On 9, 10 and 11 September, the second and final session of Sandpits took place at UCLouvain. This workshop, organised for the third time as part of the Circle U. University Alliance, brings together researchers from across Europe with the aim of developing interdisciplinary research projects. This edition was led by Mind and Market, one of Circle U.’s partners, and more specifically its founder and CEO, Martin Nera, and his colleague Oxana Rogozina.
Sandpits, what a strange term! But what exactly does it mean? It is actually a methodology that originated in the United Kingdom, which uses collective intelligence methods to develop projects in a short period of time. Collaboration is at the heart of the process to bring projects to fruition.
For this third edition, Sandpits was revamped and offered a brand-new format. This year, the theme of the discussions was one of Circle U.’s four Knowledge Hubs: Democracy. To introduce the topic, Barbara De Cock, Academic Chair of the Democracy Hub at UCLouvain, joined the participants and shared her insights. In addition, experts in research support from UCLouvain Technologic Platforms exchanged ideas with participants to help them strengthen their project proposals. The programme also included a workshop dedicated to interdisciplinary research, led by researchers Caroline Michelier and Amaury Peters.
Giuseppina Scala from the University of Pisa shares her experience
Among the participants was Giuseppina Scala, a researcher and professor of law, specializing in the relationship between law and religion, and human rights. After an academic journey in Italy, Sweden, and several European universities, she is now affiliated to the Interdisciplinary Centre Peace Studies (CISP) at the University of Pisa and she contributes to international projects on peace, democracy, religious diversity and pluralism. A polyglot and passionate scholar, she is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of societal issues related to religions and fundamental rights.
Asked about her experience, Giuseppina highlighted the richness of the September 2025 Sandpits:
What did you get out of the Sandpits?
“The experience was an incredibly enriching opportunity. It allowed me to work in a truly interdisciplinary environment, engaging with researchers from various European universities who were at different stages of their academic careers and brought diverse backgrounds and scientific sensibilities to the table. This diversity fostered stimulating discussions and opened up new perspectives on collaborative research. It was both intellectually rewarding and personally inspiring to connect with such a vibrant and varied academic community.”
What are the initial results for you?
“The initial results of the Sandpits experience have been very positive for me. It provided a unique opportunity to engage in creativity respecting diversity and it sparked fresh ideas helping me to reframe some of my own scientific research questions in new and unexpected ways. Moreover, with the Circle U. team, I also began to identify potential synergies with new colleagues and future collaborations for applying to international project calls, which I consider one of the most valuable outcomes of the experience so far.”
With the Circle U. team, I also began to identify potential synergies with new colleagues and future collaborations for applying to international project calls, which I consider one of the most valuable outcomes of the experience so far.
– Giuseppina Scala
What did you think of the project methodology? Did it suit you? Was it innovative?
“I found the project methodology both suitable and innovative. The structured yet flexible approach conducted by professionals encouraged meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking. It really supported the development of ideas in a dynamic and inclusive way. What added even more value to the three working days were the various meetings with academics and project leaders from Louvain University. Their insights and perspectives enriched the experience and helped deepen the discussions, making the overall process even more engaging and productive.”
