RSECon2022 Panel: Developing the necessary skills to support the future of computational research
Channel: Society of Research Software Engineering
Date: 2022-12-08

A panel discussion from the Developing RSEs and Teams parallel session at RSECon2022.

Panel chair: Anastasis Georgoulas
Details: https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/#/event/3101/submission/106

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Abstract: In many institutions, RSEs, researchers and technical professionals provide training in a variety of forms, from short workshops to semester-long courses, to help develop the skills and knowledge necessary to support computational research. As software, data and computation become increasingly significant elements of research across many domains, the need for training at different levels and covering a broader range of topics is more important than ever. However, expanding the provision (or, indeed, starting a training programme from scratch) is not straightforward. There are questions about how to get appropriate resources, what the right skills are to teach, how to teach them and how to gauge success. Furthermore, with limited exceptions (such as Carpentries workshops which follow standard models and are widely publicised), it can be difficult to know what is happening at other institutions. In a fast changing environment, what skills will remain useful in the longer-term and what new topics will become important?

There is much to be gained from learning from others’ experiences, whether that’s drawing inspiration from their training curricula or understanding how they have successfully navigated the political landscape at their university. This panel brings together a group of panellists involved in teaching and training from a number of institutions. In response to audience questions, the panel will offer insights from different viewpoints, in a discussion structured around three themes: choosing the right skills and format to teach at different career stages, from undergraduate to independent researcher; experiences of establishing training programmes; and lessons learnt.

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0:00 Chair introduction
1:07 Panel introduction
2:08 Panelist introductions
6:10 Intermediate and advanced training
13:51 By or for RSEs?
14:48 Central skills for RSEs
19:06 Soft skills development
23:48 General vs domain-specific, and not excluding non-STEM
34:31 Asynchronous/synchronous, online/in-person, training/consultancy
42:21 Convincing universities to centrally fund