Python powers the world’s most critical research, yet the software behind the science often remains hidden and under supported. This talk distils four years of insights from Research Software Engineering Stories to explore the real world motivators of the people building Australia’s most impactful research tools. Attendees will be motivated to transition from fragile scripts to sustainable and citable reusable software infrastructure that endure long after the code is working for a specific use case.
As Python continues to dominate the research landscape across fields from radio astronomy to biosecurity. The fundamental challenge has shifted from “how do we code?” to “how do we sustain code?”. This presentation deep dives into the real motivators of the people building and sustaining research software by distilling insights from four years of interviews with leading Australian Research Software Engineers.
By exploring case studies of successful transitions where individual researcher scripts evolved into community validated Python packages like DStools in Astronomy or whereabouts in spatial data we identify the common threads of success. The session highlights technical best practices for high impact software including architectural patterns and modular design for long term maintenance.
Attendees will walk away motivated to transform their Python scripts into tools that other scientists can easily use and cite and all participants are invited to engage with and expand the series. For developers and engineers this talk provides a clearer understanding of the Australian RSE landscape and the career pathways available within research intensive environments. Finally we highlight the various awards and networking opportunities specifically designed to support and professionalise the work of Research Software Engineers in science.
Project Manager at The Australian Research Data Commons, Paula leads institutional change to make research software more visible, well-designed and sustainable. She drives collaborative research infrastructure projects that deliver robust software solutions for Australian research communities. My trajectory includes Computer sciences, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Visualisation, Training, Community Management and Project Delivery. Interested in effective change management to act as the bridge between new technologies and adoption through cultural and behavioural shifts.
