The interactive training was led by Katharina Maak-Castro, lecturer in intercultural communication at the Berlin School of Economics and Law.

Under the guiding idea "Fish can’t see water", the workshop explored how deeply culture shapes communication, perception, and collaboration. Combining theoretical input with practice-oriented exercises from everyday research contexts, participants reflected on their own cultural imprints and learned how misunderstandings arise in international teams. The workshop was greatly enriched by the diversity of the participants and the lively, thoughtful discussions that emerged throughout the session.

Participants gained practical tools to recognize different communication and thinking patterns, respond sensitively to cultural and linguistic differences, and view diversity not as an obstacle but as an enrichment for collaborative research.