Good morning. I am pleased to see that a good number of PAS Academicians representing various specific fields of the natural sciences are present and ready to contribute in the coming days to the general topic Evolving Concepts of Nature. The background and reason to choose this general topic for our debate is briefly outlined in the Preface of the programme. I look forward to your contributions and I expect that by Tuesday evening we will be able to draw conclusions. Thank you in advance for your welcome support of the activities of our Academy.
But before concentrating on the general topic, we would like to take some time to commemorate the memory of the PAS Academicians who passed away recently and thereafter, we can look forward to the self-presentation of the new members of our Academy who attend a Plenary Session for the first time.