Every composition has an entry point!

Every six months, the research group of Innokas Network gathers for a self-organized retreat. It is becoming one of our most inspiring and joyful ways to nurture shared expertise and a sense of coherence as a team. This spring’s retreat brought us together for two full days of collaborative work, meaningful discussions, and exciting group activities on the Central campus at the University of Helsinki. The atmosphere was warm and encouraging from the very beginning as we shared our knowledge and explored means for professional growth both individually and collectively. These two days also gave us the opportunity to reflect on our developing professional identities and to acknowledge each other’s strengths.

During the retreat, we explored topics related to science popularization and publishing, the team’s on-going research and projects. Through collaborative discussions, we further elaborated our team’s research interests and expertise. We participated in playful science visualization tasks that helped us reimagine how research can be communicated in engaging ways. We also began shaping the next Campfire research-practice partnership event, where Innokas Network’s researchers and teachers come together to share concerns, discuss new ideas, and initiate potential practical research projects. The days were full, rewarding, and inspiring. Amidst the scheduled online meetings and distributed preparation of articles and projects, this retreat presented a rare moment away from our daily routines to meet face to face and harness this team’s potential to contribute to education by co-creating, planning ahead, and developing means to support both educational research and practices.

Although our schedule was packed with workshops and deep discussions (including a lovely mindfulness session led by Esa Pavloff-Pelkonen to kick things off), the retreat was ultimately defined by the people who contributed their duration, insights, and creativity to it. We extend our warmest thanks to everyone who participated, presented, and organized to co-create this shared lived experience. We would love to hear or read your thoughts – what have been your favorite or most inspiring team-building or co-development activities?

Joakim Laine & Johanna Airaksinen
Doctoral researchers from the Innokas Network research group