Lucub

Lucub is the period after the evening Messal when participants “burn the midnight oil,” organizing themselves into ad hoc working groups. During the current Convox, speakers describe it as the time to make real progress outside the constraints of scheduled sessions.

Context and practice

• Place in the day: Accounts lay out a rhythm of morning work in Laboratorium, informal mixing in Periklyne before Messal, then Lucub afterward for follow‑through and initiative.
• Self‑organization: Attendees choose their own collaborators and topics; people speak of finding “the right Lucub,” implying multiple concurrent groups.
• Group sense: The word can also mean the assembled group; one might step out of earshot of the rest of the Lucub for sensitive sidebar conversations.
• Networks and cells: Some Lucubs coordinate as a loose network of cells, sharing information and passing messages discreetly across maths and roles.
• Venues: Groups gather wherever space can be found—chalk halls, cloisters, or lawns—rather than in assigned rooms.
• Discretion: It is “in the nature of Lucub work” that results are not talked about as readily as those from Laboratorium, making it a quieter channel for developing ideas and comparing notes.
• Load balancing: When daytime is consumed by gatherings such as Inbrase or a Convox‑wide Plenary, participants expect heavier Lucub to catch up on work.
• Flexibility under pressure: Lucub may be curtailed or postponed when extraordinary events or observations demand attention elsewhere.

Relationships and roles

• Complements formal structures like Laboratorium and evening Messal discussions by providing an open slot for initiative.
• Serves as a venue where leads and preliminary results can be pursued before they are ready for broader circulation.
• Provides a channel for initiative on technical, practical, and at times sensitive questions that participants prefer to explore in smaller circles.

Current status

Active and emphasized during the ongoing Convox; observers expect especially busy Lucub periods following days packed with ceremonies and assemblies.