On March 12 and 13, 2026, the TraCe network gathered for an internal retreat in Lollar, marking the end of the first project phase. After four years of collaborative research, the meeting – organized by TraCe’s Coordination Team Annika Elena Poppe and Tina Cramer – offered an opportunity to reflect on the network’s work thus far, review key findings, and plan for the next two years of the project.
The first major session focused on looking ahead back at the past four years of joint work within the research network. Tina Cramer, TraCe’s Knowledge Transfer Officer, presented highlights from past events and transfer activities, sharing insights from the evaluation of its communication measures. The discussion then turned to the research itself: in an interview simulation, researchers presented their projects within the four research areas, outlined key findings, and reflected on open questions. Designer Christa Fajen visually documented this retrospective through graphic recording.
The second part of the retreat shifted the focus toward the future. Participants discussed the thematic focus of research and planned the organizational structure of the upcoming project phase. Personal decisions were also made: Hannah Ahlheim and Jonas Wolff were elected as the new co-speakers, who will represent TraCe for the next two years.
In addition to the formal program, the retreat also provided space for informal meetings andd celebration, during which the participants recognized the past year’s achievements and said farewell to colleagues who will be leaving TraCe in April. A quiz on the past four years of TraCe, and an informal evening gathering offered further opportunities for conversation and revisiting memories from the past four years of collaboration.