Scientific retreat at the “Taubertal”

Twelve PhD students of the graduate program “Receptor Dynamics“ met in 2021 at the remote abbey Kloster Bronnbach which is located near Wertheim in Baden-Wuerttemberg. The members which are biologists, biotechnologists, chemists, and pharmacists from the Universities of Wuerzburg, Erlangen, and Regensburg chose this far-off place to discuss scientific problems, challenges, ideas and outlooks of their respective PhD projects.
 
As already demonstrated in previous meetings, ideas and solutions might not always be formed directly during a scientific presentation or adjacent discussion, but are developed in an informal environment aside from official agendas and talks. Thus, talks were held on two different days and were discussed and analysed during the social part of the retreat whilst walking in the afternoon and having dinner in the evening.

For the students from Regensburg, a highlight of the trip most certainly was the presentation about cultural differences between Germany and the Czech Republic, the development of foreign direct investments in the Czech Republic and the specifics of the Czech IT- and technology industry. 

The retreat offered great opportunities for intercultural and personal exchange between the group members. Within the „Covid” years 2020 und 2021, social and personal exchange was almost impossible but the warm atmosphere at the “Taubertal” was an ideal environment for overcoming this. The retreat was closed by a social dinner within the historical venue of the abbey.

Text:  Hubert Gerwe, Dr. Ludwig Höllein, International Doctorate Program „Receptor Dynamics“