Bernstein Retreat at Kloster Lichtenthal
Pictures by Shreya Agarwal
A short review by Shreya Agarwal, Biomikrotechnik
In early October 2025, members of the Bernstein Center Freiburg (BCF) gathered once again at the serene Kloster Lichtenthal in Baden-Baden for their annual retreat. Three days were filled with science, ideas, and conversations that spilled far beyond the gathering hall. Centered around the theme High-dimensional Population Activity: Data Acquisition and Analysis, the retreat brought together researchers from across BCF and beyond to explore how complex neuronal dynamics can be decoded, modeled, and understood.
From neuronal network self-organization and cognitive neuroscience to neurotechnology and translational insights, sessions revealed the diversity and depth of ongoing research. Keynote lectures by Jens Kremkow (Magdeburg), Tobias Rose (Bonn), Matthias Kuhl (Freiburg), and Patrick Ruther (Freiburg) helped in bridging experimental precision with theoretical elegance.
Afternoon synergetic hikes and discussions, laughter over meals created the familiar alchemy of science and camaraderie that defines BCF retreats. As the autumn light faded over Baden-Baden, the group left with notebooks full of new ideas — and perhaps, more importantly, a renewed sense of curiosity and connection.