In March 2023 several members of our Research Software Engineering team will be leading training on a NERC funded 5 day in-person training course on “Software Development for Earth and Environmental Scientists: Reproducible Research through Reusable, Reliable Code”.
Taking place at the University 27–31 March 2023, the workshop will help researchers to improve their research techniques within the Earth, atmospheric and oceanic sciences. The workshop will consist of instructor-led coding-along sessions, individual self-learning sessions aided by helpers, and small-group exercises mimicking real-life collaborative software projects. The course will use NERC-relevant datasets to make it even more relevant to researchers and will be based on well-established Carpentries teaching methods.
Topics covered during the weeklong workshop will include:
- Virtual and integrated development environments for code development, testing and debugging
- Verifying software correctness
- Programming and software design paradigms for software architecture
- Code review to improve software quality
- Best practices in documenting, licensing, tracking issues, maintaining, releasing and supporting software
A substantial number of Research Software Engineers, led by Douglas Lowe, will be conducting the training.
By the end of the week attendees will have gained intermediate-level general software engineering skills, making them highly employable both within academia and industry. Attendees will also have opportunities to apply these skills to their own work during the course, supported by the on-hand expert helpers.
To get the most from the workshop we suggest that you have some experience with Linux/UNIX systems and some programming experience. On the 14th February we will run an optional online course “Introduction and Conversion to Python” online course ahead of the main workshop for participants coming from backgrounds in other programming languages (e.g., FORTRAN, R, C). This will ensure that attendees are ready for the workshop.
Applications are open now with 30 fully funded spots available with priority for NERC-funded PhD students, however all postgraduate students and early career scientists are encouraged to apply. Please note that as part of the application you will be asked to provide a short statement (500 words or less) about how this workshop will help you with your science. Closing date for applications is the 15th Jan 2023. If you have any questions about the course or application process, contact Anja Le Blanc.