The Intervals story
In the PRBB Intervals programme we are part of a burgeoning movement in science globally, that is finding new ways to work and progress human knowledge. Values such as trust, caring and authenticity are needed more than ever today, as we face a barrage of ethical and existential issues that threaten our survival. The new way of doing science seeks to ensure that individual human qualities are valued highly, that trust and caring underpin our relationships and that openness is as important as competition.
To face the future, scientists must have strength of character and a range of flexible personal skills to respond to unpredictable environments and multiple pressures: having excellent technical skills alone is no longer sufficient to be an excellent scientist. The ability to work with others, to listen, to be adaptive and tolerant of difference are all skills we learn through life experience, but they can be enhanced and enriched if we give them a little special attention.
To face the future, scientists must have strength of character and a range of flexible personal skills to respond to unpredictable environments and multiple pressures: having excellent technical skills alone is no longer sufficient to be an excellent scientist. The ability to work with others, to listen, to be adaptive and tolerant of difference are all skills we learn through life experience, but they can be enhanced and enriched if we give them a little special attention.
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Through its two foundational objectives the PRBB Intervals programme aims to provide learning opportunities for all staff that: 1. support self and professional development, to enable our staff to become more effective influencers, whatever their current or future role in society. 2. encourage relationship building between individuals in all PRBB Centres, disciplines and sectors in science and beyond. |
Our work in 2019
In 2019 the Intervals programme offered 36 workshops, 450 places in total. The feedback from attendees was very positive, and 90% of them rated the courses as excellent or very good.
The programme was organised into three thematic learning areas:
The programme was organised into three thematic learning areas:
- SELF: courses that focus on the development of inner personal skills such as thinking, creativity, and personal mastery.
- INTERPERSONAL: courses that focus on the inter-relationship between individuals – usually one-to-one but also in small groups or teams.
- SYSTEM: courses which focus on building skills that enable an individual to interact effectively with large groups and the public – both scientific and non-scientific, and to find their own way in the complex social system of science.
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Balance between learning areas
The focus on each of the learning areas varies each year, depending on assessment of need and priority of different staff groups. One on-going concern is the development of team management and leadership skills in new Principal Investigators (PIs), as these young leaders are key influencers for the future of science. |
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The Intervals programme therefore partners biannually with the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) to organise a leadership skills course for PIs: Leading for Success in Science. This workshop runs over 3 days in a venue outside the PRBB, and gives the participants an opportunity to experience a day retreat environment away from their labs and offices. In 2019 this course was offered to PIs from the PRBB Centres along with PIs from other local scientific centres. Fewer courses under the Interpersonal learning theme are held in the same year as Leading for Success in Science.
New courses
In 2019, two new courses were held. One under the Self skills theme – aimed to encourage creative thinking: Dance your science – and the other under the System skills theme, Science in a nutshell aimed to improve skills and flexibility in presenting science orally – in this case without powerpoint. Often with new courses, take up of places is lower than for other courses, especially when the new course is seen as innovative or challenging. This was the case for both of our new courses in 2019. Dance your science take up was just 47% (7/15) of places and Science in a nutshell was 67% (7/10).
In spite of relatively low take up however, participants had a very positive experience with 100% of participants from both courses rating the courses as either very good or excellent.
In 2019, two new courses were held. One under the Self skills theme – aimed to encourage creative thinking: Dance your science – and the other under the System skills theme, Science in a nutshell aimed to improve skills and flexibility in presenting science orally – in this case without powerpoint. Often with new courses, take up of places is lower than for other courses, especially when the new course is seen as innovative or challenging. This was the case for both of our new courses in 2019. Dance your science take up was just 47% (7/15) of places and Science in a nutshell was 67% (7/10).
In spite of relatively low take up however, participants had a very positive experience with 100% of participants from both courses rating the courses as either very good or excellent.
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Comments from Dance your science participants included: “The most inspirational course I have taken connecting body and mind.” “To think out of the box you need to move out of the box.” “It was an excellent experience! Moving your body allows you to improve your imagination! And also your abilities of communication to general public!” |
And from Science in a nutshell: “In the era of digitalization, it is necessary and why not, nice and cheerful, to go back to the board and reinvent our presentations.” “Very much needed course for all scientists independently of their career stage.” “I’ll be able to explain in a more concise and clear way my results in a chalk talk" |
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Attendance
Take-up of places In contrast with previous years, 2019 was a year in which there was a lower demand for places than anticipated, especially in the Autumn. There was no obvious reason for this lower demand, though it is possible that after a higher than average uptake in 2018 with the celebration of 10 years of the Intervals programme, experience in 2019 reflected a balancing out and time for consolidation. Courses that were most difficult to fill were mainly in the Interpersonal skills thread. This may be because of a perception - arguably erroneous - that the focus of these courses, while important, is less pressing to every day work needs than topics such as communication skills and critical thinking. Perhaps a case of the well-known phenomenon of the ‘urgent’ taking precedence over the ‘important’. Unfortunately, one workshop in Peer Mentoring had to be cancelled due to insufficient take-up of places. |
Balance between groups
In spite of the slightly reduced uptake of places, the gender balance improved somewhat although men still did not take up places proportionate to their representation in the community. The balance of pre-docs to post-docs also improved and there was an improved uptake to courses by participants from the IMIM, although they are still taking up only 21% of places when they are entitled to 28%.
In spite of the slightly reduced uptake of places, the gender balance improved somewhat although men still did not take up places proportionate to their representation in the community. The balance of pre-docs to post-docs also improved and there was an improved uptake to courses by participants from the IMIM, although they are still taking up only 21% of places when they are entitled to 28%.
In 2020…
In 2020 the Intervals programme will continue offering high quality training and adapting to the evolving needs of the research community.
Collaborating with other programmes
Intervals will continue joining forces with other training programmes to offer more places on our most popular courses to the PRBB community. Specifically, Intervals will extend its collaboration with the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) CÍCLIKS programme by offering more scientific writing and oral presentation skills workshops so that more PhD students have the opportunity to access this training.
Taking care of wellbeing
Despite being highly stimulating and challenging, there are some characteristics of the scientific environment that can affect emotional and mental well-being of researchers. Since its origin Intervals has provided training to help science professionals to improve not only their interpersonal skills but also to help them to better manage their time, stress levels, feelings and emotions. In line with this, in 2020 the Intervals programme, along with other PRBB initiatives, will continue to contribute to maintaining and improving the wellbeing of the PRBB community.
Open to new ideas
Intervals aims to offer top notch training opportunities in transversal skills for professionals working in the PRBB. We are always open to new ideas that can make our programme more relevant and adapted to the needs of today’s researchers and scientific support staff. Should you have any proposal we’ll be very glad to hear from you!
Intervals will continue joining forces with other training programmes to offer more places on our most popular courses to the PRBB community. Specifically, Intervals will extend its collaboration with the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) CÍCLIKS programme by offering more scientific writing and oral presentation skills workshops so that more PhD students have the opportunity to access this training.
Taking care of wellbeing
Despite being highly stimulating and challenging, there are some characteristics of the scientific environment that can affect emotional and mental well-being of researchers. Since its origin Intervals has provided training to help science professionals to improve not only their interpersonal skills but also to help them to better manage their time, stress levels, feelings and emotions. In line with this, in 2020 the Intervals programme, along with other PRBB initiatives, will continue to contribute to maintaining and improving the wellbeing of the PRBB community.
Open to new ideas
Intervals aims to offer top notch training opportunities in transversal skills for professionals working in the PRBB. We are always open to new ideas that can make our programme more relevant and adapted to the needs of today’s researchers and scientific support staff. Should you have any proposal we’ll be very glad to hear from you!
Thanks
Many thanks to all our participants, and especially to our trainers and collaborators:
José Antonio Aguilar, Berta Alsina, Michela Bertero, Joaquim Calbó, Salvatore Cappadona, Luca Cozzuto, Malte Engel, Reimund Fickert, Jaume Fatjó, Susan Frekko, Fernando Gallego, Harris Gordon, Manuel Irimia, Anna Janic, Sašo Kocevar, Gavin Lucas, Maria Lluch, Romilde Manzoni, Alicia Marín Muniesa, Andrés Martín, Brian McCarthy, Eric May, Pau Millet, Alexandros Nikolaou, Roser Pinyol, Sonja Reiland, Pilar Rivera, Tobias Rodrigues, Carles Ruiz, Marta Sallés, Louise Schubert, Anna Segarra, Ruben Ventura and Leo Zunda.
José Antonio Aguilar, Berta Alsina, Michela Bertero, Joaquim Calbó, Salvatore Cappadona, Luca Cozzuto, Malte Engel, Reimund Fickert, Jaume Fatjó, Susan Frekko, Fernando Gallego, Harris Gordon, Manuel Irimia, Anna Janic, Sašo Kocevar, Gavin Lucas, Maria Lluch, Romilde Manzoni, Alicia Marín Muniesa, Andrés Martín, Brian McCarthy, Eric May, Pau Millet, Alexandros Nikolaou, Roser Pinyol, Sonja Reiland, Pilar Rivera, Tobias Rodrigues, Carles Ruiz, Marta Sallés, Louise Schubert, Anna Segarra, Ruben Ventura and Leo Zunda.
Elinor Thompson and Eroteida Jiménez
The Intervals Programme, PRBB February 2020
The Intervals Programme, PRBB February 2020
You can download a version of the report in pdf here.
