PROGRAMME
Monday 23rd March
INTERCONNECTED DRI
Stop building local empires, start building national bridges
“We aim to break down silos and promote collaboration within the DRI landscape by creating a more interconnected, open, inclusive, and user-friendly infrastructure. This involves fostering community engagement, promoting the creation of federated infrastructure, and ensuring that DRI funding addresses the technical challenges of operating across disciplines.”
09:45 - 10:30 Registration and refreshments available
10:30 - 10:45 WELCOME
10:45 - 11:30 PANEL SESSION: The hidden REF
11:30 - 12:00 Refreshments
12:00 - 13:00 ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION: Interconnected professionals
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION: Effective communication
15:00 - 15:30 Refreshments
15:30 - 16:15 PANEL SESSION: United federation of DRI
Tuesday 24th March
HUMAN DRI: Building Careers
You are not 'support staff', you are infrastructure
“We understand that DRI starts with the people who build, maintain, and upgrade it. By recognising their crucial role within DRI, promoting their careers, and supporting their professional development, we aim to foster a supportive culture and ensure a skilled and diverse DRI workforce.”
09:30 - 10:15 PANEL SESSION: Rethinking career progression in DRI
10:15 - 10:45 Refreshments
10:45 - 11:30 PANEL SESSION: Mentorship models and impact
11:30 - 12:00 Refreshments
12:00 - 13:00 ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION: Practical leadership development without formal programmes
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION: Culture, inclusivity, and strategic focus
15:00 - 15:30 Refreshments
15:30 - 16:15 PANEL SESSION: Leadership vs management - finding your fit
Wednesday 25th March
FAIR DRI - Data is Everything
“We will ensure that research infrastructure is easily accessible, interoperable, and reusable by driving adoption of the FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) principles. This enhances research efficiency and fosters a more collaborative research environment.”
NB. This day starts slightly later and finishes as 15:00 to allow attendees to get out of the conference centre and recharge their batteries
09:45 - 10:30 PANEL SESSION: Funding, policy, and sustainability
10:30 - 11:00 Refreshments
11:00 - 11:45 PANEL SESSION: Data integrity, accessibility, and governance
11:45 - 12:15 Refreshments
12:15 - 13:00 PANEL SESSION: Data storage, culture, and future risks
13:00 - 13:45 Lunch
13:45 - 15:00 ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION: Data management risks. lessons learned, and cultural change
15:00 END OF DAY TO RECHARGE
Current suggestions with volunteer leads (to be confirmed nearer the meeting):
- running,
- walking,
- climbing,
- library,
- museums (art/science)
Thursday 26th March
SUSTAINABLE DRI - FUTURE-PROOFING
"If it's not green, it won't get funded."
“We focus on ensuring the long-term health of DRI by addressing efficiency, security, environmental and financial challenges to create a sustainable DRI ecosystem.”
09:30 - 10:15 PANEL SESSION: Lifecycle management and shared infrastructure
10:15 - 10:45 Refreshments
10:45 - 11:30 PANEL SESSION: Policy, governance, and accountability
11:30 - 12:00 Refreshments
12:00 - 13:00 PANEL SESSION: Ethical and sustainable partnerships with funders and industry
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP: Answering funding calls exercise
15:00 - 15:30 Refreshments
15:30 - 16:15 ROUND TABLE WORKSHOP: Answering funding calls exercise
Friday 27th March
SOVEREIGN DRI
Skills to work in a GenAI world
"Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities are developing at an extraordinary pace. In an AI-enabled world, it matters who influences and builds the models, data, and AI infrastructure that are increasingly present in our lives.”
09:30 - 10:15 PANEL SESSION: "Cautionary tales" - nuancing of sovereign AI from basics and what it means for research
10:15 - 10:45 Refreshments
10:45 - 11:30 PANEL SESSION: Responsible AI in research - governance and integrity
11:30 - 12:00 Refreshments
12:00 - 13:00 ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION: GenAI Competency/ Skills matrix and gap analysis
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch
14:00 - 15:00 ROUND TABLE AND PRESENTATION: Tales from the trenches and wrap-up
15:00 - 15:30 DEPART