In 2021 over 400 PRBB staff took part in online events offered by the Intervals programme – 40 courses covering 22 topics. Although everyone missed the chance to meet face-to-face, most people found online learning positive. Surprisingly, the enforced switch showed us that some courses work as well or even better via distance learning. Why? Because online delivery means shorter class duration, which can fit more easily into busy schedules. Another benefit is that online events are more accessible and have a lower carbon impact for trainers and participants who are not in Barcelona. But Intervals is at its heart about building relationships and community in the PRBB, so we will be very glad to go back to in-person events.
Increasing resilience
The pandemic has been a difficult time for everyone and unsurprisingly problems with mental and emotional wellbeing have escalated. Even before Covid-19 there were calls for emotional support for science professionals and Intervals has been developing a package of learning events to help people understand themselves better and develop resilience.
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In 2021 stress management was added to the Intervals portfolio,
with 3 editions of the workshop: Gestión del estrés para profesionales de investigación/Stress management for science professionals. These workshops were run by psychologists Susanna Diez and Eva Herber from BH Consulting and 32 people attended. Participants found that getting insights into how their own thoughts can exacerbate stress, were particularly useful. They were also appreciative of the range of tools offered to help them relax and reduce tension. The majority would recommend the course to their colleagues while suggestions for improvement included a need to tweak workshop timing and length. |
Comments about the stress management workshop "Un curso que da muchas herramientas para potenciar la salud de nuestra mente" "Muy práctico, con aplicación desde el primer día!" "Fundamental para entender las dinámicas de la mente en situaciones de estrés" "I feel more capable of dealing with stressors of every kind" "It helps you a lot to deal with daily and work stressors. It gives you tools to avoid it or to adapt" |
Mindfulness has been shown in peer-reviewed studies to be a skill that can enhance mental wellbeing. Andres Martín from Instituto esMindfulness has been offering introductory courses for the Intervals programme for many years and these events continued to be popular online. Another element of the mental health package includes an edition of the Google course known as Search inside Yourself. This event run by José Antonio Aguilar teaches people how to use mindfulness to enhance emotional intelligence and leadership skills. Lack of time is one of the most frequently cited stressors amongst PRBB staff. This year Louise Schubert from Schubert Consulting added value to her well-established time management course by including a focus on developing personal resilience: Navigating turbulent times: time management and resilience in science.
Some people attending workshops focused on psychological issues remarked that they are not necessarily for everyone. But for those who are open to a little self-exploration there can be benefits from learning new skills as well as sharing experiences.
Some people attending workshops focused on psychological issues remarked that they are not necessarily for everyone. But for those who are open to a little self-exploration there can be benefits from learning new skills as well as sharing experiences.
PRBB Career Week – showing career options in science
In 2021 the Intervals team participated in the PRBB Training Group which has members from all PRBB centres. This group organised two editions of the PRBB Career Week. The aim of these events was to prepare early and mid-career researchers for their next professional move by giving them ideas for different options once they have finished their PhD or postdoc, and an opportunity to practice some specific skills.
A series of informal conversations with professionals working in different science-related jobs gave attendees an opportunity to find out more about varied careers and positions. A wide range of sectors was represented across the two editions: patents, biotech, science communication, project management, governmental & international organisations and data science.
A roundtable was held in which scientists and HR professionals from both companies and research institutes explored the recruitment process and opportunities for researchers. And attendees also had the chance to participate in a “speed-dating” event with company representatives, where they learnt more about each company and potential positions for scientists.
During the first edition of the Career Week, the Intervals programme organised two workshops, with different perspectives and methodologies, but with the same aim: to help participants prepare for professional changes. During the practical course LinkedIn workshop for researchers - make yourself more visible!, run by Pedro Rojas, an expert in digital strategy, attendees learnt useful tips to increase their professional network and make their profiles more visible in this social network. Whereas the workshop So what's next? Managing change and challenges in your scientific career was more introspective: career coach Marie Trussart guided attendees through a process of self-reflection about career interests and challenges, and helped them develop skills to navigate barriers to career advancement. The format of these workshops was adapted to the Career Week event, with bigger groups – around 30 places – and being shorter – one 2-hour session – than regular Intervals courses.
A series of informal conversations with professionals working in different science-related jobs gave attendees an opportunity to find out more about varied careers and positions. A wide range of sectors was represented across the two editions: patents, biotech, science communication, project management, governmental & international organisations and data science.
A roundtable was held in which scientists and HR professionals from both companies and research institutes explored the recruitment process and opportunities for researchers. And attendees also had the chance to participate in a “speed-dating” event with company representatives, where they learnt more about each company and potential positions for scientists.
During the first edition of the Career Week, the Intervals programme organised two workshops, with different perspectives and methodologies, but with the same aim: to help participants prepare for professional changes. During the practical course LinkedIn workshop for researchers - make yourself more visible!, run by Pedro Rojas, an expert in digital strategy, attendees learnt useful tips to increase their professional network and make their profiles more visible in this social network. Whereas the workshop So what's next? Managing change and challenges in your scientific career was more introspective: career coach Marie Trussart guided attendees through a process of self-reflection about career interests and challenges, and helped them develop skills to navigate barriers to career advancement. The format of these workshops was adapted to the Career Week event, with bigger groups – around 30 places – and being shorter – one 2-hour session – than regular Intervals courses.
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"I learned how to be more self-aware of the challenges I am facing and the feelings and behaviours I have towards them. It also provided me with tips to design an action plan to face those challenges in a healthier and happier way!" "Great opportunity to take a breath and reflect on your career and next challenges" "An essential course that helps you being aware of the emotional challenges involving a change in your career and gives you nice tips to overcome them" Comments from So what's next? |
"Very useful overview of how to leverage on your profile in LinkedIn to expand one´s career opportunities" "It helped me to understand way better how LinkedIn works and how to make a better profile. "Great workshop to know more about LinkedIn and all the opportunities of this network" "Lot of learning in a 2 hours workshop!" "Useful tips on how to achieve visibility in LinkedIn" Comments from LinkedIn workshop for researchers |
Due to COVID all the Career Week activities were online, with around 400 attendees. There was very good feedback overall.
Thanks
The Intervals team would like to thank our participants and especially our trainers and collaborators during the 2021:
José Antonio Aguilar, Michela Bertero, Arnau Busquets, Joaquim Calbó, Natalia Dave, Susanna Diez, Malte Engel, Jaume Fatjó, Reimund Fickert, Susan Frekko, Thomas Frick, Dana Galili, Eva Katharina Herber, Kai Hüwelmeyer, Anna Janic, Gavin Lucas, Alicia Marín Muniesa, Andrés Martín, Eric May, Pau Millet, Alexandros Nikolaou, Gabriele Picarella, Pedro Rojas, Roser Pinyol, Sonja Reiland, Louise Schubert, Anna Segarra, Marie Trussart, Kate Whitfield, Roni Wright and Ruben Ventura.
José Antonio Aguilar, Michela Bertero, Arnau Busquets, Joaquim Calbó, Natalia Dave, Susanna Diez, Malte Engel, Jaume Fatjó, Reimund Fickert, Susan Frekko, Thomas Frick, Dana Galili, Eva Katharina Herber, Kai Hüwelmeyer, Anna Janic, Gavin Lucas, Alicia Marín Muniesa, Andrés Martín, Eric May, Pau Millet, Alexandros Nikolaou, Gabriele Picarella, Pedro Rojas, Roser Pinyol, Sonja Reiland, Louise Schubert, Anna Segarra, Marie Trussart, Kate Whitfield, Roni Wright and Ruben Ventura.
Elinor Thompson and Eroteida Jiménez
The Intervals Programme, PRBB February 2022
The Intervals Programme, PRBB February 2022
The report in pdf format: Intervals programme 2021 annual report
