❓ What is the interactive workshop at the Fiasco Fiesta?
The Fiasco Fiesta interactive workshop is an informal, safe, and confidential space where people share personal stories of failure - big or small - and reflect on what they learned. It is not about glorifying failure, but about embracing it as a natural and valuable part of academic and professional life.
❓ Who is this event for?
Anyone (previously) working or studying in academia - PhD students, postdocs, research staff, science administrators, coordinators, Alumni and more. Whether you are in the lab, Alumn or supporting the science from behind the scenes, you are welcome! Care will be taken to have diverse balanced workshop groups with both internals and externals.
❓ Is the workshop considered working time?
If your supervisor agrees YES. Coffee and lunch breaks are considered as breaks ;-)
❓ Do I have to share a story?
No! You are welcome to just come and listen. Sharing is completely optional, and the event is designed to be inclusive for all comfort levels.
❓ What kind of failures are people sharing?
Everything from:
· failed experiments and grant rejections
· presentation disasters and data loss
· email fiascos and logistical nightmares
· team tensions and burnout
or … the time you proudly submitted your manuscript - and accidentally left in the comment "This section is garbage, rewrite later". Failures come in all shapes and sizes!
❓ Is it confidential?
Yes! What is shared in the small workshop groups stays in the groups. This is a safe space - no recording, no judgment, just shared humanity.
❓ Is it okay to laugh?
Absolutely - we even encourage you to! Many stories are funny in hindsight. Laughter is part of the healing, as is empathy and reflection.
❓ What’s the "burning ritual" about?
At the end, participants will have the chance to symbolically “burn” their failure - on paper! It is a mindful way to let go, mark the learning, and move forward.
❓ How do I sign up again?
👉 https://indico.dkfz.de/event/1315/registrations/
Spots are limited to keep the space intimate, so register early.
❓ Can I bring a friend or colleague?
Yes! We aim for diversity!! As long as they respect the event’s spirit of confidentiality and kindness.
❓ Who is organizing this?
This event is hosted by Career Service at DKFZ, as part of our mission to change attitudes towards failure in academia, to foster resilience, and to create a supportive community among researchers.
We were inspired by colleagues from the Arqus European University Alliance, co-funded by the European Union, who kindly shared this bottom-up initiative with us.
