The retreat provided a valuable opportunity for the group to connect, share their backgrounds, and build a sense of community. On the first day, each doctoral researcher gave a short presentation introducing themselves, their previous academic journey, and the focus of their planned PhD work.
The second day featured a visit from Dr. Johannes Freudenreich of the Potsdam Graduate School (PoGS), who introduced the services and support offered by his team. A creative challenge followed, encouraging participants to think about nanoscale phenomena and light from unconventional angles and present their interpretations. In the afternoon, a workshop on personal training and development gave everyone the chance to reflect on the skills they aim to strengthen as emerging researchers.
The final day was dedicated to organizational matters and planning for upcoming IRTG activities.