The Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Light–Matter Interactions recently held its annual Writing Retreat, a two-day event dedicated to fostering focused writing, productivity, and collaboration among students and researchers. The retreat took place on June 29–30, 2026, at 960 Beaumont, Montréal.
Designed to provide uninterrupted time for scholarly writing, the retreat brought together members of the CERC community working on a variety of projects, including scientific manuscripts, thesis chapters, literature reviews, and grant proposals. Participants established SMART objectives and worked through structured writing sessions aimed at promoting concentration and steady progress.
The program combined focused writing periods with regular breaks, group discussions, and wellness activities such as yoga and tai chi. These activities were designed to encourage both productivity and well-being while creating opportunities for participants to share ideas and support one another’s research goals.
Beyond advancing individual writing projects, the retreat strengthened connections among members of the CERC research community and provided a collaborative environment for exchanging strategies on scientific writing, project planning, and research communication.
The CERC in Light–Matter Interactions looks forward to continuing this initiative and supporting researchers in achieving their academic and professional objectives