First Annual GEMS Retreat

The first annual GEMS retreat was held on September 15, 2021 at the Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Illinois. More than 35 GEMS trainees and faculty from the University of Illinois, Indiana University, and the University of Chicago gathered for a retreat focused on cross-disciplinary integration. The half-day event centered around activities aimed at introducing trainees to ongoing GEMS research and identifying commonalities within research projects. With the institute having launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the retreat was the first in-person introduction for many to other institute members and provided an opportunity for trainees to build connections.