International Summer School 20271st Edition
Serious Science. Unforgettable Summer.
Four days in San Sebastián for early-career scientists who want their research to be trusted, understood and well led. Rigorous workshops in research integrity, scientific communication and leadership, set on one of Europe's most beautiful coastlines.
Photos: Donostia Uliatik by Ander.gd, CC BY-SA 4.0 · All photo credits
San Sebastián · Donostia
Where rigorous science meets the Bay of Biscay
Mornings belong to focused academic work. Afternoons and evenings open onto La Concha Bay, the old town and the Basque coast — time to think, talk and build lasting connections.
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Day 01 Registration & Pintxos
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Day 02 Yoga & Hiking
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Day 03 Summer Dinner
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Day 04 City & Relax
Photos: San Sebastián Bay Panorama by Phillip Maiwald (Nikopol), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Barra de pintxos Donosti 01 by Basotxerri, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ulia 8 by André Schrei, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Plaza de la Constitución, San Sebastián by José Luis Filpo Cabana, CC BY 3.0 · All photo credits
Why IQ4Science
The skills that make research credible — and careers durable
Technical training teaches you how to produce results. IQ4Science focuses on what determines whether those results are trusted, communicated and carried forward.
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Research Integrity
The principles, standards and everyday decisions that make research reproducible, transparent and defensible.
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Scientific Communication
Presenting complex work with clarity, and listening with empathy — to peers, reviewers, funders and the public.
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Leadership
Taking responsibility for projects and people, from coordinating a team to navigating disagreement.
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Applied Learning
Every concept put to work in a structured, collaborative project with instructor feedback.
The Four-Day Journey
Four days, four questions every scientist must answer
Each day pairs a distinct academic theme with time to experience San Sebastián. Mornings are for focused workshops; the city opens up in the afternoons and evenings.
15 scheduled academic hours
- Academic
- Experience
- Free time
- Registration
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Trust
Day 01
The Science of Trust
Research Integrity & Quality
4 academic hours
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Clarity
Day 02
Beyond the Data
Scientific Communication & Empathic Listening
4 academic hours
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Leadership
Day 03
Leading Science, Leading People
Scientific Leadership & Collaboration
4 academic hours
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Reflection
Day 04
The Scientist You Want to Become
Scientific Development & Reflection
3 academic hours
The Collaborative Challenge
Learn it by doing it properly
Running through all four days is an integrated group challenge: a scientific project in which participants put the week's principles into practice — individually and as a team.
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Individual contribution
Each participant prepares and documents their own share of the work.
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Defined project roles
Groups assign clear roles, mirroring how responsibility is shared in real research teams.
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Integrity and quality in practice
Apply the principles from the workshops to planning, recording and reviewing the project.
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Documented work
Keep a clear, traceable record of decisions, data and changes.
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Instructor feedback
Receive structured feedback from instructors as the project develops.
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Final group deliverable
Complete and present a final deliverable on the last day of the programme.
The Summer Experience
San Sebastián, between the sessions
Around a third of the week is dedicated to the place and the people. Shared experiences turn a cohort of strangers into an international network.
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Pintxos An introduction to the old town's celebrated bar-counter cuisine on the first afternoon. -
Yoga Morning yoga to begin the second day with energy and focus. -
Coastal hiking A hike along the coast, with wide views over the bay. -
Summer dinner A gala dinner on the third evening — the social highlight of the week. -
City discovery City views and a farewell on the final afternoon.
Photos: Pintxos Donostia 2014 5 by M. Pfeiffer (Gordito1869), CC BY 3.0 · Ulia 5 by André Schrei, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Catedral del Buen Pastor (San Sebastián). Ábside by José Luis Filpo Cabana, CC BY 3.0 · All photo credits
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Who Should Attend
For scientists at the start of their research careers
Open to any discipline in which data, evidence and collaboration matter.
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Master's students
Preparing for a research career or a doctoral position, and keen to build strong foundations early.
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PhD candidates
Producing and presenting your own research, and developing the habits that make it robust.
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Early-career researchers
Postdoctoral and junior researchers taking on responsibility for projects, data and people.
Academic Outcomes
What you take home
Skills
- Apply research-integrity and quality principles to your own work
- Document research so that it can be followed, checked and reproduced
- Communicate findings clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- Listen actively and respond constructively to feedback
Professional development
- Lead and contribute effectively to collaborative scientific work
- Reflect on your goals and the scientist you want to become
- Build an international network of peers
Practical experience
- A completed group project, with instructor feedback
- Experience working in defined team roles
- A certificate of attendance (details to be confirmed)
Fees and Registration
A small cohort, by design
The 1st Edition is limited to approximately 20 participants, so that every workshop stays interactive and every participant receives individual feedback.
Approximately 20 places
Early registration
5–10% off
January–February 2027
Expected early-registration discount — not yet confirmed or guaranteed
Standard fee
€1,500
2027 edition
Standard fee per participant
The final fee, any early-registration discount, what the fee includes, applicable taxes, registration conditions and the cancellation policy will be confirmed before registration opens. Formal enrolment and payment will be handled by an independent organiser; IQ4Science does not collect payments.
Join the priority list
Hear first about the 2027 programme, the opening of registration and any early-registration discount. Free and non-binding.
The priority list is not enrolment, does not reserve a place or guarantee admission, and no payment is taken.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the priority list?
A free, non-binding list for people interested in the 1st Edition. We use it to share information about the 2027 programme and the opening of registration, and to estimate likely attendance. It is not enrolment, does not reserve a place and does not guarantee admission.
When does the Summer School take place?
In summer 2027, in San Sebastián, Spain. Exact dates have not yet been confirmed; they will be announced on this website and sent to everyone on the priority list.
Who is the programme for?
Master's students, PhD candidates and early-career researchers from any scientific discipline in which data, evidence and collaboration matter.
How much does it cost?
The standard fee is €1,500. We expect to offer an early-registration discount of 5–10% for registrations in January–February 2027; the discount is not yet confirmed or guaranteed. Everyone on the priority list will be informed.
What does the fee include?
Inclusions, applicable taxes, registration conditions and the cancellation policy are still being finalised. They will be published before registration opens.
How much academic content is there?
Fifteen scheduled academic hours over four days, together with an integrated collaborative project that runs throughout the week. Around 70% of the programme is academic; the remainder is dedicated to cultural and social experiences in San Sebastián.
Will I receive a certificate?
A certificate of attendance is planned; its details will be confirmed before registration opens. The programme does not offer ECTS credits or formal accreditation.
How and when do I pay?
IQ4Science does not collect any payment. When registration opens, formal enrolment and payment will be handled by an independent organiser, under its own terms and privacy notice.
Other questions about the Summer School 2027? [email protected]
Training areas
For Organisations
Corporate Training
IQ4Science also designs tailored training for research organisations, laboratories and companies in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), research integrity, data integrity and scientific communication.
Corporate training
Serious Science. Unforgettable Summer.
Be among the first to hear when registration opens
Join the free, non-binding priority list for the 1st Edition: programme news, the opening of registration and any early-registration discount.
Join the Priority ListPhotos: Sunrise between Mount Urgull and Santa Clara Island – San Sebastian 02 by Javier Pérez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0 · All photo credits
