2. DK-X-Change Obergurgl 25.-29. July 2022
The second DK-X-Change in Obergurgl was once again dedicated to interdisciplinary networking and scientific writing. Organized in a successful cooperation between the Transfer Office Science - Economy - Society, the Writing Center of the ULB Tirol and the research area EPoS, more than 35 participants joint this year. In a unique way this format joints faculty and PhD students together and creates many opportunities for exchange and collaboration. The interdisciplinary group consisted of members of the following five doctoral programs (DC): DC #OrganizingtheDigital, DC Political Institutions and Leadership in a Contingent World, DC Borders, Border Shifts and Border Crossings in Language, Literature, Media, DC Austrian Studies and DC Natural Hazards in Mountain Regions.
Keep it local. To get in the mood for our week in the Ötztal, our first stop was at the sheep wool center of the Regensburger family. Joachim Regensburger gave us an insight into the importance of sheep farming for the region, how to deal with the issue of profitability, but also the specifics of mindful handling of people and resources. From the freshly delivered wool to the finished product, we were able to visit all steps and gain some interesting facts as well as some haptic and olfactory impressions.
Welcome round. After a joint lunch, a first round of getting to know each other followed under the expert guidance of Florian Westereich (BFÖ). 90 seconds, 1 slide, my name, my research was the task. Afterwards, Daniela Rothe (head of the writing center at ULB Tirol) kicked off the writing retreat. In a first planning session the foundations for the week was established, how to work concentrated on the individual PhD projects.
Writing space. For the 16 PhD students, the focus was on working on their projects. The writing week enabled both concentrated work on one's own text project as well as an exchange about writing goals and work progress at the beginning and in the middle of the working day. The writing room was open at all times and many participants used the afternoons to continue working on their projects.
During a coffee break in the afternoon, there was the opportunity to exchange ideas about writing experiences and writing strategies. Based on topics suggested by the participants, topics such as revision strategies (Germano, W.: "Revision. The only writing that counts"), dealing with reviews, and the special challenges of working on a monograph (How to write THE book. Chances and challenges) were discussed in a guided but rather informal round. The topic "How to handle more than one (writing) project at a time" was particularly well received.
Learning from each other. The faculty of the individual doctoral colleges had the opportunity to get to know each other more closely and to discuss organizational and strategic topics in a joint meeting. A review of the synergies and projects that have emerged in recent months showed the added value of a regular meeting and increased the motivation to collaborate even more this upcoming year.
Clever minds. To accelerate networking and getting to know each other, there was an opportunity to compete in teams on the second evening. Various tasks could be mastered through joint dexterity, creativity and agility, and a detailed analysis at the bar afterwards was of course not to be missed.
Explore nature. On Wednesday afternoon, all those interested had the opportunity to delve deeper into the special features of the mountain world and its inhabitants. Together with the managing director of the Ötztal Nature Park, Thomas Schmarda, and the head of the Alpine research facilities, Klaus Schallhart we visited the Nature Park Infopoint, and made our way back down (2,5h hike) to the valley with a great view of the glaciers. On the way, we received some information about the research projects up here, about the flora and fauna as well as on the impressive mountain scenery. The view of the steadily retracting ice masses was already a preview of the next evening.
Broaden your horizon. The topics of climate change, sustainability and interdisciplinarity dominated the evening through several short films and impulses moderated by Günter Scheide from the Transfer Office. Birgit Sattler and Klemens Weisleitner from the Department of Ecology spanned the arc from the melting glaciers of the Ötztal to the challenges at the polar ice caps. The consequences of global warming cannot be denied and were also remarkably and admonishingly staged in the project "Zuchtgletscher" (Breeding Glaciers) by Christian Ruschitzka of the Vienna University of Applied Arts and his interdisciplinary team. Afterwards Manu Delago showed with his Recycling Tour on the basis of a "bicycle concert tour" that also in the music industry a resource-saving life style is possible. The night concluded with an impressive contribution to the meanwhile failed “Gletscherehe” in the Pitztal with different facets to the prestine alpine nature worth protecting. As different as the approaches of the individual areas are, they all unmistakably show the acute call for action and the necessity that we all act together preserve our nature for future generations.
Beyond Obergurgl. The week ended with a review of the writing goals achieved and a feedback session on the individual formats and impulses. The DK-X-Change showed once again how important interdisciplinary networking is for us as scientists, but also how important the distance to the daily work, fixed writing times and the exchange with other writers are for the progress of the work. Inspired by the participants, the idea arose to organize a regular writing day for DC members (Friday, 9 am - 4 pm) at the Writing Center of the ULB Tirol, based on the writing routine established together in Obergurgl. This will take place every two weeks starting September 9th.
Thank you for a wonderful week!
1. DK-X-Change Obergurgl 9.-13. August 2021
At this year's DK-X-Change at the University Center in Obergurgl, participants from four doctoral programs took part. The focus was on writing and networking together and enjoying the possibility to meet.
PhDs from the doctoral programs "Dynamics and Inequality and Difference in the Age of Globalization", "Natural Hazards in Mountain Regions", "Political Institutions and Leadership in a Contingent World" and "#OrganizingtheDigital" were able to network at the DK-X-Change and new opportunities for collaboration were identified. The week in Obergurgl was planned and organized by Dipl.-Geogr. Günter Scheide, from the Transferstelle Wissenschaft - Wirtschaft - Gesellschaft in close cooperation with the DC leaders and the Writing Center UBL Tirol.
Impressions and Voices
Even though the focus of this week was on writing on the individual projects, there was still plenty of time for informal discussions and different social aktivities. The week began with a visit to the local history and open-air museum in Längenfeld, followed by a joint hike and a movie night at the Gurgl Carat.
The ecologists Birgit Sattler and Klemens Weisleitner presented the exhibition "EIS" and showed works from their research area of the Antarctic, Arctic and the alpine glacier world. In addition to photographs, tools and working material, various filmic contributions from the polar research community were shown.
A wonderful evening with lively exchange and enriching conversations.
Student Voices
"This week was useful because I had the chance to share my thinking with students from other fields and work together."
"We got lots of practical tips how to keep our writing flowing and how to structure the process. Lots of mew inspiration and renewed admiration for science."
"Overall a very great experience, thank you very much!"
"Working i a different location and with new colleagues helped me being focused and motivated"
Faculty Voices
"I would like to thank you on behalf of all participants for the pleasant atmosphere, the relaxed and productive exchange and the joint activities."
"I have found the week and the format to be a great asset."
"For the future I take with me that the work of the other DKs is (much) closer to our research work and interests than thought. And the motivation to also use this compatibility much more in the future or to consider it in research projects."
Links
- Transferstelle Wissenschaft - Wirtschaft - Gesellschaft
- Schreibzentrum ULB Tirol
- DC Dynamics of Inequality and Difference in the Age of Globalization
- DC Natural Hazards in Mountain Regions
- DC #OrganizingtheDigital Relations, Publics, Societies
- DC Political Institutions and Leadership in a Contingent World
- Transferstelle Wissenschaft - Wirtschaft - Gesellschaft
- Department of Ecology
- Original article in the Newsroom (German)