Three days of ideas, science, and sea breeze: the Kalebic Lab Retreat 2026
The Kalebic Lab spent three days at a centuries-old monastery on the Ligurian coast, brainstorming new projects, practising yoga by the sea, and cooking together as a team.
This year, the Kalebic Lab retreated to the beautiful setting of Bocca di Magra, a centuries-old monastery nestled in the Ligurian hills overlooking the sea. For three days, we stepped away from our benches, offices and screens to do something equally important: think together.
Starting from a collection of ambitious, creative, and sometimes delightfully unconventional project ideas, we spent the retreat exploring new directions and developing some of our most promising concepts. Discussions ranged from brain development to cancer biology, with junior and senior team members coming together in an open exchange of perspectives, expertise and curiosity. Ideas evolved rapidly, challenged and enriched by voices from across the lab.
Science was only part of the experience. We took our brainstorming sessions to the beach, greeted the mornings with yoga surrounded by nature and ended one evening cooking together as a team. As it turns out, designing research projects and preparing dinner have more in common than expected: both require creativity, collaboration and occasionally a willingness to improvise.
The retreat left us with new projects, fresh motivation, and an even stronger sense of community. We returned to the lab inspired by the conversations we shared and excited to see where these ideas will lead.
