Achievement

Based on student and external advisory board feedback, we instituted a day-long retreat for CCSN students and faculty. The morning began with an elevator pitch exchange - beginning and established students, along with professors, shared brief but specific descriptions of their research one-on-one. The pairs then joined another pair, and the initial listener needed to present the just-heard elevator pitch to the new tablemates. Lastly tables of four expanded to tables of eight, and the secondary listeners had to present. This exercise helped all attendees quickly learn about each other's work, each student got to hear immediate feedback, and important connections were made across cohorts and with faculty. The day then proceeded with short student talks, longer faculty presentation, discussion at lunch and breaks, and a final ask-anything roundtable where students asked professors about science, careers, and life.