We are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of our chairperson Dr. Arren Bar Even. Arren was an outstanding scientist, a visionary, and friend, who moved the field of synthetic biology forward with his enthusiasm and unique personality. His strong support of SynBio and GASB will always be remembered. His untimely demise will not only leave a void within the community but also in our hearts. He will be truly missed. We all lost a brilliant mind, too early. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones. The Steering Committee, Advisory Board, and members of the German Association for Synthetic Biology - GASB e.V.