights will be welcoming the first cohort of our ISI Pipeline Program. Early-career researchers and their mentors will come together at ISI to exchange ideas, develop their projects, and build an international network that we hope will last far beyond the workshop itself. (Applications for the next cohort will open in early September!)

Our Bites of Inequality seminar series will also return, alongside a number of public events that are already taking shape. So if you blocked your Tuesdays as suggested above, you're off to an excellent start.

Behind the scenes, another major project is keeping us busy: the next ISI Report. If you missed our first edition, you can still find it here. And because no newsletter is complete without a little teaser, here's one: the photo below shows Communications Director Michèle Loetzner and her freelance creative team during a visit to Munich's Second Mayor, Mona Fuchs, at City Hall.

What brought them there? You'll have to wait until autumn to find out.