This year, the retreat of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE) gathered 160 members of the community along with fellow scientists from the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, the Transcriptomics of Development and Evolution lab led by Manuel Irimia, coordinator of the Evolutionary Medical Genomics joint CRG-UPF-IBE program, and the Evolutionary ecology in changing environments lab led by Daniel Sol at CREAF, soon to join the IBE.

IBE Retreat Kick-off

The gathering commenced at 11 am with a welcome address from the Director of the IBE, Salvador Carranza.

IBE Retreat Opening with Director of IBE Salvador Carranza

The round of research talks opened with a presentation by the Principal Investigator Jaume Bertranpetit of Vanessa Villalba, a forthcoming Principal Investigator of the IBE in 2024, delving into "The Ancient Genomics of Al’Andalus: Demographic and Social Changes in Medieval Iberia."

Forthcoming Principal Investigator of IBE Vanessa Villalba

Manuel Irimia, head of the Transcriptomics of Development and Evolution Lab, introduced his research and also presented the Evolutionary Medical Genomics joint CRG-UPF-IBE program to the audience.

David Martin, PI of IBE presenting Manuel Irimia, from Transdevo LAB (CRG-UPF-IBE)

Predoc & Postdoc Short Talks and Poster Presentations

Predoc & postdoc researchers from the IBE, the ICP Miquel Crusafont, Irimia Lab and Sol Lab shared their research with passion and conciseness.

PhD Short Talk by Adrián Talavera

Maria Estarellas, an IBE PhD student at the Systematics, Biogeography, and Evolution of Reptiles and Amphibians Lab, won the award for the Best Poster Presentation of this edition. The award for the Best Predoctoral Short Talk went to Israel Campo-Bes, estudiant de doctorat al Laboratori de Transcriptòmica del Desenvolupament i Evolució dirigit per Manuel Irimia.

Principal Investigator of IBE David Comas presenting the Winners: Maria Estarellas and Israel Campo-Bes

Committee Talks and Social Highlights

Elena Casacuberta, principal investigator of the IBE, explained the benefits of the Mentoring Program and how it can enhance the professional experience of both mentors and mentees.

Elena Casacuberta talk about the IBE Mentoring Program

IBE diversity committee coordinators, Pilar Rodriguez – IBE head of communication & outreach - and Daniel Richter - principal investigator of the IBE, discussed the gender gap in research and shared some diversity insights about the IBE community. The committee delved into the actions directed to close the gender gap at the IBE through the new Diversity Plan and presented the social media campaign Close The Scissors.

IBE Diversity Committee Coordinators Pilar Rodriguez and Daniel Richter

IBE Sustainability Committee coordinators, Judit Salces and Victoria Shabardina, shared recent actions carried out by the committee to improve the sustainability of the Institute. They also explained the environmental impact of research activities and how initiatives like LabShare Barcelona or Bring Your Own Cup can mitigate it.

IBE Sustainability Committee Judit Salces i Victoria Shabardina

Social highlights included a Pub Quiz & IBE Mitotree organised by the IBE PI Francesc Calafell, a Music Session by IBE resident DJ Moloha and a scenic tour of Santa Coloma de Farners.

Distribution of haplogroups that served as basis for the construction of the IBE mitotree (based on mitocondrial DNA of IBE members.

Exciting talks, insightful discussions, and vibrant social events made the 2024 IBE Retreat a memorable experience for all attendees.

IBE Resident Dj Moloha (Polychronis Tatsis)