The FIAS PhD students embarked on a retreat to Marburg for four days in October. The exciting and rapidly growing field of digital twins was the focus of their trip.

As part of the retreat, three outstanding speakers - Adrià Galan-Gadea (Barcelona), James Glazier (Indiana) and Lorenzo Veschini (London) - shared their expertise and work on digital twins. The presentations provided an overview of key concepts and formed the basis for in-depth discussions.

However, the retreat of the Frankfurt International School of Science (FIGSS) did not only consist of lectures. The PhD students formed working groups to dive deeper into the concept of digital twins and their various applications and exchange ideas on how this technology could shape the future of research. These discussions were enriching and stimulating: ‘They sparked new thoughts on how we, as researchers, can contribute to this field,’ says Petros-Evgenios Vlachos, co-organiser of the event with Santiago Galella and Zoë Lange.

The retreat also offered the opportunity to relax and enjoy the community outside the academic setting. Participants shared delicious meals, explored Marburg's lively atmosphere, and even embarked on a scenic hike through the woods, soaking in nature and forging stronger personal and professional connections.

‘The days together strengthened our community at FIAS and we returned to our research with new perspectives, fresh ideas and, most importantly, closer ties to our research,’ summarises Galella. The FIAS doctoral students are already looking forward to the next FIGSS-retreat, where they can continue to grow as individuals and as a research community.

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