Hot Metal Campus Closes the Year with Community and a Few Snowballs

Hot Metal Campus wrapped up the semester last week with a holiday gathering that brought together students, faculty, and a handful of industry partners for an evening of informal connection. The event leaned into the simple pleasures: food, drinks, and the rare chance for researchers to step away from their labs and talk with people they don’t normally cross paths with.

Clusters formed quickly around the tables as attendees caught up on end-of-year projects, upcoming milestones, and winter break plans. On the balcony, an impromptu snowball fight broke out, an unmistakable sign that people were ready for a pause from deadlines and experiments.

One of the most popular features of the evening was a set of custom-made ornaments showcasing journal covers from papers published by HMC-affiliated researchers this year. The “mini accomplishments,” hung on a small display tree, sparking conversations about new publications and collaborations across campus.

“It’s always nice to get everyone out of their labs and offices,” said Dr. Jennifer Luke, Hot Metal Campus’ Innovation Ecosystem Relationship Manager. “Sometimes you just need that reset and a little bit of time to breathe before going into the last few weeks of the year. I also love seeing people’s reactions to the ornaments. People do love mini things, and having tiny versions of your accomplishments inside an ornament you can compare to previous years is a nice reminder of everything you’ve done.”

The holiday gathering served as a low-stakes, end-of-year reset.

Keep up with all upcoming events in Hot Metal Campus here.