Open Science Retreat 2026

7 Apr 2026, 12:00 → 11 Apr 2026, 15:20 Europe/Dublin

Machynlleth, Wales, UK

Whether you are just getting started with Open Science or are already an open hero. 
Whether you are a researcher or provide research services. 
If you are ready for a week of new ideas, productivity and rebooting: this retreat is for you!

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WHAT IS THE OPEN SCIENCE RETREAT

The Open Science Retreat is a week full of scientific discussions and reflections, getting work done, making new friends and resetting. 

The Retreat follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional. 

This year, we will host one session of LIGHTNING TALKS for you to present your research in. We are aware that it can be difficult to attend an event with an unconventional agenda and therefore would like to offer a slot that fulfills more traditional academic criteria. Please submit an abstract if you want to be part of the LIGHTNING TALK session. 

Submitting an abstract is absolutely NOT mandatory for your application! 

IMPORTANT DATES

Oct 14, 2025	Participation Applications Open
Nov 30, 2025	Participation Applications Close
Dec 14, 2025	Notifications of Participation & Travel Fellowships
Apr 6-7, 2026	Arrival (check the website for info on early arrivals)
Apr 11	Departure

PARTICIPATION FEES

Inclusive in the participation fees are-

• Four night stay.
• Full board from Tuesday dinner to Saturday lunch.
• Participation in selected workshops offered by CAT.

 

Also included

• Full unconference experience with lots of group work.
• Planned social activities and group outings in nature.

ADULTS

SHARED ROOM OPTIONS	FEES
Shared room with en-suite bathroom	£580

 

SINGLE ROOM OPTIONS	FEES
Single room (twin bed) with en-suite bathroom	£800

CHILDREN

Ages	Fees
1-16 years	£500*
0-1 year	Free

 

* if you bring children, please get in touch with us to talk about individual pricing! We can offer a reduction based on your preferred room setup. Contact us as soon as possible: hello@digiresacademy.org

STIPENDS

Through various generous sponsors and other funds, we are able to offer several stipends to lower participation fees and in some cases completely cover participation fees altogether. Please indicate on your application if you would like to be considered for a fellowship.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY

The Open Science Retreat has always been open to partners, spouses, and children* so bring them along! Our planned social activites are open to all participants and their families. The venue also has many child-friendly feature with a dedicated playroom for crafting and fun. We are currently organising some kid-friendly workshops on site. 

*Please note that we currently do not provide childcare at the event so please make your own arrangements in this regard. We do connect families bringing children before the event to get to know each other and (unconference) organize activities together.

VENUE

Center for Alternative Technology 
Machynlleth,
Powys,
SY20 9AZ
Wales, United Kingdom

The venue is easy to reach by public transit and also has free parking. It is also wheelchair-accessible.

For more details, please visit our website.

ORGANIZERS 2026

       

The Open Science Retreat 2026 is fiscally hosted by OLS. The Open Science Retreat organising team is supported by the UKRN. 

SPONSORS & FUNDERS

     

The Open Science Retreat is kindly supported by ResearchEquals and by the Society of Resarch Software Engineering

Tuesday 7 April

Participants: Arrivals, Check-in and Welcome

Plenary Session: Welcome & Orientation

1 Welcome & Introductions

2 Retreat Overview & Information

3 Organizing Partner Presentations

Mealtime: Dinner

Plenary Session: Icebreaker - Getting to know each other

Social Time: Networking (optional)

Wednesday 8 April

Morning Activity: Yoga, run, swim, meditation, etc. proposed by participants

Activities proposed by participants

Mealtime: Breakfast

Plenary Session: Unconference Planning

4 Topic group formation

In this session we will see how many people are interested in which topic. Topic groups are usually comprised of 2-7 participants.

Topics that too few people are interested in will not be pursued further.
If groups get too big, we may split them into subtopics.

Choosing a topic can be difficult, yet you should choose one ;)
If you are unhappy with your choice, you can always switch.

At the end of the week each group will present their work.

5 Topic group finalization & room assignments

10:30 Break

Unconference: Topic Groups

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

Mealtime: Lunch

14:00 Coffee Break

Outside Main Room

Unconference: Topic Groups, Individual Career Coaching, Short Sessions

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

6 Mentoring and Coaching

Make appointments with mentors/coaches on Mattermost and on the main schedule display onsite.

Plenary Session: Recap of the Day

Plenary Session: Lightning Talks

Mealtime: Dinner

Social Time

Thursday 9 April

Morning Activity: Yoga, run, swim meditation, etc. proposed by participants

Activities proposed by participants

Mealtime: Breakfast & Morning Stand Up

Unconference: Topic Groups

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

09:00 Coffee Break

Mealtime: Lunch & Announcements & Group Picture

7 Lunch

8 Announcements

9 Group Picture (Location TBD)

Social Time: Recharging Time (e.g. Planned Hike, Excursions, etc.)

10 Choose your own adventure

Plan something on your own. Check out the Beatenberg tourism website for fun activities in the area: https://beatenberg.ch/tourismus/en/tourismus

11 Group Hike

Planned hike led by retreat organizers. Be sure to have sturdy walking shoes and pack your water bottle!

Speaker: Heidi Seibold (Digital Research Academy)

15:00 Coffee/Tea Time

Unconference: Short Sessions

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

Plenary Session: Recap of the Day

Mealtime: Dinner

Social Time

12 Slide Karaoke

Submit a random presentation slide.
Watch other people pretend like they know what it means and present it.

Want to actively participate? Sign up to be a presenter to join the contest for a chance to become be the Slide Karaoke Champion!

13 Silent Disco

Friday 10 April

Morning Activity: Yoga, run, swim meditation, etc. proposed by participants

Activities proposed by participants

Mealtime: Breakfast & Morning Stand Up

Unconference: Topic Groups

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

09:30 Coffee Break

Unconference: Topic Groups

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

Mealtime: Lunch

Plenary Session: Setting goals for remaining time

Unconference: Topic groups, Short Sessions, Individual Career Coaching

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

14 Mentoring & Coaching

Make appointments on Mattermost and also the main schedule display.

14:00 Coffee/Tea Time

15:00 Break

Plenary Session: Recap of the Day & Retreat Wrap Up Planning

Mealtime: Dinner

Social Time

15 Board Game Night

16 Silent Disco

Saturday 11 April

Morning Activity: Yoga, run, swim meditation, etc. proposed by participants

Activities proposed by participants

Mealtime: Breakfast & Morning Stand Up

Unconference: Topic groups

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

10:30 Break

Unconference: Topic Groups Wrap Up

Parallel Sessions

The Open Science Retreat always follows an unconference model. Except for the plenary sessions, all activities are optional.

Before the Retreat, participants are asked to propose topics for the unconference sessions. Teamwork topics will run through all sessions in the schedule that say "Unconference: Topic Groups" (instead of many small topics, we work on a few big ones).

On Monday we will decide together which teams will work on what, and who joins which team. The idea is not to follow one team lead, but to all be able to take up sub tasks that we are interested in. On Thursday the teams will present the outcomes of the work to all.

Participants can also propose to organise shorter sessions in the afternoons, or lead other (outdoor) activities, using an unconference board in the main room of the Retreat.

And lastly, participants can volunteer to join the mentoring programme, in which we will connect pairs of participants that can learn from each other.

11:00 Coffee Break

Mealtime: Lunch & Announcements

Plenary Session: Presentations from Topic Groups

Plenary Session: Summary, Reflection, & Closing

Participants: Departure