Dedicated to the memory of loved ones we miss
It is with grief that these lines are being written.
2020 was a very different year than everyone had anticipated. There was a real enemy out there. The global pandemic had a massive impact on our lives. Many loved ones passed in this global war against Covid19.
As the DRA organisers (ABTA, SNAS, PARSUK and SRUK), it is with a heavy heart that we express our sincerest Condolences to all …
This year, as a species on the planet, we had numerous setbacks in all aspects of human activity (social life, business, education etc). However, there was promising news too. Despite the retreats in nearly on all fronts of the battle against this new enemy, there were also the fierce soldiers and servants of humanity, the courageous final line of defence, the mighty NHS who held the line against this terrible virus. But this was not all. Others resisted Covid's Terminators. These unknown soldiers were those who rose to the challenge of Covid in their own ways by helping the creation of the mightiest weapon of all, "the KNOWLEDGE". Along with the rest of the Grand Army of Science (i.e., the academics worldwide), the DRA battalion too served proudly in this strategically important mission, doing their part by promoting scientific excellence among the freshly recruited troops (the new PhD candidates).
In this battle of worlds, we, the DRA, saw the ugly face of the enemy and decided that we will not give in to this creature, not until the last neuron in our brain stops firing! Therefore, despite the general lockdowns and physical restrictions that the enemy forced us into, the DRA battalion carried on with their noble duty and accomplished their key mission in this war by successfully initiating Operation DRA 2020. Then, by outstanding efforts of its scientific squadrons (to whom we are indebted), the DRA 2020 competition was concluded after awarding the best soldiers in the virtual DRA 2020 Award Ceremony on September 12, 2020. The campaign was a big success. The awarded soldiers of KNOWLEDGE impressed the combatant and non-combatant troops (the audience) with their intellectual talents presenting their cutting edge research.
There were honourable officers present on the victory day. Field Colonel (Prof) Colm Connaughton was representing the Warwick corps, gave valuable tactical advice to the comrades on the future campaigns emphasising the importance of a balanced approach in pursuing theory/plan and action whether being in the field (Industry) or behind the lines (Academia). After this, Lieutenant Nastaran Ranjbar of the SNAS reinforcement regiment lifted the troops' morale by assuring the constant support of SNAS reserve forces that will tremendously help the troops in their professional career.
In short, the DRA battalion gave a clear message to the enemy:
"United we are as the Ray knights of KNOWLEDGE
No Terminator virus will dare
The clone army of the Covid (Empire) will fail
And the Human (Republic) will prevail! "
If you are reading this, you are the Resistance.