Acknowledgements

This volume represents a multiyear collaborative effort from contributors around the globe, and we are deeply grateful to all who made this project possible.

First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the chapter authors, whose expertise and dedication formed the core of this book. We truly appreciate their patience and commitment in making multiple revisions based on feedback.

Our sincere thanks also go to the editorial team for their technical support throughout this journey. In addition to the named editors on the volume, we would like to express a special thanks to Julia Zimmerman for her invaluable assistance in reviewing the final edits of several chapters.

We are deeply appreciative of the publications editors and proofreaders, Judith Barrett and Andrea Kay for their meticulous work across numerous chapter iterations. Our gratitude also extends to Ruth Martin for her work on the book’s index.

Finally, we would like to express our profound gratitude to our colleagues at the European Observatory, Jonathan North and Lucie Jackson, whose unwavering support, patience, flexibility and organizational skills were vital in coordinating and managing the complex publication process.