The ReNEU team at ICVS held a team retreat in Amarante on September 7, dedicated to sharing ongoing work, defining future priorities, and discussing topics relevant to the development of the team’s research.
During the retreat, the team began by sharing the different expertise of its members, collaboration needs, and key scientific priorities for the coming years. The discussion also highlighted the growing relevance of Artificial Intelligence in scientific research, particularly in data analysis and its potential applications.
Well-being and sustainability in research were also addressed in a session presented by Dr. Iara Teixeira (Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Psychology and Education, University of Beira Interior, and researcher at the Intersectionality Lab Research Center). The session, entitled “Working Sustainably in Research: Navigating Pressure, Building Resilience, and Preventing Burnout”, encouraged reflection and the sharing of experiences on how to manage pressure, recognize signs of strain, and develop strategies to prevent burnout. Through a series of exercises, team members reflected on and shared experiences about what sustains and challenges them in their day-to-day work, reinforcing the idea that taking care of oneself is also part of the work.
Finally, in a session led by team coordinator Nuno Silva, researchers took part in a peer-review activity involving scientific papers. Divided into groups, they took on the role of reviewers, analyzing different papers and subsequently comparing their critiques and suggestions. The activity provided an opportunity to explore different perspectives on the same manuscript and reflect on the scientific peer-review process.
The retreat provided a space away from the usual routine for collective reflection on issues relevant to the team’s work, current challenges, and opportunities for the future development of its research.
