eResearch 2019: Engaging Diversity

The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre spent a week in Brisbane for eResearch Australasia 2019, which focused on the theme eResearch Diversity.

Organised by the Australasian eResearch Organisation, the conference is an opportunity for delegates to engage, connect and share their ideas and exemplars concerning new information centric research capabilities, and how information and communication technologies help researchers to collaborate, collect, manage, share, process, analyse, store, find, understand and re-use information.

Diversity and inclusion has long been an area of focus for the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre. The Centre’s staff were out in full force during the week, running workshops, BoFs, presentations and lightning talks on the subject matter.

Workshop: Follow the Yellow Brick Road: The Career Journey of eResearchers

When Dorothy sets off to see the Wizard of Oz, she has no idea – really – of the journey she is on. She finds herself in a new and different world, unsure of what to ask, when, or to whom. She learns along the way. If you’re a new PhD student or new to research, this “journey into the unknown” might sound familiar.

This workshop had groups breakdown the career path of early, mid and late career eResearchers into milestones, responsibilities, knowledge and skills required for their work. Outcomes from this workshop will map what the eResearcher’s road looks like and identifying its key markers, including skills and knowledge shortage; complementing the conversation of supporting diversity in the community.

This workshop was also followed by a Birds of Feather (BoF) further discussing the topic.

More information: Ann Backhaus, Education & Training Manager, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

Lightning Talk: Data Science Week – Engagement Learnings

Data Science Week has grown to over 20 events and 700 organisations since its inception in 2013. The week brings together a community of data science professionals across Australia to network and discuss data science projects and ideas across domains. In 2019, the week showcased Women in Data Science. It brought together Australia’s first Women in STEM ambassador; Lisa Harvey-Smith, Women in Big Data and Women in Technology chapters, R-Ladies and more! The lightning talk focused on its learnings on organising the distributed model of events, especially understanding that such popular conferences needs to build engagement fast and early to build on its success.

More information: Luke Edwards, Data Specialist; Aditi Subramanya, Marketing & Events Officer, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

BoF: Treating Gender Diversity like a Business Priority

Globally from Silicon Valley to cottage industry there are very few organisations that consistently maintain both diversity and gender balance at all levels. Within eResearch, the situation is no better. Routinely from the Board down the representation is non-inclusive meaning that the rich talent pool of perspectives available is neither influencing or guiding the technology driven organisations across Australasia.

There are multiple challenges in achieving gender balance. However, the main challenge to any employer is harnessing the potential a gender balanced workforce can provide. As a collective there is an urgent need to remove the barriers which prevent greater female participation in the eResearch workforce. This is our responsibility to future generations.

There are significant opportunities to those institutions that can provide committed leadership as well as investment in resources. It is suggested that removing barriers for women to enter the workforce generally would boost the Australian economy by ~ $25 billion per year.

Champions – join the movement and be an agent for change – promoting gender balance and smarter teams!

More information: Jenni Harrison, Director Strategic Projects & Engagement; Ann Backhaus, Education & Training Manager, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

BoF: Training and Skill Building in eResearch: Bringing the Community Together

This Birds of Feathers (BoF) brings together trainers, educators and other skill building practitioners from this environment to discuss key barriers and challenges, their learnings and the future opportunities in the eResearch environment.

While there may be disciplinary and tool differences in the work of these practitioners, they have a shared working and resource environment, and similar target audiences. This BoF is part of an informal series of knowledge sharing opportunities aimed at increasing collaboration across this community. It is an opportunity for those in the broader eResearch support community, including data stewards, ITS staff, data librarians and others, to contribute to discussions about challenges and barriers to learning as well as effective teaching and learning models/strategies, and new opportunities and collaborations.

This BoF will provide an opportunity to strengthen this community of practice, formalise channels of collaboration, and invite eResearch Australasia attendees to join this discussion. Benefits may include improved professional practice, informed critique of existing methods, broadening the reach of innovative ideas and improving efficiency and sustainability of training programs in this environment.

More information: Ann Backhaus, Education & Training Manager, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre

Further Engagement

eResearch Exhibition

Our exhibition booth was shared with the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) which saw large interest in how supercomputing and high performance computing works in Australia and the relationship between the two Tier-1 facilities. Promoting ourselves together at the conference was an excellent opportunity to showcase Australian science and collaboration in a demonstrative form.

The in-depth conversation on eResearch Diversity was followed by Toni Collis workshopping diversity and inclusion at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre with Pawsey and CSIRO staff.

Pawsey are excited to announce that eResearch 2020 will be hosted in Perth for the 14th annual conference!

Pawsey @ eResearch

Pawsey @ eResearch

Ann Backhaus - Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Ann Backhaus - Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Luke Edwards - Data Science Week Learnings

Luke Edwards - Data Science Week Learnings

Jenni Harrison - Making Gender Diversity a Business Priority

Jenni Harrison - Making Gender Diversity a Business Priority

Pawsey @ eResearch 2019

Pawsey @ eResearch 2019