You are most likely to find a group of 40 scholars and researchers from around the world on a Thursday evening in the laboratory or the library. But on Thursday, September 8, 2022, postdoctoral scholars and visiting researchers from the University of California, Berkeley took some time away from the campus and headed to the Major League Baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum to kick off National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW).
And although the home team, the Oakland A’s, lost 14-2 to the Chicago White Sox, the Berkeley scholars’ contingent remained enthusiastic and excited. Not even the California heat wave could bring their spirits down!
For many, it was their first ever introduction to live baseball, a sport that is central to North American culture.
“I have never been to a baseball game before. I enjoyed it - I liked the atmosphere! It was very nice to experience this, especially because we’ve seen it on TV a lot,” said Els Van Dongen, a visiting scholar from Belgium.
Umilaela Arifin, a researcher from Indonesia, added, “I enjoyed it even more because I watched the game with the others in a group. That made it even nicer. I’m looking forward to the other NPAW events this month.”
The Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) office is hosting a series of special events this month as part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week. Every year, over a hundred institutions across the country and internationally participate in NPAW to honor postdoctoral scholars and researchers and acknowledge their important contributions.
Check out some of the photos from the game!