A group of fifty intrepid researchers from all across the US gathered in the Science and Engineering Hall at George Washington University for a transformative event. The 3-day Research Software Engineering Workshop, co-hosted by the URSSI and the GW OSPO, was more than just a meeting of minds—it was a journey of discovery and empowerment.
The workshop began with a palpable sense of apprehension. For many researchers, coding was a daunting beast, a necessary evil in the pursuit of scientific advancement. But as the days unfolded, the atmosphere shifted from trepidation to determination, and finally, to a great sense of hope.
The instructors, experts in their fields, guided the participants through the labyrinth of code with patience and enthusiasm. They demystified complex concepts and fostered an environment of learning and collaboration. The researchers brought their own projects to the workshop and they were able to learn by doing. They applied the following lessons directly to their projects and received immediate feedback from instructors to take their work to the next level.
Lessons
The workshop was not just about coding, but about embracing the principles of open science. The participants were introduced to best practices in collaborative coding, ensuring their work was not only high quality but also transparent and reproducible. This adherence to open science standards is crucial in fostering trust between researchers and society.
As the workshop concluded, the transformation was evident. The researchers, once wary of coding, now had a new set of skills and a bond with their classmates that was manifesting as a new LinkedIn group so they could continue to collaborate. They were not just coders—they were a research software engineering community, equipped with the skills to improve their research and share their knowledge with the world.
For anyone interested in research software engineering or open science, there are more workshops planned. Please reach out to the URSSI or the GW OSPO for information about specific workshops and support.
*Assisted by Microsoft copilot - prompt: Please help me write a blog post to highlight the successful Research Software Engineering Workshop co-hosted by URSSI and the GW OSPO. Make the article a short exciting and compelling story about researchers overcoming their fears of coding and helping to apply open science standards and coding best practices to improve their research and share their knowledge.