My project was going strong for 1,5 years and we were starting to look for ways to replicate some results. To do this, we needed external datasets. Of course, a number of them are available online form previous studies, but in order to obtain a true out-of-sample replication, we need access to an external dataset, cohort, whatever you’d like to call it.
Since a connection existed through Na Cais network, we were able to gain access to the iPSYCH data. This data, coming from the whole of Denmark, and linked to medial registries, is locked behind some strong access-limited walls. And so, to activate our accounts and work on the data, we would need to travel to Denmark. My colleague Lianyun Huang would also gain access, so she could collaborate with researchers there on some novel methodologies.
It is because of these practical reasons that we went to Copenhagen originally, but it is because of the hospitality of our host Dr. Andrew Schork that we look back at our research trip with fondness and we hope to be able to return to Copenhagen, Roskilde and the Schorklab in the future.
We ended up planning a trip for three weeks. This started with a mini-symposium between our group and the Schork lab where us students got a chance to present our projects and discuss our intentions for the coming few weeks. We had some wonderful insights there. The remainder of the first week involved administration efforts to activate our access and setting up some first analyses on the iPSYCH data.
The second week, and first half of the last week, we were either on the Institute of Biological Psychiatry in Roskilde, networking with other researchers of the institute, or in cafés in Copenhagen setting up and performing our analyses. On two occasions we were even shown the inside of the Black Diamond Library, its looks truly live up to its name.
The last week included two major events. The first was when Lianyun and I were both invited to present our projects to the whole institute. Our talks included our projects, what we aimed to do at iPSYCH and the progress we had made towards our goals during our stay.
This was our first time presenting to a group of researchers other than our own institute and it was a lovely experience. There were good discussions, feedback and an accepting atmosphere.
The second major event was the ‘science and cocktails’ event where not only did we see Katrhyn Page Harden present her book called The Genetic Lottery, our host Dr. Schork had also invited her to a lunch with the people interested, so we were also able to meet her in person and ask some questions.
All-in-all I learned a lot from the overall experience. Not only working with a new computational environment and data, but also the worth of exposure to other peoples science and their views.
There is ofcourse also a lot to say on the city and the fun we had in our free time, but that’s a conversation to have another day, perhaps with coffee and some true Danish cakes.
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