On Thursday, September 4, 140 colleagues connected to a new All-Hands meeting. The meeting highlighted the record number of hours observed in Cycle 11, the demand for Cycle 12, and the progress of the ALMA bandwidth upgrade (WSU), which will quadruple ALMA’s sensitivity.

The session was led by Director Sean Dougherty and featured presentations by Iván López, Health, Safety, and Environment (HSSE) Manager, and Rafael Mena, Human Resources Manager.

Where we are today
• Despite a particularly challenging winter, the observatory’s scientific performance is reaching historic levels in Cycle 11, with record observation hours and remarkable productivity results.
• Operational resilience: Iván López highlighted the teams’ efforts in the face of the most intense snowstorms of the last decade and emphasized that safety is everyone’s responsibility.
• Financial outlook: Sean Dougherty provided an update on the projections for the 2025 budget: due to exchange rate volatility and fuel prices, an overspend of 1 billion pesos is expected. In light of this situation, he announced necessary adjustments to reverse this figure to some extent and ensure the continuity of operations.

Looking ahead
• Cycle 12 : With more than 1,600 proposals received, ALMA consolidates its global leadership in astronomy and maintains a high level of demand.
• WSU (Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade): Progress was presented on this key project, which will quadruple the observatory’s sensitivity and ensure its leading role in astronomical research for decades to come.

Celebrating our achievements
• Culture of recognition: Rafael Mena presented the new policy aimed at strengthening pride, collaboration, and a sense of belonging within ALMA.
• Team growth: New colleagues were welcomed and promotions were celebrated, reflecting professional development within the organization.
• Upcoming activities: National Holidays, the Interobservatory Olympics, and end-of-year celebrations were highlighted.

The All-Hands meeting concluded with an inspiring message: beyond financial, operational, or climatic contingencies, the true driving force behind ALMA is its people. “Together, we not only operate a world-class observatory, but we also build a strong, resilient community that is prepared for the future,” emphasized Sean Dougherty at the close of the meeting, inviting all staff to provide feedback and leaving the door open for any questions.