CCS internal meetings
To encourage and facilitate communication and collaboration amongst different CCS groups, two researchers from different CCS groups present their research at a CCS ‘Research In Progress’ seminar each month.
CCS research in Progress seminars - previous and forthcoming meetings
2024 CCS PIs’ retreat
Over a weekend in early April 2024, seven CCS PIs, eight senior postdocs from different CCS groups, and three collaborators had a two-day scientific retreat in Helsingør. This retreat focused on future research directions within CCS groups, opportunities of further collaborations between groups, and strategies for helping young scientists to apply for independent research funding.
In detail, each CCS PI gave an update on the progress of their groups, then discussed their latest big ideas, projects that would benefit from collaborations in the CCS and new technologies that have been developed that can help other groups, etc. Specific discussions/presentations were given on topics including ‘how to start a new group?’, ‘how to best harness the opportunities provided by AI, and how to train people to be AI-cognizant. In the gaps between scientific sessions, CCS members and collaborators enjoyed playing table tennis, or having a short swim in the sea.
The retreat was a great success, as it provided a relaxed venue and forum for CCS PIs, postdocs and collaborators to discuss new ideas, future collaborations and career development.
2023 CCS retreat
The CCS arranged a five-day retreat for all members in January 2023 in Los Christianos, Tenerife, Spain. The retreat contained a comprehensive program focusing on both scientific discovery and building general academic skill-sets.
All of the CCS researchers presented their progress and current research interests. In addition, talks and exercises on scientific writing, leadership style, personality profiles, bioinformatics, data visualization, and career development were included.
We also enjoyed presentations from external speakers who are CCS collaborators or CCS alumni. Finally, we had several team-building activities and a lovely sailing trip where we caught sea fish and spotted dolphins and whales.
Attendees evaluated the retreat very positively. We believe this retreat provided a long-awaited opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the networks within the center after the disruption brought by the COVID19 pandemic.
2021 CCS PIs’ retreat
Following the lifting of COVID19 pandemic restrictions, the CCS PIs along with few senior scientists from ICMM convened a scientific retreat in September in Helsingør. This was the first face-to-face meeting of CCS senior staff since Feb. 2019, and was an opportunity for the recently appointed CCS PI, Tom Miller, to meet his new colleagues. At the meeting, CCS PIs give an update of the progress and future plans of their groups.
In addition, specific discussions/presentations were carried out on various topics including career development, grant application opportunities, technologies required for CCS in the next phase, new collaboration amongst different CCS groups, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as an improvement in the visibility of the CCS and its PIs. The retreat was a great success, as it provided a relaxed venue and forum for CCS PIs to get advice on ongoing projects and foster new collaborations. For invited guests, it provided an excellent opportunity for them to gain experience on project planning and career development.
2020 CCS retreat
A retreat for all CCS members took place over 5 days in January 2020 in Adeje, Tenerife, Spain. The program of this retreat was comprehensive and diverse.
This included scientific talks from all of the research members, discussions on career development and grant applications, talks from external speakers, educational talks on bioinformatics, statistics, and data visualization, and a day trip to Mount Teide – the highest peak in Spain.
This retreat was a great success as it provided a relaxed venue and forum for CCS members to present their work progress and future plans, as well as to strengthen teambuilding.
2016 CCS retreat
A ‘retreat’ for all members of the CCS took place over 2 days in October 2016 at Dragsholm Castle in northwestern Zealand. This was a great success and provided a relaxed forum for the different teams to review the work of the entire CCS, to establish new collaborative projects, and to interact socially.
The program consisted of scientific presentations, as well as social and networking events.
The photograph below was taken during a guided tour of the haunted castle.
The CCS has invited a group of world-renowned research experts to form a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB members have brought their knowledge and expertise to advise the CCS group leaders to develop world-leading research portfolios. The composition of the SAB is: Ronald Hay, Dundee, UK; Josef Jiricny, ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Michael Lichten, NIH, USA; Cynthia McMurray, Berkeley, USA; Manuel Serrano, IRB Barcelona, Spain; Stephen West, Crick Institute, London, UK; Virginia Zakian, Princeton, USA.
CCS 2017 SAB Meeting
3rd – 5th May 2017
The meeting consisted of scientific presentations by CCS PIs and by PhD students /postdocs, as well as informal discussion between the SAB and the CCS’s staff.
The SAB provided excellent advice and feedback, and overall the meeting was deemed to be a great success.
The meeting concluded with a social evening in Tivoli.
CCS 2019 SAB Meeting
1st – 2nd April 2019
The meeting consisted of scientific presentations by CCS PIs, as well as one-to-one discussions between the SAB members and CCS PIs. This SAB meeting served as an informal external evaluation of research progress in the first funding period. At the end of this meeting, the SAB provided both verbal comments and a written report offering their opinions on the progress of each CCS group. They also provided valuable advice on future research directions for the CCS groups. This meeting was particularly helpful for the CCS in their preparation for the mid-term evaluation of the center.