Every week, our research group holds informal, weekly seminars about our research. We also take turns bringing cake. These regular gatherings have become a much-valued tradition in the Flow Noise Group. It gives us all the opportunity to share our work and ideas in a supportive environment, builds team spirit as well as sparking new ideas for projects. It also builds a model for good research leadership, an essential part of research training.

We have tried many types of group meeting over the years. For a while we tried including weekly updates on progress. This never really worked that well. It was too formal and perhaps stressful for PhD students, especially new ones, who felt it was too competitive. A regular seminar every 2-3 months seems about right. Enough time to think of something new, obtain some interesting results, practice for a conference or share a problem with the group. Supportive comments on the quality of the work or how to improve are fantastic. Having cake also promotes a casual atmosphere for the group.

If nothing else, these group seminars provide an opportunity to model and practice collegiality, an important part of academia that is unfortunately in retreat in many institutions.