07/03/2026
Hirschegg 2026
This year’s annual retreat to Hirschegg, Austria, brought together our Smart Membranes group and the MAP group once more for five productive and enjoyable days in the Alps. A major highlight of the excursion was a two-day workshop on scientific presentation, where participants explored effective strategies for communicating their research clearly, confidently, and engagingly. Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, we learned how to present complex scientific results in a way that resonates with diverse audiences.
Alongside the workshop, the retreat of course also provided plenty of opportunities to relax and strengthen connections between the two research groups. Whilst our home in Darmstadt experienced intense summer heat, we enjoyed pleasant mountain temperatures during several short hikes and a visit to the local thermal spa. As always, the evenings and breaks were filled with team-building activities, including table tennis, volleyball, board games, and a karaoke night. These informal moments fostered new collaborations, strengthened friendships, and made this year’s Hirschegg excursion both scientifically valuable and personally memorable.