The retreat had two main goals. The first was to deepen the conceptual foundations of our interdisciplinary project. The second was to establish and foster a mutual learning space that would support the collaborative work in the years to come. The programme thus combined focused research sessions with structured spaces to reflect on how we work together.
The morning of the first day centred on transformative change, with team members presenting and discussing conceptual approaches to this concept that stem from their own experiences and disciplinary backgrounds. The afternoon sessions addressed needs, accountability, and communication, offering time to articulate what supports our collective work and to refine WEIRD’s communication strategy, including future dissemination channels.
On the second day, the focus shifted to the two literature reviews that aim to synthesize the academic research landscape at the intersection, respectively, of queer and disability studies with environmental sustainability.
Through updates and collaborative working sessions, the team identified the main next steps to follow in the research process and laid the groundwork for upcoming activities and plans. The retreat concluded with time outdoors in Nuuksio National Park, providing space for informal exchange and reflection in the natural environment.
This article was written by the PI of the WEIRD project Guido Caniglia.