Summer Retreat 2025 Retrospective

VMI goes to Locarno! This year, the annual summer retreat, which took place in August, brought the VMI retreat to sunny Ticino for the first time. The two retreats spanned over 8 days and were a great success, featuring plenty of engaging scientific discussions, thrilling leisure day adventures, and new connections made!

Welcome Activities

We kicked off the day with lunch at a charming Italian restaurant near Lake Maggiore which provided participants an opportunity to get to know their fellow attendees in a relaxed atmosphere over a bowl of pasta. The excitement continued with our second annual scavenger hunt that led participants through the streets of Locarno in a race against time—armed only with maps and a set of riddles, they competed for glory and a certificate to a delightful ice cream shop in Locarno’s city center, which quickly became a favorite among retreat-goers.

Leisure Days

We began the first full day of each retreat with a variety of leisure activities. Participants divided themselves up into groups, choosing between hiking adventures, exploring the local surroundings, or enjoying fun water park activities. For instance, during the first retreat, one group hiked from the quaint village of Maggia to Loco, traversing kilometers of serene forest trails dotted with many old statues and traditional stone buildings typical of Ticino. Many capped off the day with a trip to the local spa or a coffee and pastries in the city center.

Scientific Programme

On the third day, we switched our focus to the scientific program. Participants conducted workshops on a wide range of computer science topics. Engaging discussions took place on challenging issues that impact academics, such as work-life balance, time management, networking, and conflict resolution. This year, we also introduced a new format—a poster session—which proved to be a great success! The slower pace of a poster session, as opposed to the brief Q&A following a talk, encouraged a lot of open-ended questions and facilitated more in-depth conversations.

Last Impressions

As the retreats concluded, we came together for a memorable multi-course farewell dinner featuring traditional Ticinese dishes, enjoying the camaraderie and insights we gained over the past few days. Our heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who participated and made this retreat in the charming town of Locarno a success! For those who couldn’t attend this year, keep an eye out for next year’s event—we hope to see you there!