On December 5th, our Student Chapter celebrated the holiday season with a lively Christmas gathering filled with delicious food, fun games, and warm camaraderie. The event brought together members of the Electromagnetic Group to share in the festive spirit and reflect on the past year.

We kicked off the event with a spread that included pizza, a delightful Italian cake, and eggnog—a perfect mix of treats to fuel our spirits. But the real highlight was the game we played: UNO Flip! This isn’t your traditional UNO. With the added twist of two-sided cards, the game becomes dynamic and unpredictable. When someone plays a Flip card, all players must flip their hands, revealing the other side of their cards. It’s a clever game of memory and strategy, as players can recall what their opponents hold once the cards flip back.

The game was thrilling from start to finish. With a room booked from 12:30 to 2:00 PM, we only had time for one round, but what a round it was! The tension mounted as the game neared its conclusion. Hanieh played a Flip card, exposing everyone’s alternate hand, and then it was Nanrong’s turn. With only one card left, Nanrong seized the moment and played his final card, winning the game in spectacular fashion. The clock struck 1:58 PM—just in time to crown a winner and wrap up the game before our booking ended.

Reflecting on this experience, the game of UNO Flip shares a meaningful parallel with our research journeys. Research often feels like a game of strategy and adaptation, with unexpected twists and turns along the way. Like the Flip card, setbacks and surprises force us to reveal new perspectives. At times, our progress may feel uncertain, and results may not meet our expectations. Yet even “bad results” offer insights—they teach us where to improve and how to adapt. This process of learning and growth is far more valuable than the absence of results.

As we closed our gathering, it was clear that this simple game held a deeper lesson: embrace the challenges and surprises, for they shape our path to success. Just as Nanrong’s victory brought our game to a thrilling conclusion, perseverance in research often leads to breakthroughs at just the right moment.

Here’s wishing all our members a joyous holiday season filled with discovery, resilience, and triumphs—both in the lab and beyond!