Retreat 2023

After our first successful retreat in 2022, we invited the VDSEE-community to join us in Seitenstetten (Lower Austria) in the first week of October 2023. 62 PhD students, 15 PIs and our four SAB-members were treated to 2 days of engaging workshops that gave them the opportunity to network with their colleagues in a relaxed environment. 

Participants were updated on DocSchool news by our Executive Manager (Antonia Vogel) and student representative (Max Dreer). Students and PIs discussed the logistics of funding and organizing the PhD program and future directions of the Doctoral School. This was a productive discussion as it gave both PIs and PhDs insights into the others point of view. 

VDSEE-members were able meet and exchange ideas with our scientific advisory board, Marianne Holmer (University of Southern Denmark), Bernd Blasius (University of Oldenburg, Germany) Carina Schlebusch (University of Uppsala) and Nicolas Gompel (University of Bonn). They presented a brief introduction to their respective research topics.

We were delighted to host Logan Hodgskiss from Green Labs Austria and Andrea Schikowitz from the Department of Science and Technology Studies (univie). Logan asked participants to explore possible changes that could be implemented at group level to create a more sustainable lab and factors that impede their implementation. Andrea facilitated a workshop revolving around science and its broader place in society. This allowed our members to take a step back, view their PhD projects from an outside perspective and reflect upon the multiple factors that could influence their research and how their research could affect society as a whole. 

Attendees took full advantage of the beautiful location, taking part in a tour at the monastery, and hikes in the surrounding countryside. Icebreaker games and a pub quiz, the highlight of the evening, gave attendees time to socialize and network.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to making this retreat a successful and enjoyable event. We’re already looking forward to next year and hope to meet many VDSEE-members there.