AGRO Researcher Days 2023 - collaboration, ideas, and community

Laughter, smiles, and some lively activities filled the large conference hall at Comwell in Horsens as AGRO’s researchers gathered on an early November morning. Their memory was put to the test, recalling up to 11 other people’s names, sections, areas of work, and notably, what they had for dinner the night before.

“Despite the challenge of remembering everything, it was a good way to talk to many that I didn't know before. It was also a good way to get an idea of what the different sections are working on," says Sara Miller, a newly appointed postdoc in Crop Genetics and Biotechnology.

Carsten Stefan Malisch, a tenure track assistant professor in Agricultural Systems and Sustainability, recalls the start of the two days as really enjoyable:

"I found the ice-breaking exercise fun, and even though I certainly can't remember everyone's faces and work now, some stood out. For me, it was a fantastic way to explore a large group of people for potential connections, while also just being nice to experience how many people and topics are represented here in AGRO," he says.

Networking, collaboration, and team spirit

One of the highlights of the program was collaboration among colleagues, an exercise where researchers in groups worked on projects and ideas aligned with AGRO's eight strategic focus areas. The aim was to gain a better overview of potential collaboration opportunities and establish connections across sections and research directions.

"This was the first time where I really had plenty of time to talk with people, and it has been incredibly helpful in so many ways. I got great ideas for research and support networks, and ideas on how to implement them in my research. I gained a better understanding of different perspectives and group dynamics, and got to know new sides of my colleagues. In our daily work, we rarely have time for that, so this was incredibly useful for me," says Carsten Stefan Malisch.

Sara Miller highly appreciated the collaboration with her new colleagues: "We functioned as a real team, discussing our sustainable development goals. Finding solutions together with researchers from different backgrounds was very exciting."

After a long day of group work and success stories from different sections, everyone could unwind and enjoy a good vegetarian dinner followed by a department quiz.

"I really enjoyed those two days. It was only my second time at AGRO Researcher Days, and especially the fact of staying together in the evening with the quiz and generally socializing was great fun,” Carsten Stefan Malisch says.

Taking home valuable advice

The focus of the second day of AGRO Researcher Days was on Work-Life balance and well-being, a topic many had requested. The day was facilitated by Eva Damsgaard Nielsen from CAPIO Consult ApS.

"I was reaffirmed that working together and feeling like a part of a team is crucial for a good work environment, even though we all have our own projects. It already works well in our section, but there is still room for improvement. We could for example, create a 'Grant Application Club'," says Sara Miller.

Carsten Stefan Malisch not only got inspired to find ways for a better work environment but also took away some tips that he can use at home as well:

"Interestingly, the most important thing I took home from the second day was not related to work for me at all, but I am planning to use that with my kids more now. It was the revelation on how we should listen, with the three different types of listening, and that we shouldn’t always listen to fix things, but sometimes just to give the other person more room to raise their point even without offering solutions. With regards to work it was mostly useful to talk within our group about our sources of stress, as I learned that there are way more people that I can learn from, than I anticipated, because they went through the same stuff, and this is a resource I vastly underutilized so far.”

See you again in October 2024

The two days with an intense program at Comwell Bygholm in Horsens focused on bridging sections, exchanging ideas, and fostering an inclusive community among researchers. The hope is that everyone has taken something home, whether it be new contacts, fresh ideas for collaboration and projects, or tools for better stress management and improving the department's work environment and well-being.

You can already now mark your calendar for October 28th-29th, 2024, where AGRO Researcher Days will be held once again, and this time, all department staff is invited to spend two exciting days at the Herning Congress Center.

See pictures here