Welcome to the 2024 DRI Retreat! Building on the success of the pilot program we ran in 2022, we are happy to be back in Manchester once again. The original event was inspired by the “virtual residency” (https://www.oscer.ou.edu/virtualresidency.php) hosted by Oklahoma Supercomputing Centre (USA) that has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 2015 under the leadership of Henry Neeman. This event has been customized to meet the needs of the UK community, with contributions from RSE, RIE and RDMs. The funding has come from STFC, and the organization & vision has come from N8 CIR (https://n8cir.org.uk ).
We are excited to have almost 100 in-person attendees this year, and over 30 online (including some panellists and chairs) in a fully hybrid event. You are all very welcome. We hope you will find this event to be different from anything else you have attended. The intention is not to have experts tell you what to do with lots of PowerPoint, but rather to have facilitated panels and open-to-the-floor discussions, where everyone can share their experiences and learn from each other. Hence the focus is on research software engineers, infrastructure engineers, and data managers at any stage of their careers, and especially those who are new to these fields. Whoever you are, and whatever your career stage, we hope you will find this retreat to be informative and useful, an opportunity to reflect on your skills and needs, and a chance to network with others in the community.
Have fun, and enjoy the retreat!
Matt Probert, Director of N8 CIR.
Please click on the links below to find out extended information on the sessions. Links to recordings from the sessions can be found there soon>
Monday 18th March| 12:00-13:00 |
ARRIVAL, REGISTRATION AND LUNCH
What better way to start a conference than with food? Pick up your name badge, say hello to colleagues, and fuel up for an afternoon of ideas and inspiration. |
| 13:00-14:30 |
Session 1: The DRI context
We start the week with the obligatory “What is Digital Research Infrastructure(DRI)?” panel. |
| 14:30-14:45 | Break |
| 14:45-16:00 |
Session 2: The DRI landscape
What are the resources available to us as DRI professionals? |
| 16:15- | Networking/open table discussion |
Tuesday 19th March| 09:00-10:00 |
Session 1: Academic Perspective
Fortune, fame, and glory, we all pursue things for different reasons. |
| 10:00-10:15 |
Break
|
| 10:15-11:15 |
Session 2: Intake interviews, theory and practice
Identifying the needs of users can be a challenge, with assumptions made on both sides. |
| 11:15-11:30 | Break |
| 11:30-12:30 |
Session 3: Mapping researcher's needs to DRI skills and infrastructure
Documentation, support, requirements and training |
| 12:30-13:30 | LUNCH |
| 13:30-14:45 |
Session 4: Helping each other as DRI professionals
Are your teams an unknown at your institution? |
| 14:45-15:00 | Break |
| 15:00-16:15 |
Session 5: Industry perspective
What can we learn from life as an RSE in industry? |
| 16:15- | Networking/open table discussion |
Conference Dinner, The Midland Hotel
Wednesday 20th March| 09:00-10:00 |
Session 1: DRI system components
What is important to each of the DRI components and how do they work together? |
| 10:00-10:15 |
Break
|
| 10:15-11:15 |
Session 2: What lies ahead for DRI tech?
What technology is likely to disrupt how we use and develop DRI technology? |
| 11:15-11:30 | Break |
| 11:30-12:30 |
Session 3: Novel technologies
A deep dive into some of AI applications that could directly influence the way we work as DRI professionals. |
| 12:30-13:30 | LUNCH |
| 13:30-14:45 |
Session 4: Portfolio management and fair usage
People always want a bigger slice of the pie, how can we ensure that everyone gets at least a bite? |
| 14:45-15:00 | Break |
| 15:00-16:15 |
Session 5: Unconference session
In the spirit of feedback and collaboration that’s at the heart of the event, this session will be led by conference attendees. |
| 16:15- | Networking/open table discussion |
Thursday 21st March| 09:00-10:00 |
Session 1: The funding landscape
This session will consider the funding that is available at both local and national levels. It will cover how sources of funding are relevant to all career stages and roles. |
| 10:00-10:15 |
Break
|
| 10:15-11:15 |
Session 2: Selling your idea
How to Fund Your Research Project: Grant Writing for Academic and Non-Academic DRI Professionals The art of directing funding to your project or idea is as applicable to those campaigning for a new coffee machine as it is to those putting together multi-million pound interdisciplinary projects. |
| 11:15-11:30 | Break |
| 11:30-12:30 |
Session 3: Teams, culture and diversity
Building an effective team with complementary skills, personalities, perspectives and opinions takes time and care. |
| 12:30-13:30 | LUNCH |
| 13:30-14:45 |
Session 4: Strategic thinking and vision
Sometimes, just building an effective team isn’t enough. |
| 14:45-15:00 | Break |
| 15:00-16:15 |
Session 5: Developing a profession
DRI encompasses diverse professions, each crucial in advancing scientific discovery and innovation. While RSEs have been at the forefront of this shift, the DRI landscape extends into many specialised roles and career paths. |
| 16:15- | Networking/open table discussion |
Friday 22nd March| 09:00-10:00 |
Session 1: Fostering positive vendor relations
A good relationship is a two-way process, not simply a vendor selling you the products that they want to, or are the most profitable. |
| 10:00-10:15 |
Break
|
| 10:15-11:15 |
Session 2: Stories from the trenches
A candid discussion where panellists will share their experiences transforming setbacks into stepping stones to success. To allow for an honest discussion, this session will not be recorded |
| 11:15-11:30 | Break |
| 11:30-12:30 |
Session 3: Wrap up
Alan Real will take to the stage once more to wrap up proceedings. |
| 12:30-13:30 |
LUNCH & DEPART
The final lunch of the retreat will be a final opportunity for participants to chat, network, and savour the opportunities of in-person events. |