10 years of Intervals
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332 courses, 3988 places and 97 trainers ... in 2018 we celebrated 10 years of the Intervals programme at the PRBB – lots of learning, lots of relating, lots of fun!
As our participants know, Intervals is much more than a training programme. Intervals is about enabling the PRBB community to make friends and links between Centres and scientific disciplines, in the informal setting of a classroom. But in recent years, Intervals has also become part of another much bigger story: this bigger story is reverberating around the wider scientific community globally today. It is the story of changing the culture of scientific practice from one of hard-nosed competition to one of cooperation. It is the story that helps us work together across disciplines to solve our most pressing global challenges and at the same time protect the vulnerable in our community. It is the story of how scientists can become better at collaborating and caring. |
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The Intervals story: Learning AND Relationship
Training is easy. Building community is harder. But shifting a culture from ruthless competition to cooperation and caring is the hardest of all.
In the Intervals programme we are proud to participate in the global movement that is seeking new ways for science to move forward. This is a movement that values open sharing, transparency and accountability. A movement that depends on developing trust and is founded in strong human relationships. Open Science, equality and diversity in science and Good Scientific Practice are examples of movements that are working to maintain and grow the integrity of science.
The Intervals programme provides a grassroots complement to those movements by working to foster and strengthen human relationships at local level in the PRBB.
In the Intervals programme we are proud to participate in the global movement that is seeking new ways for science to move forward. This is a movement that values open sharing, transparency and accountability. A movement that depends on developing trust and is founded in strong human relationships. Open Science, equality and diversity in science and Good Scientific Practice are examples of movements that are working to maintain and grow the integrity of science.
The Intervals programme provides a grassroots complement to those movements by working to foster and strengthen human relationships at local level in the PRBB.
Through its two foundational objectives the Intervals programme aims to provide learning opportunities that:
- support self-development of PRBB science professionals.
- encourage relationship building between PRBB Centres, disciplines and sectors in science and beyond.
2018 developments
The pedagogic content of the Intervals programme aims to expand mindsets, skills and knowledge in the 4 ‘C’s: Communication, Collaboration, Critical thinking and Creativity.
In 2018 we focused particularly on collaboration and creativity:
In 2018 we focused particularly on collaboration and creativity:
1. Collaborating with others
PRBB Centres
PRBB Centres
- Thanks to Intervals’ continuing collaboration with the UPF CÍCLIKS programme, we were able to expand our scientific writing programme to ensure that UPF pre-doctoral students in biomedicine have an opportunity to attend at least one general writing course. A total of 114 places were available in 2018 on our courses: Scientific writing, and Becoming a scientific writer – compared with just 66 places on these courses in 2016.
- Staff from the CRG's International and Scientific Affairs office designed and led a workshop on project management for the Intervals programme. This course was attended by 16 PRBB staff of whom 8 were from non-CRG centres. This was a good example of how the span of the Intervals programme across the whole PRBB community provides a critical mass to form a rich and diverse learning group.
Peers
Two new peer mentoring groups were started in 2018, for project managers and for senior women scientists. The peer mentoring model relies on an initial kick-start for 3 sessions with experienced coach, Louise Schubert, and then groups become self-sustaining. Intervals has now initiated 9 peer mentoring groups in the PRBB and several continue to meet. Our original group of senior women scientists is now moving into its fifth self-sustaining year, confirming that the peer mentoring model is both valued and worthwhile.
Participants
Participants on some courses ask for longer or more sustained input over time. Longer courses can present logistical challenges – the most significant being budget constraints and time availability of potential participants. Responding to demand, in 2018 a Mindfulness Circle was set-up. This group was led by trainer Carles Ruiz and was made up of people who had previously attended the Intervals’ mindfulness taster course. Participants made personal contributions to help cover costs and attended self-facilitated weekly sessions and monthly trainer-led sessions. The Circle continued meeting for 6 months and has now disbanded.
2. Creative scientists
To be creative you have to turn off your mind and let your body and intuition rule. Science and intuition are not walking into different paths.
Participant - Science of the Unexpected, July 2018
Participant - Science of the Unexpected, July 2018
Improvise
Scientists have to speak frequently in public, presenting their science and responding to questions. Whereas many oral presentations can be rehearsed, unexpected situations which demand a public response can cause huge stress.
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To help scientists develop strategies for responding creatively in the moment, Brian McCarthy, an experienced trainer and former theatre director, put participants through their paces in a specially designed workshop: The science of the unexpected: improvisation for scientists. The summer workshop was very popular and Brian kindly ran two shorter versions of the workshop for the Intervals 10th birthday celebration in December.
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"I was terrified to act, but the trainer made everyone comfortable to step out of their comfort zone"
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Draw
Words and numbers tend to dominate most note-taking these days. But if we use other creative faculties to express ideas this can open up new ways of seeing and solving problems and may unblock repetitive thought patterns. The technique of visualising ideas through images has become increasingly popular in recent years, and the art of graphic facilitation is a growing skill. Artistic ability is helpful but not necessary, as some simple techniques can easily be learnt.
Words and numbers tend to dominate most note-taking these days. But if we use other creative faculties to express ideas this can open up new ways of seeing and solving problems and may unblock repetitive thought patterns. The technique of visualising ideas through images has become increasingly popular in recent years, and the art of graphic facilitation is a growing skill. Artistic ability is helpful but not necessary, as some simple techniques can easily be learnt.
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To introduce graphic visualisation to PRBB staff, trainer and former scientist Anna Segarra ran a workshop: Pensar en imágenes: cómo usar la facilitación gráfica para solucionar problemas, innovar y trabajar en equipo. Participants found the tools and techniques useful and valued the opportunity to expand their repertoire for visualising ideas in images.
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Dance
The focus of the Intervals 10th birthday celebration was a Dance your Science competition.
With the inspirational help of dance coach and choreographer Leo Zunda, two teams of PRBB scientists, stepped up to the challenge and created innovative dances to illustrate scientific processes. Participants valued the experience and especially commented on its potential for team-building as well as for opening up new perspectives for thinking about their work.
The focus of the Intervals 10th birthday celebration was a Dance your Science competition.
With the inspirational help of dance coach and choreographer Leo Zunda, two teams of PRBB scientists, stepped up to the challenge and created innovative dances to illustrate scientific processes. Participants valued the experience and especially commented on its potential for team-building as well as for opening up new perspectives for thinking about their work.
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Learning from feedback
As with all community interventions, nothing is entirely predictable, much less perfect.
The Intervals programme is recognised by the PRBB community for offering high-quality hands-on courses, usually with just 12 to 15 places. Small groups ensure the active participation of attendees and a high interaction with the trainer, but can mean that sometimes accessibility to courses is limited. This especially affects participants from smaller centres as places are allocated proportionately according to size of centre.
The Intervals programme is recognised by the PRBB community for offering high-quality hands-on courses, usually with just 12 to 15 places. Small groups ensure the active participation of attendees and a high interaction with the trainer, but can mean that sometimes accessibility to courses is limited. This especially affects participants from smaller centres as places are allocated proportionately according to size of centre.
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Here´s how you can increase your chances of getting a place in Intervals’ workshops!
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For any doubts about the periodicity of workshops or course openings you can always contact the Intervals team – we will be glad to hear from you!
A new programme for a new decade – three perspectives:
Moving forward into 2019 we will be re-shaping our learning streams into three different perspectives. As with all work in complex systems this categorisation will be an adaptive process, which will evolve as we receive feedback from our participants and trainers.
Intervals learning streams with possible topics:
Intervals learning streams with possible topics:
- Personal mastery – working with self, self-leadership. Mindfulness; Critical thinking; Creativity; Time management; Mentoring, being mentored and receiving feedback.
- Team effectiveness – working with others in small groups, personal contact. Team building, team management, team communication; Negotiation; Handling conflict; Recruitment; Career progression; Meetings skills; Project and financial management. Dialogue, co-production & co-working.
- Systems agility – working in and across systems, transversal perspective. Writing for publication; Public speaking; Systems/collective leadership; Group convening, participatory methods; Networking and social media.
A new adventure
As the Intervals programme moves into its second decade, the world looks increasingly unpredictable. Whereas in the past, strategy and long-term planning were part of everyday life, now the term VUCA has entered our vocabulary – Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Long term planning looks increasingly redundant in the continually shifting, complex environments we live in.
Young scientists today can look forward to few opportunities for life-long contracts or stable work. To get ahead and stay ahead in a complex world, they will need to be agile, adaptable and above all self-aware. Resilience and flexibility will count more than technical prowess, emotional intelligence and relationship skills their essential foundation stones.
Intervals will move with the times as the decade progresses, keeping a close eye on the dynamic, changing systems that science professionals must understand and negotiate.
It is our aim to help PRBB science professionals carve as many arrows as possible to prepare their quiver for action through professional growth and learning.
Young scientists today can look forward to few opportunities for life-long contracts or stable work. To get ahead and stay ahead in a complex world, they will need to be agile, adaptable and above all self-aware. Resilience and flexibility will count more than technical prowess, emotional intelligence and relationship skills their essential foundation stones.
Intervals will move with the times as the decade progresses, keeping a close eye on the dynamic, changing systems that science professionals must understand and negotiate.
It is our aim to help PRBB science professionals carve as many arrows as possible to prepare their quiver for action through professional growth and learning.
Thanks
Many thanks to all our participants and especially to our trainers and assessors in 2018:
José Antonio Aguilar, Joaquim Calbó, Salvatore Cappadona, Carolina Carbó, Luca Cozzuto, Fernando Cucchietti, Malte Engel, Reimund Fickert, Jaume Fatjó, Susan Frekko, Fernando Gallego, Josefa Gonzalez, Gavin Lucas, Guillermo Marin, Alicia Marín Muniesa, Andrés Martín, Eric May, Brian McCarthy, Pau Millet, Carolyn Newey, Roser Pinyol, Sonja Reiland, Pilar Rivera, Tobias Rodrigues, Carles Ruiz, Louise Schubert, Anna Segarra, Ruben Ventura and Leo Zunda.
José Antonio Aguilar, Joaquim Calbó, Salvatore Cappadona, Carolina Carbó, Luca Cozzuto, Fernando Cucchietti, Malte Engel, Reimund Fickert, Jaume Fatjó, Susan Frekko, Fernando Gallego, Josefa Gonzalez, Gavin Lucas, Guillermo Marin, Alicia Marín Muniesa, Andrés Martín, Eric May, Brian McCarthy, Pau Millet, Carolyn Newey, Roser Pinyol, Sonja Reiland, Pilar Rivera, Tobias Rodrigues, Carles Ruiz, Louise Schubert, Anna Segarra, Ruben Ventura and Leo Zunda.
Elinor Thompson and Eroteida Jiménez
The Intervals Programme, PRBB February 2019
The Intervals Programme, PRBB February 2019
You can download a version of the report in pdf here
