We have uploaded the presentations slides and the hand-out that were used by David in his keynote session last Friday. You can find them on the page Keynote sessions.

We have uploaded the presentations slides and the hand-out that were used by Anne in her keynote session this Monday. You can find them on the page Keynote sessions.

The workshops differ in the amount of preparation. Be aware that for some workshops the preparatory literature and other information can be found in the document on The Workshops. Other workshop leaders will have send you emails or given you instructions via Canvas.

If you have any questions on the workshop preparations, please contact your workshop leaders. They will be happy to help you!

The countdown is on! The ICO Open Graduate Spring School in Blankenberge is just around the corner, and we’re busy putting the final touches in place. To make sure you’re fully prepared, here’s a quick checklist of what to bring:

Besides your personal essentials, we recommend packing the following:

• Your laptop and a power extension cord – because you never know where the nearest socket will be!
• A printout of the programme book – unfortunately, we’re unable to provide copies for everyone, so please bring your own.
• Any handouts you need for your workshop – printing facilities on-site are very limited.
• A HDMI adapter (if you’re using a MacBook) – to ensure you can connect to the projectors.
• Any articles or papers you still need to read – perfect for some quiet study moments.
• A pen and some paper – sometimes, good old-fashioned note-taking is best!
• Sportswear, comfortable walking or running shoes, sunscreen, and rain gear – the social activities will take place whatever the weather!
• A bank card or credit card – for extra drinks in the evening, the Wednesday trip, or the Thursday party.

💡 One more thing! Due to a public transport strike, some of our attendees may need a lift to Blankenberge. If you’re driving, please consider offering a ride. To find out more about their needs, see the news item on the strikes: WARNING: Public Transport strike in Belgium on the 17th of March

We can’t wait to see you all soon!

Warm regards,
Caroline & the Team

On Tuesday and Thursday after lunch we have some space in the programme to relax, or to socialize. In this time you can either do something for yourself, or find like minded spirits for an activity.

At the grounds of the Duinse Polders there is a football field, mini-golf, basketball field, and nearby we have the beach for a nice walk or run. If the weather is preventing you from going outside, you can do some board games, or organize a yoga class… We will give you to possibility to register for activities by adding your name to the list that can be found at the registration desk:

Do not forget to bring your sports clothing, sun screen, board games, or whatever you think you could use during this social breaks.

One of the key goals of the ICO Spring Schools is networking. OGSS 2025 offers a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow researchers and build relationships within the scientific community. This event welcomes PhD candidates at all stages of their research journey, providing a unique platform for academic exchange and collaboration.

We are also delighted to welcome our staff members, who will be leading workshops and supporting the presentation sessions. To make it easier for participants to get to know them, we have included personal introductions where they share insights into their research, hobbies, and useful tips and tricks. This way, starting conversations and engaging with faculty during ICO OGSS becomes much more natural.

To get to know them, go to Meet the ICO OGSS 2025 staff.

Unfortunately there will be a public transport strike on 17 March in Belgium. More information can be found on the website of the NMBS: https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/train-network-travel-info/strike

If you are looking for a ride, or if you have room in your car to take someone with you, leave a message in the comments box below. Hopefully, we can make a match.

Unfortunately Rens van der Schoot cannot join us in Blankenberge for his part of the workshop on AI. But we have found a suitable replacement: Pantelis Papadopoulos will fill in the gap with a presentation on collaborative conversational agents.

The new planning of the workshop will now be:

• A1a – Guidelines for Generative AI in Education and Research – Pantelis Papadopoulos (Tuesday 18 March 14:30-16:30)
• A1b – Collaborative conversational agents – Pantelis Papadopoulos (Tuesday 17:00-18 :30)
• A1c – AI for Non-Techs: Practical Uses of Large Language Models your Work – Maartje Henderikx (Wednesday 19 March 11:00-13:00)

You can now find the (sometimes preliminary) workshop titles on the page Workshops. We will publish more information about the workshops in the first week of February. To register for a specific workshop, you will first have to register as participant of the ICO OGSS. in February we will invited all participants to register for their preferred workshop.

ICO is proud to announce the first keynote of the ICO OGSS 2025: Behind the Scenes of Qualitative Research – A highly interactive keynote by Anne de la Croix. Expect a deep dive into philosophy, some tidying up, and even a touch of IKEA. For more information see the page Keynote sessions