The Institute typically begins at 4 or 5pm on Sunday evening, with an opening reception, introductory remarks and introductions of all participants, and then dinner. It will continue with full day meetings (usually 8:30am to 5:00pm) Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The program concludes in the afternoon on Thursday.

The daily schedule includes a limited amount of scripted activities, and a greater amount of time for teams to set their own agendas and to work on their particular project. We aim to create a rich environment with just enough structure to make it useful, and to ensure that there’s opportunity for sharing across groups in both formal and informal settings. The schedule is flexible, and the dress code is informal. Teams may work in the provided meeting rooms during “team times”, and then gather for “plenary” meetings with all participants several times throughout the day, to learn from each other and cross-pollinate between teams. Breakfast and lunch are provided on site.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings typically have optional small group dinners with members of our advisory board, at restaurants near the institute venue and hotel, with transportation provided for off-site venues as needed. These are an opportunity to get to know other SCI participants beyond just your team, and to engage with the people who plan and organize the institute. There may also be opportunities for walking tours of nearby university campuses in the evenings.

See the About SCI page and the blog posts linked here for more information on the venue and program structure, and these highlights and photos from 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 to get a sense of what it was like in past years.