ISoS News

A group of nine doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from the Institute for Studies of Science (ISoS) came together from 23 to 25 February 2026 for a Networking and Writing Retreat at the Bildungsstätte Einschlingen in the Teutoburg Forest.

The participants came from various research areas and disciplines involved in ISoS, ranging from political sociology and philosophy of science to the history and philosophy of medicine and the history of science.

The aim of the retreat was to create an opportunity to leave everyday tasks behind in order to work on current writing projects in a focused setting and to exchange within the ISoS community. In several writing sessions, the focus was on concentrated work on ongoing projects; from journal articles and dissertation chapters to grant proposals and book projects.

Complementing the writing sessions, which were accompanied by short reflection rounds on the writing process, the retreat offered opportunities for exchange, not least during a joint hike in the surrounding Teutoburg Forest in good weather.

As the first multi-day event specifically for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at ISoS since its establishment as a Central Academic Institute of Bielefeld University in May 2025, the retreat pursued the aim to strengthen exchange within the ISoS community. At the same time, it already provided a space to develop ideas for future joint activities.