Leon did not expect at all that I would take his words seriously and actually write to his boss and complement on his presentation on "issues around a central model for the entire project".
I too did not expect such a facsinating and inspiring reply from the head of TNO, Jan Mengelers:
Dear Pouriya Parsa,
On behalf of TNO I thank you very much for passing the compliment you have for Leons presentation to Leons ‘boss’. I appreciate this, because if any, I mostly get complaints and seldom the compliments.
Not about Leons contribution, of course! Nor about the other 4500 employees, but only on my own performances. Your last remark about “mission completed” may be correct for this small mission, but for the real stuff it takes a bit more.
Maybe another well-known mission, I sometimes like to refer to, is that of Starship Enterprise of Star Trek “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise, its 5 years mission… to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before”.
I believe all scientific research should contribute to a better world and to the benefit of mankind. This is an everlasting mission. I hope Leons presentation was a contribution to that. It is a pity that I am not familiar with Leons presentation. I will ask him to send it to me in order to confirm your judgement.
Thanks again for your compliment!
I, in turn, appreciate Mr. Mengelers's attitude. One does not recieve such letters every morning!Kind regards,
Jan Mengelers