It's been almost a year since the Python User Group launched in the CaDiR Teams space. We caught up with Andrew Gait, one of the group leads, to find out more his role in the group and how the last year has gone.

Two of our Research Software Engineers, in conjunction with the Department of Computer Science at the University, partnered with mindcubes to prototype a multi-modal semantic search system that links images to structured knowledge, delivering a scalable AI pipeline for smarter, concept-aware retrieval.

This guide introduces key tools in the software development lifecycle - Git, GitHub, and GitHub Copilot – and explains how University of Manchester staff and students can access them for free through supported programs. Whether you’re working independently or as part of a team, these tools are essential for managing code effectively.

Earlier this month, members of The University of Manchester’s Research Software Engineering (RSE) team joined peers from across the UK and beyond at RSECon25, held at the University of Warwick. The annual conference, now in its ninth year, is the flagship event for the RSE community.

Adrian Harwood, Head of Research Software Engineering, has announced that Chris Fullerton will take on the role of Deputy Head of Research Software Engineering starting in October 2025. Chris will also chair the new RSE Operational Excellence group.

Looking for an easy way to get starting with online data collection that doesn’t involve copying and pasting? Research Software Engineer Chris Lam has written a simple guide which introduces web scraping with Python.

Our Research Software Engineers, in close collaboration with the Department of Computer Science, teamed up with local SME, voxANN, to build an AI pipeline that links English and Spanish for smooth, high-quality dubbing — unlocking smarter, scalable media localisation.

Discover how our Research Software Engineers have transformed a decision-making tool developed at the University’s Dalton Nuclear Institute. Previously based on large PowerPoint documents, the tool has been transformed into a sleek web application.

The Agile Methods for RSEs training course has evolved into a hands-on, department-wide learning experience that combines real-world agile practice with tailored tools and team collaboration. The 2025 workshop introduced new GitHub features, structured challenges, and personalised facilitation, serving as a valuable onboarding and team-building event for new and returning RSEs.

PyCon UK will be held in Manchester for the first time this year. The University of Manchester will have a booth at the conference, organised by members of the eScience Lab, Software Sustainability Institute and Research IT. Find out how you can get involved!

The Computation and Data In Research (CaDiR) community continues to grow! This is a new space for University staff and researchers who work with C++, whether they are experienced systems programmers or beginners. The group aims to create an inclusive community of practice for those involved in simulation codes, high-performance libraries, or object-oriented design.

Get a quick introduction to containerisation with Docker from one of our Research Software Engineers (RSE). Docker packages apps and their dependencies and are an ideal way to solve the "works on my machine" problem. Learn about Docker's main perks: consistency, portability, isolation, and scalability and there are links to extra resources if you want to learn more.