Wednesday, July 15, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET
Online via Zoom Meeting

In many work contexts, we have learned to treat exhaustion as evidence of seriousness. In academic life, depletion is often worn as proof of rigor. We are all familiar with late nights, an unrelenting service load, and an inbox that never empties. Yet what is coming to be known as the great exhaustion is structural, not personal. Academic environments demand more and more; the burden of grind culture is unequally distributed, and technology accelerates the pressure on both deep work and deep rest. In response, this summer, we introduce a new tradition: an annual online Summer Scholar Uplift: Gathering of POS Scholars dedicated to a blend of learning and connection that promises to sustain us as a POS community.

This year, we will explore the theme (Re)Ignite: Rigorous Rest as a Source of Resilience in Academic Life. Contrary to prevailing assumptions that rest is an unnecessary luxury or a private indulgence, this gathering embraces rest as a form of personal and community restoration and resistance. Drawing on contributions from a distinguished panel of POS scholars, we will ask how rest becomes a skilled practice and how it also serves as a relational and collective resource that sustains demanding work, restores adaptability, and alleviates distress in challenging environments. Following idea provocations from our panel, we will engage in small group activities, discussion, and interactive learning sessions. Please join us to connect with other POS scholars and explore the provocative idea that rest may be one of our most underused resources for (re)igniting our own resilience and our community’s energy, passion, and capacity for change.