Second edition of «INESC TEC on foot» broke the routine
“Perfect opportunity for meeting new people and strengthening ties outside of the workplace.” “It is a way to break the routine”. “It offered a unique opportunity in close proximity with the nature”. This was how some participants of the second hike of INESC TEC described this experience that aimed to change the direction of the fellow INESC TEC colleagues from their workplace to an informal environment, where they could enjoy moments of leisure and interaction while practising outdoor physical activities. It was 15 km of companionship and good mood!
«Everything was great!»
About 60 INESC TEC’s collaborators participated in the second edition of “INESC TEC on foot”, a hike that took place on 28 September and that had Corno de Bico, in Paredes de Coura, as destination. It’s an initiative promoted by the Communication Service (SCOM), which aims to organise a healthier day, in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere between collaborators and that involves an outdoor hike.
André Castro, researcher of the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIIS) is in favour of this kind of initiatives since “we are humans and we still haven’t evolved to the confinement and inactivity that we are forced, so many times, in our everyday life.". For this reason, this is "a way to break the routine, breathe fresh air, practice physical activity and socialise”.
Besides breaking the routine, according to João Victor Costa from the Centre for Power and Energy Systems (CPES) the hike “offered a unique experience in proximity with the nature and new people, activating the body and mind”.
According to Filipa Moreira, researcher of INESC TEC’s Centre for Enterprise Systems Engineering (CESE), this “was an excellent opportunity for doing a different activity with colleagues with whom we interact daily, as well as becoming better acquainted with other colleagues that we only see in the hallways. It was a wonderful day”.
Vítor Hugo Santos from the Centre for Information Systems and Computer Graphics (CSIG) states that this activity “is a great way to meet who often is by our side, in a more relaxed way while outdoor".
Basically, “INESC TEC on foot” is “an excellent way to hang out with colleagues outside work” states Joana Dumas, collaborator of the Centre for Research in Advanced Computing Systems (CRACS). Rúben Moreira from the Management Information Systems Service (SGI) had the same feeling and according to him the hike “allowed a closer contact with nature and to socially interact with different collaborators”. The interaction between the colleagues outside the workplace is also a positive aspect shared by Tânia Leandro from the Management Control Service (CG) who believes this “benefits the interaction between collaborators”.
Patrícia Vale, also from CPES, was pleasantly surprised with this initiative and for that reason she decided to send a message to the organisation “more events like this one, please”. And the organisation is happy for receiving this request!
Small natural paradise
The hike took place mostly inside the protected landscape of Corno de Bico, which includes five parishes namely Bico, Castanheira, Cristelo, Parada and Vascões. The region is essentially mountainous, with rounded contours, and Corno de Bico has the highest elevation in the northern region with 883 meters. With a high ecological value, Corno de Bico is an emblematic space for the county and of great importance for the region, being considered a small natural sanctuary and space of rare beauty.
Organisation remains voluntary
This second edition of “INESC TEC on foot” had once again the support of a voluntary group of collaborators, who have experience in hikes and who had organised the activity alongside the Communication Service (SCOM), namely João Moreira and João Vinagre (LIAAD), José Carlos Sousa (SIG), João Ramos (CPES) and Bruno Lima (CSIG).
Considering that this edition was another success, we can only “congratulate this initiative. On to the next one!”
The researchers mentioned in this news piece are associated with INESC TEC and UP-FEUP.
