Last 3th of September I attended the first Postdocs retreat organized by UPS. The event was at the Forsen hotel in Vindeln, a beautiful camping area on the banks of the imposing Vindel river.
An event organized by Postdocs for Postdocs
The retreat lasted a weekend during which we participated in different dynamic activities organized by UPS. The event was free for all participants as UPS obtained a KBC grant covering all the fees. This was possible thanks to the teamwork of the active members Kerstin, Maxi, Ondrej, Fouzia and Anaïs.
A space to meet new people
The event began with the arrival of 36 postdocs from the most diverse scientific areas to the meeting place. First, Kerstin gave us a brief introduction about UPS and its functions since its foundation in 2020, we participated in activities to get to know each other better.
The first was an activity that tested our abilities as researchers. We were brought together in groups to design and present research projects in an interdisciplinary way. Apart from being a challenge to combine fields as diverse as architecture, ecology, chemistry, and biology, it was also an excellent starting point for us to get to know each other and interact. Furthermore, it also gave us insights on how many different methods and infrastructures are actually available at Umeå campus. Especially for newer postdocs this was very helpful to get to know.
After a brief rest, we took a relaxed walk through the forests around the Vindel river. At the point of arrival, we started a barbecue, enjoyed ourselves and continue to socialize This beautiful day ended with the sighting of the Aurora boreal.
The importance to talk about imposter syndrome.
The next day we attended a seminar given by psychologist Björn Larsson (Feelgood) who explained and analyzed the main signs of the impostor syndrome. This activity was important since it also provided tools to deal with this very common problem. At the same time, we also presented our ideas and impressions on this issue that affects a lot the academic community.
After this lecture, the active members from UPS opened a space to gather suggestions from the postdocs to implement in plans of the UPS. Finally, the event ended with a nice lunch and a pleasant return to our activities.
Initiatives that make a difference
I went to this retreat to meet new people and I can affirm that my expectations were fulfilled. These experiences are enriching because they allow us to disconnect from our work and meet other people with whom we can share common experiences. In fact, among the various people I met, my friend Atin shared the same perspective on retirement as I did: “As an attendee, I’d say that the PostDoc retreat was a great success. Despite being the first event of its kind by the UPS, it was very well managed and co-ordinated. There were fun exercises that led to really meaningful conversations and plenty of time to build new social connections. The brain storming activity was actually the best and it was amazing to see people from diverse fields come up with collaboration ideas”.
After attending this event, both of us decided to join UPS to help build new spaces for postdocs in Umeå. It has been an interesting experience that has allowed us to use our abilities in many ways and make new friends. So, if you are new here, we invite you to join us in our new event, The Postdoc Day that will take place on February 15. We wait for you!
About the Author
Isabel Valero is Postdoctoral Fellow at Chemistry Department of Umeå University. She works developing antibacterial inhibitors and is the proud tutor of two lovely cats.
