Spending time together outside the lab – sharing food, stories, music, and traditions – is one of the best ways to build community. To support this kind of connection we’ve been organizing informal integration events open to all members of IBB PAS. Some of them were inspired by proposals from our international members, who wanted to share a piece of their culture and background with wider community.

In March 2024, together with colleagues and PhD students from Iran, we celebrated Nowruz – the Persian New Year. Around 100 people joined us to learn more about this tradition, try Iranian food, enjoy a live music performance, and even take part in a short dance workshop. The event was prepared collaboratively and open to guests from neighboring institutes.

We’ve organised Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, twice (in 2023 and 2024), each time together with members of our Indian community – the largest international group at IBB PAN. Participants could enjoy traditional Indian food, cultural presentations, music, dancing, and henna painting. Each event welcomed participants’ families and friends, which was a great chance to create connections beyond the circle of institute members.

We also organized some smaller activities. To make the long Polish autumn and winter a bit more enjoyable, we hosted a cozy singing evening and a relaxing forest walk with campfire in Kabaty – simple ways to spend some informal time together, reacharge and bring good energy to the season.

One of the highlights of the spring semester in 2025 was an evening out for doctoral students – a concert at the Fryderyk Chopin Museum followed by dinner, offerign participants a chance to enjoy Polish music and food in a welcoming atmosphere.

We also had a guided walking tour of Warsaw’s Old Town, where newcomers could learn more about the city’s history, architecture, and everyday life in Poland’s capital.

What started as a few small gatherings has gradually grown into a series of meaningful traditions that many in our community now look forward to. We’re happy to see these shared experiences becoming part of everyday life at IBB PAN – and we’re looking forward to continuing them in the future.

These activities were carried out as part of the „Welcome to IBB Center 2” project, co-financed by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the „Welcome to Poland 2022” programme.