In November 2025, Society + Technology at UW hosted a pilot writing retreat at the UW Friday Harbor Laboratories and the Whiteley Center. The retreat brought together eight faculty and researchers affiliated with the initiative for writing time and cross-disciplinary exchanges as they worked on independent projects focused on the social, societal, and justice aspects of technology.
While the structure prioritized uninterrupted work time, there were also opportunities for connection and through shared meals in the Friday Harbor Labs dining hall, and optional social activities — including fireside conversations, writing workshops, hiking, and bowling.
Participants included Anissa Tanweer (eScience, UW Seattle), Gabriel Solis (Music, UW Seattle), Jason Young (Information, UW Seattle), Leah Ceccarelli (Communication, UW Seattle), Lisa Hoffman (Urban Studies, UW Tacoma), Ryan Calo (Law, UW Seattle), Shannon Cram (IAS, UW Bothell), and Sucheta Ghoshal (HCDE, UW Seattle).
One of the goals of the pilot was to trial a convening format that supports slower scholarship, cross-campus relationship-building, and opportunities for focus. Participants were also invited to provide feedback on the retreat and other S+T at UW community programming, to inform future convenings.
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