Building Capability and Support in Research Software

研究软件的能力建设和支持

• 批准号: EP/N018958/2
• 负责人: Michael Paul Croucher
• 金额: $ 38.93万
• 依托单位: University of Leeds
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2018 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FN018958%2F2
• 关键词: Building; Capability; Support; Research; Software

"Software is the most prevalent of all the instruments used in modern science" [Goble 2014]. Scientific software is not just widely used [SSI 2014] but also widely developed. Yet much of it is developed by researchers who have little understanding of even the basics of modern software development with the knock-on effects to their productivity, and the reliability, readability and reproducibility of their software [Nature Biotechnology]. Many are long-tail researchers working in small groups - even Big Science operations like the SKA are operationally undertaken by individuals collectively. Technological development in software is more like a cliff-face than a ladder - there are many routes to the top, to a solution. Further, the cliff face is dynamic - constantly and quickly changing as new technologies emerge and decline. Determining which technologies to deploy and how best to deploy them is in itself a specialist domain, with many features of traditional research.Researchers need empowerment and training to give them confidence with the available equipment and the challenges they face. This role, akin to that of an Alpine guide, involves support, guidance, and load carrying. When optimally performed it results in a researcher who knows what challenges they can attack alone, and where they need appropriate support. Guides can help decide whether to exploit well-trodden paths or explore new possibilities as they navigate through this dynamic environment.These guides are highly trained, technology-centric, research-aware individuals who have a curiosity driven nature dedicated to supporting researchers by forging a research software support career. Such Research Software Engineers (RSEs) guide researchers through the technological landscape and form a human interface between scientist and computer. A well-functioning RSE group will not just add to an organisation's effectiveness, it will have a multiplicative effect since it will make every individual researcher more effective. It has the potential to improve the quality of research done across all University departments and faculties.My work plan provides a bottom-up approach to providing RSE services that is distinctive from yet complements the top-down approach provided by the EPRSC-funded Software Sustainability Institute.The outcomes of this fellowship will be:Local and National RSE Capability: A RSE Group at Sheffield as a credible roadmap for others pump-priming a UK national research software capability; and a national Continuing Professional Development programme for RSEs.Scalable software support methods: A scalable approach based on "nudging", to providing research software support for scientific software efficiency, sustainability and reproducibility, with quality-guidelines for research software and for researchers on how best to incorporate research software engineering support within their grant proposals.HPC for long-tail researchers: 'HPC-software ramps' and a pathway for standardised integration of HPC resources into Desktop Applications fit for modern scientific computing; a network of HPC-centric RSEs based around shared resources; and a portfolio of new research software courses developed with partners.Communication and public understanding: A communication campaign to raise the profile of research software exploiting high profile social media and online resources, establishing an informal forum for research software debate.References[Goble 2014] Goble, C. "Better Software, Better Research". IEEE Internet Computing 18(5): 4-8 (2014) [SSI 2014] Hettrick, S. "It's impossible to conduct research without software, say 7 out of 10 UK researchers" http://www.software.ac.uk/blog/2014-12-04-its-impossible-conduct-research-without-software-say-7-out-10-uk-researchers (2014)[Nature 2015] Editorial "Rule rewrite aims to clean up scientific software", Nature Biotechnology 520(7547) April 2015

“软件是现代科学中使用的所有工具中最普遍的”[Goble 2014]。科学软件不仅被广泛使用[SSI 2014]，而且被广泛开发。然而，其中大部分是由研究人员开发的，他们对现代软件开发的基础知识知之甚少，对他们的生产力以及软件的可靠性，可读性和可重复性产生了连锁反应。许多长尾研究人员在小团体中工作-即使是像SKA这样的大科学操作也是由个人集体进行的。软件的技术发展更像是一个悬崖面，而不是一个梯子--有许多通往顶端的路线，通往解决方案。此外，悬崖面是动态的-随着新技术的出现和衰落而不断快速变化。决定部署哪些技术以及如何最好地部署这些技术本身就是一个专业领域，具有传统研究的许多特征。研究人员需要授权和培训，让他们对可用的设备和面临的挑战充满信心。这个角色，类似于阿尔卑斯山的向导，包括支持，指导和承载。当最佳执行时，它会导致研究人员知道他们可以单独攻击哪些挑战，以及他们需要适当的支持。向导可以帮助决定是否利用已走过的道路或探索新的可能性，因为他们在这个动态的环境中导航。这些向导是训练有素，以技术为中心，研究意识强的个人，他们具有好奇心驱动的性质，致力于通过打造研究软件支持职业来支持研究人员。这样的研究软件工程师（RSE）引导研究人员通过技术景观，并形成科学家和计算机之间的人机界面。一个运作良好的RSE小组不仅会增加一个组织的效率，而且会产生倍增效应，因为它会使每个研究人员更有效。它有可能提高所有大学部门和学院的研究质量。我的工作计划提供了一种自下而上的方法来提供RSE服务，这种方法与EPRSC资助的软件可持续发展研究所提供的自上而下的方法不同，但又是对这种方法的补充。一个位于谢菲尔德的RSE小组，作为其他人的可靠路线图，为英国国家研究软件能力提供泵启动;以及一个针对RSE的国家持续专业发展计划。可扩展的软件支持方法：一种基于“轻推”的可扩展方法，为科学软件的效率、可持续性和可重复性提供研究软件支持，并为研究软件和研究人员提供质量指南，指导他们如何最好地将研究软件工程支持纳入其资助提案。“HPC软件坡道”以及将HPC资源标准化集成到适合现代科学计算的桌面应用程序的途径;基于共享资源的以HPC为中心的RSE网络;以及与合作伙伴共同开发的新研究软件课程组合。开展宣传活动，利用知名社交媒体和在线资源，提高研究软件的知名度，建立一个非正式的研究软件辩论论坛。参考文献[Goble 2014] Goble，C.“更好的软件，更好的研究”。IEEE Internet Computing 18（5）：4-8（2014）[SSI 2014] Hettrick，S.“这是不可能进行研究，没有软件，说7出10英国研究人员”http://www.software.ac.uk/blog/2014-12-04-its-impossible-conduct-research-without-software-say-7-out-10-uk-researchers（2014）[自然2015]社论“规则重写旨在清理科学软件”，自然生物技术520（7547）2015年4月