Research Software Engineering Community

 Events

Date Time Topic Location ICS
TBA TBA First online meeting Zoom TBP

Empowering Research Through Software

Digital skills and software are now more and more in demand when it comes to advancing research. Scientific computing started playing an important role not only in the natural sciences but in the humanities and social sciences as well. Recognising this, the Data Science Lab (DSL) at the University of Bern is actively bringing together a community of Research Software Engineers (RSEs) to support and advance research through robust software practices.​

Global RSE Movement

The term "Research Software Engineer" was coined in 2012 during a workshop by the UK's Software Sustainability Institute (SSI) to acknowledge professionals who combine expertise in programming with a deep understanding of research. This initiative led to the formation of the UK Research Software Engineers (UKRSE) Association in 2013, which evolved into the Society of Research Software Engineering in 2019. Since then the movement has gained international traction, with national RSE associations established in many countries. Only in Europe, they are present in the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finnland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Iceland.

Swiss RSE Community

In Switzerland, the RSE community started to take shape in December 2023, following an online event hosted by the ETH Zurich featuring Prof. Simon Hettrick from the aforementioned SSI. This event encouraged the formation of RSE groups at the ETH Zurich, EPFL, EMPA and WSL. These groups aim to promote best practices in research software development and provide support for their researchers and developers.

Building the RSE Community in Bern

With the upcoming initial event, we aim to bring about a vibrant RSE community at the University of Bern. Our planned activities include:​

  • Workshops and Trainings: Hands-on sessions to enhance skills in research software development.

  • Seminars and Flash Talks: Opportunities to share knowledge and experiences among peers.

  • Hackathons: Collaborative events to develop innovative research software solutions.

  • Surveys: Gathering insights to understand the needs and challenges faced by RSEs.

  • Informal Gatherings: Casual meetups like coffee talks to foster community bonding.

Are You a Research Software Engineer?

The RSE role is intentionally inclusive. If any of the following statements resonate with you, you are part of the RSE community:​

  • You develop software for research purposes.​

  • You are a researcher who creates software solutions for your work.​

  • You are the go-to person for computational tasks in your research group.

Stay Connected

Stay up to date using the following channels:

  • Mailing List: Subscribe to receive news and updates about RSE activities at the University of Bern.​

  • Matrix Chat: Join our community discussions at #rse-bern:matrix.org.​

  • Contact Us: For inquiries or to get involved, email us at rse.dsl@unibe.ch.​

By joining the RSE community, you contribute to a collaborative effort that enhances research quality and sustainability through effective software development.​

How to Contribute

We warmly welcome contributions from anyone interested in research software and digital practices in science. Whether you are an experienced developer, a researcher experimenting with code or simply passionate about improving research through better software, your voice matters.

If you have a project, idea, lesson learned or tool you would like to share with the community, we invite you to present at one of our upcoming events. Presentations can range from short 5-minute lightning talks to more in-depth 45-minute sessions and can be held either online or in person, depending on your preference.

To propose a talk or session, simply use the submission form available on this website. We encourage contributions from all disciplines and career stages.

Useful Resources

  • Swiss RSE Developments: For updates on RSE activities and events across Switzerland, visit RSE@ETH (currently hosted under the ETH Zurich domain, though this will change in the future).

  • History of the RSE Movement: Curious about how the RSE community began and why the term Research Software Engineer was coined? We recommend reading "A Not-So-Brief History of RSEs" for insights into the origins and motivations behind the movement.

  • International RSE Landscape: To explore global developments and discover RSE communities in other countries, visit the International Council of RSE Associations. It links to many national RSE organisations.

  • Upcoming International Events: Because the International Council’s site is not always up to date, a reliable alternative for international event information is the events page of the Society for Research Software Engineering in Germany.