Each year, Volpe staff come together for Volpe Day, an opportunity to learn more about each other’s work, share ideas, and get to know colleagues. This year, Volpe debuted a new format: an “unconference.”

Historically, Volpe Day has featured a variety of pre-scheduled talks and demonstrations. An unconference, on the other hand, sources session ideas from staff, who submit topics they are interested in exploring.

Volpe Day organizers curated the day's events from staff-submitted ideas, scheduling sessions that were most likely to engage attendees and demonstrate the breadth of Volpe’s work.

Not only did all staff hold the keys to shaping and leading the day’s content, but attendees were also encouraged to move freely between sessions, “voting with their feet” and choosing to attend and move freely between sessions that interested them the most.

“The beauty of an unconference is that it shifts the focus to staff and what they find important and exciting to talk about,” said David Perlman, operations research analyst and architect of Volpe Day’s unconference. “We were excited to pilot this new approach to organizing the day, and are thrilled with how it turned out and the positive feedback we’ve received.”

Staff share field experiences during the Volpe Day Unconference session "Unique Experiences Working in the Field While at the Volpe Center." (Volpe photo)

Volpe Day's first unconference was a success, giving staff opportunities to share best practices and homegrown ideas and learn about innovations around the world.

Following the session discussions, staff had the chance to view demonstrations of several Volpe labs and projects, including the Human Factors Lab, Air Traffic Control and Radar Systems Optimization Lab, and Maritime Safety and Security Information System (MSSIS) Lab. Staff also had a chance to go on a Volpe “underbelly” tour, which led ​through passageways underneath the Volpe property and the complex's underground heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system.

The day also featured Volpe’s annual Combined Federal Campaign Hawaiian Shirt Contest and a paper airplane contest. Per tradition, staff enjoyed lunch on the lawn, feasting on food from Tennessee’s BBQ and exploring the “Volpe Village” booths, highlighting activities, clubs, and communities of practice at Volpe.

“At Volpe, we pride ourselves on a tradition of encouraging cutting-edge thinking,” said Communication and Knowledge Management Director Cassandra Allwell. “Innovating our approach to Volpe Day this year was a way of further engaging, connecting, and supporting our staff.”