Interdisciplinary
"summer camp" retreat

This is an experimental format in a style of a "science summer camp" for adults, combining introductions to multiple scientific and interdisciplinary research areas, creative workshops, active area explorations, and thoughtful discussions on a variety of science and society topics.

7–12 September 2026 INTP, Surba, French Pyrenees

We aim to create an intellectually stimulating, open and social environment, an active retreat from the day-to-day, where you get to learn, explore and experiment - all while in a beautiful setting of the French Pyrenees, staying in a big cozy house, enjoying delicious food, in a diverse company of other participants and teachers.

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What to expect

We are currently working on a programme for this year. The research part will span both STEM and humanities (likely including ecology, molecular biology, sociology and political science), the creative one will range from music to improv theatre, and the afternoon discussions often include social and activism topics.

If you would like to contribute (lead a lecture or a workshop) we'd love to hear from you. There will also be some time to explore the local area, e.g. hikes and guided tours as an optional add-on.

Below is the schedule from the first edition in 2025 - specific topics will be different in 2026, but you can get an idea of the spread of the content.
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
8:30 optional morning warmup (stretch, run, tai chi)
9:00 breakfast Departure
10:00 ARRIVAL community ecology (Octavio) - incl. a field trip sociology - media studies (Samuel) microbiology and complex systems (Matthieu) field anthropology (Claire), sociology - exclusion & co-production (Elliot) guided tour to the Cathar castle of Montsegur
13:00 lunch (catered)
14:30 draw / music community ecology cont: hike #2 guided tour to cave of Niaux - 13:15–15:00! draw communities of practice & learning (Lilia)
16:00 theatre yoga music
18:00 discussion - environmental law discussion - food systems discussion - epidemiology and inequality discussion - refugee support & activism trip to Foix - exploring town and local performance
19:30 dinner (catered)
21:00 welcome, introductions tango feedback session
22:30 informal evening hangouts
23:30 curfew

For a more extended but informal overview of how the camp went in 2025, you can also read the organiser's personal blog post here.

Who is this for

Anyone interested! Some participants and teachers are researchers (in academia or independent) but the event is for anyone who is curious about the world and wants to spend a week in good company - the diversity of backgrounds is the strength of it. In the first edition we had PhD students, mid-career professionals (e.g. from law and software engineering), artists, and generally people with unconventional career backgrounds.

The event is aimed at adults, but parents wishing to come with kids will also be considered on a case-by-case basis - please contact us.

We expect to have around 12–16 participants (as this is also the venue's accommodation capacity), though some flexibility on numbers is possible.

The practicalities

Accommodation

Rooms shared between 2–3 people, some with private bathrooms. If a private room is needed this would also be possible.

Food

Buffet breakfast and high-quality professionally catered lunches and dinners, with all food vegetarian by default. Further dietary requirements can be accommodated.

Getting there

By train or flight to Toulouse, and then a 1.5h train to Tarascon-sur-Ariège or Foix, where we will arrange transport from. Another option is getting to Barcelona and driving or taking local trains with a change at the border (3–3.5h journey).

Cost

The below fee includes accommodation, food and the main programme. We offer several rates to help us cover the costs while also keeping it as accessible as possible. We operate on a fully non-profit basis, the organisers and teachers are volunteering their time, and the higher rates would allow us to cover at least some of their expenses.

Reduced
€450
€75 / day
Standard
€510
€85 / day
Supporter
€570
€95 / day
Early-bird discount: €50 off the Standard or Supporter rate if you register before the end of April!
We can consider additional concessions on a case-by-case basis - if you are interested but cost is a barrier, please do get in touch anyway. If you are able to apply for grants from your institute or other bodies, INTP is able to provide official letters of invitation or similar.

Who is organising

This project is a collaboration between INTP (Institut Natura e Teoria en Pirenèus), an independent lab and residency centre for research and training, and Estere Seinkmane, a cell and computational biologist. Estere has taught at and organised various science, science outreach and community-building initiatives - starting from science camps for school-aged children in Latvia to two interdisciplinary residential events for adults in autumn 2025.

INTP aims to promote a broader practice of science by fostering creativity, interdisciplinarity and pressure-free research for a variety of profiles from academics to independents and citizen scientists.

Contact & sign up

Sign up to participate:

Sign up here →
Content questions - estere.seinkmane@gmail.com Logistics questions - contact@intp.science