Student Spotlight: Pymatuning Retreat

 

This past weekend we got to join students and faculty from the Human Genetics department for some outdoor fun at the Pymatuning Lab of Ecology! Each fall the department hosts this retreat for students, faculty, and staff to come together as the new academic year begins. Generally this retreat goes from Friday to Sunday, with guests staying in the cabins and dorms at the ecology lab overnight. Every year a theme or topic in the field of genetics is chosen, and there are presentations given by guests and professors on that selected topic. After the studious activities, there is always time for kayaking, games, and smores by the fire!

For the past two years, though, the Pymatuning retreat has looked a bit different. Last year the event was held over Zoom, as were most things during the height of the pandemic. My classmates and I were bummed that we weren’t able to partake in the normal retreat experience that year. However, we were excited to learn that this year we could have a (modified) in-person retreat! Due to Covid, the overnight options were limited, but many people simply drove up for the day. In addition, we were not able to bring in a guest speaker this year, so the retreat was purely focused on getting to know each other and having fun outdoors! Given how isolating the pandemic has been for many people, this focus on socializing seemed quite fitting. Our Saturday was filled with boat trips, volleyball, corn hole, and exhibitions to see the famous giant carp! Luckily the weather cooperated, and we were able to spend the entire day outside in the sun. This was the first time in my career as a graduate student at Pitt that I was able to not only see my own classmates offline, but to finally meet faculty and students from other degree programs face to face! Though our experience has been far from normal, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we are so grateful to have had this opportunity to spend time with our wonderful department!

 

-Savannah Binion