In challenging times, hope serves as a bridge from despair to possibility, offering us the strength to persevere and believe in a better future. That message was central to the 62nd Dies Natalis of the University of Twente. That strength to persevere is certainly a requirement with all the challenges on our path, rector Tom Veldkamp outlined the turbulent landscape of our society and that of the university in particular. Tom Veldkamp: "May you live in interesting times" is a well-known Chinese proverb. It is certainly not a positive wish; an interesting time is full of challenges and problems. I would like to give it a positive spin: may we live in hopeful times."