Katarzyna Stankiewicz, PhD, on EPT Summer Camp 2026 | Faculty of Management and Economics at the Gdańsk University of Technology

EPT (Educational and Personal Transformation) is an initiative supporting the development of doctoral students and young scientists (post-docs) conducting research in the areas of modern physical, material, and technological sciences. This year's edition was held under the theme "Transdisciplinarity and Self-Identification" and focused on competencies that support scientific career development, effective research collaboration, scientific communication, and functioning in international and interdisciplinary research teams.

The program included presentations and workshops led by renowned scientists, business representatives, and organizations supporting innovation. A special highlight was a meeting with Kathrin Altwegg, a world-class astrophysicist and a key figure in the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. The workshops led by Eric Mazur from Harvard University – creator of the Peer Instruction method and one of the most influential experts in the field of learning processes and knowledge communication – also generated considerable interest.

The Camp program focused on competencies supporting effective functioning in the contemporary scientific environment, such as collaboration in research teams, scientific communication, negotiation, diversity, reflexivity, and the use of artificial intelligence. The role of psychological safety in building innovative and effective research teams was also a key theme.

Dr. Katarzyna Stankiewicz led the workshop "The Psychology Behind Perception" devoted to the psychological mechanisms that shape the way we perceive others, social differences, and categorization processes. The workshop's topics served as a starting point for discussions on collaboration and communication in diverse scientific environments.

Participation in the event provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with doctoral students, postdocs, and experts from ETH Zurich, EPFL, TU Delft, TU Berlin, and the University of Bern. Particularly inspiring were the discussions about the challenges facing contemporary science and the competencies necessary to conduct research effectively in an international environment.

The workshop topics clearly demonstrated the evolving understanding of the competencies crucial for conducting contemporary science. Alongside research excellence, the ability to collaborate, communicate, self-reflect, and build valuable relationships within international teams is becoming increasingly important. Many speakers also emphasized that the path to scientific and professional success is rarely linear, and that career development is inextricably linked to personal choices, experiences, and emerging opportunities. Openness to new possibilities and a willingness to change direction often prove to be as important as consistency in achieving goals.