Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/N01863X/1
Software craftsmanship for environmental scientists
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor AM Walker, University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Grant held at:
- University of Leeds, School of Earth and Environment
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Software Eng. Methods & Tools
- Software Engineering
- Environmental Informatics
- Science & Eng. using HPC
- High Performance Computing
- Abstract:
- Almost all environmental scientists are now required to develop, modify, and use scientific models realised in software, but the skills needed to do this effectively are often not taught to postgraduate research students or early career researchers. With the need for robust statistical analysis driven by the explosion in size and availability of massive data sets, and the increasing importance of computational modelling and simulation, these skills only become more important. The need for training provision for researchers early in their career is particularly acute in the environmental sciences. For example, a recent survey found that 90% of NERC funded researchers develop their own research software but 20% of these researchers have no relevant training. Furthermore, there is a chronic shortage of people with both a deep domain specific knowledge and the ability to develop and improve the quantitative numerical models on which so much of modern science relies. Much of this demand is not because environmental scientists do not know the syntax of a particular language. It is instead that they often do not posses the craftsmanship needed to work with others to develop models and data analysis pipelines that are robust, sustainable and reusable in a world where environmental science is an increasingly collaborative exercise. Since 2014 we have developed a three-day course for researchers in the environmental sciences designed to deliver core skills that underpin the realisation of scientific models and the creation of data processing workflows. We delivered this course twice as part of NERC's 2014/15 ATSC programme and are currently running workshops as part of the 2015/16 programme. We seek funding for four large three-day workshops as part of the 2016/17 ATSC programme to deliver this training to 120 people. After completing the course, participants will have improved their ability to create software for scientific modelling or data analysis. They will understand and be able to make use of concepts of software design, testing, task automation, and version control. They will know how to relate these in domains relevant to environmental scientists. By working together they will have demonstrated the craftsmanship needed to undertake challenging analysis and modelling of environmental data and processes in the small collaborative teams that are increasingly found in the environmental sciences. The group working aspects of the workshop also enable participants to develop and demonstrate key 'soft' skills in teamwork, planning and leadership that are essential for tomorrow's environmental scientists.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/N01863X/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Advanced Training
This training grant award has a total value of £59,280
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Other Costs |
|---|
| £59,280 |
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