Retreat

Each year, the OPIG group heads away together for a week-long retreat, typically staying from Monday evening until Friday morning in a large Airbnb, inn, or similar venue that can accommodate the whole group. Living together is part of the experience — we cook our own meals, eat together, and spend the week building stronger connections outside the lab.

The retreat blends science, creativity, and fun. Days include a series of informal talks where anyone can present something they're passionate about, whether it's related to research, a personal project, or simply an interesting idea. Presentations can be as serious or as wonderfully unconventional as the speaker likes. This year's talks ranged from Making ChatGPT in Minecraft and The Healing Power of Crystals to The Evolution of Politics Using AI.

Alongside the talks, there's plenty of time for social activities, from pub quizzes and sports to whatever games or adventures the group dreams up. Evenings are usually spent relaxing together, sharing stories, getting to know one another, and enjoying each other's company, making the retreat one of the highlights of the OPIG calendar.