PARTY is a workshop, organized by Séverine Arnold (UNIL) and Corina Constantinescu (University of Liverpool), that takes place every two years and has a rather special format. Unlike a typical conference where you might attend a selection of talks and spend the rest of the time moving between sessions, PARTY is designed to bring everyone together. We attend each other’s talks, and spend a lot of time interacting outside the formal programme. For a few days, you are essentially placed in a little academic bubble with the same group of people 24/7 — with the slightly ambitious goal of bringing everyone, and hopefully their brain cells, a little closer together. It creates a really unique atmosphere: you get to know people’s research in much more depth, but also get to know the people behind it.

PARTY became even more special because of the people I met along the way. The previous edition was actually my first PARTY — and my very first conference — where I met Paul and Rodrigue. Two years later, in Liverpool, this was where I met Dries, Emilio, Gayani (in that church-turned-pub), Mélanie, and Olivier (and his camera capturing memories). They all became some of the friendliest and most familiar faces I would look forward to seeing at conferences.

Liverpool felt like the beginning of a very good chapter.