Context: This past year, we at the Faculty of Science's Computational and Data Systems Initiative (CDSI) have been spending some time talking with various individuals and groups on campus with interests in Research Software Development. This includes faculty researchers, research software engineering staff on campus, and those involved with some of McGill's software engineering education programs.   

What is beginning to emerge, to our eyes, is a sense of potential synergy among these various groups. This mirrors, in turn, what seems to be an increasingly prevalent tendency worldwide on university campuses to try to create more of a critical mass around the research software development space, in contrast to the somewhat diaspora-like state that that community has typically had to date (e.g., witness the recent creation of the Society for Research Software Engineers). 

As an initial concrete step in this direction, the Research Software Development Forum is intended as an initial gathering of McGill's professional research software development community, and related RSD/RSE-interested groups, to begin providing a sense of cross-campus community and to define mechanisms for continuing to develop and support that community going forward. Planned for 3hrs in length, it will feature a mix of 5-min lightning talks for group representatives to present the who/what/where/why/how of what they do and structured roundtable discussions. Food and drinks will be provided. 

Event Date: Wednesday, February 21st 2024 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM 

Location: Bronfman Building, room 045, 1001 rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Schedule: 

11:45 AM: Doors Open 

12:00 – 12:15 PM: Event Introductions – Welcome & RSE Overview 

12:15 PM to 1:15 PM: Presentations 

1:15 PM to 1:30 PM: Break 

1:30 PM to 2:15 PM: Lightning rounds 

2:15 PM to 3:00: Conclusion, Q&A, Mingling  

Please note that this event is primarily intended for staff in research software development roles on campus. If you would like to attend our forum, please register below.