On 22nd April, ELIXIR STEERS and EVERSE came together in Amsterdam to organise a hackathon focused on drafting research software stories.
ELIXIR-STEERS aims to help life science researchers access national data sets and conduct large-scale, cross-border data analysis across Europe, and EVERSE aims to create a framework for research software excellence, championed by the research communities, with ELIXIR as a contributing partner.
Around 10 participants took part in the hackathon mainly representatives of ELIXIR Community software usecases, to find out what exactly a Research Software Story is, why they are so important, as well as learn hands-on how to craft their own stories that can be used to better support research software practices across scientific communities.
What do we mean by Research Software Stories?
A Research Software Story is a structured narrative used to explain the role the software plays in research and helps others understand not just what the software does, but why it exists and how it fits within the wider research ecosystem. The hackathon introduced participants to the RSQKit’s Research Software Stories, highlighting how they work as a practical way of capturing and communicating about not only how research software is developed, but also how it is used and sustained.
Participants were guided through how to craft their own stories about the software they are developing, identifying the ‘why’ behind writing them and trying their hand at drafting their own stories. This exercise was followed by an open discussion, where participants had the opportunity to share their reflections and insights with each other.
Follow up
As a followup to this introduction there are further session that have taken place and planned for the ELIXIR Communities:
- June 1st online introduction to RSQKit Research Software Stories in preparation for ELIXIR All Hands workshop
- June 11th post ELIXIR All Hands workshop, Lyon, France on writing Research Software Stories for workflow pipelines, libraries and research software infrastructure - taking place in person and online (with over 20 people registered)
RSQKit Editorial board member, Michael Sparks will be supporting this event online, and Editorial board lead, Shoaib Sufi will be there in person to support the event.
Find out more information about this event. (All are welcome - not just those associated with ELIXIR).
