What is good scientific practice for research software?

Talk for the 2nd Conference on Non-Textual Information - Software and Services for Science (S3), May 10-11, 2017 in Hannover

Transcript

1. What is good scientific practice for research software? ... and how can we make it part of our research culture? Konrad U. Förstner @konradfoerstner University of Würzburg May 10th, 2017
2. Science ⇄ Technology
3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bertini_fresco_of_Galileo_Galilei_and_Doge_of_Venice.jpg - PD
4. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leeuwenhoek_simple_microscope_(copy),_Leyden,_1901-1930_Wellcome_L0057739.jpg - CC-By by Wiki Commons User Fæ
5. https://unsplash.com/@toddquackenbush?photo=IClZBVw5W5A - PD
6. Software - an ubiquitous research tool https://unsplash.com/@toddquackenbush?photo=IClZBVw5W5A - PD
7. https://www.flickr.com/photos/80030261@N06/9955408263 https://www.flickr.com/photos/80030261@N06/9955408263 - CC-BY nationaleyeinstitute
8. https://www.flickr.com/photos/80030261@N06/9955408263 https://www.flickr.com/photos/80030261@N06/9955408263 - CC-By by Wiki Commons User EduVolunteer
9. It is unquestionable that there is a strong and growing dependence of research on software.
10. Software is also a result of the scientific work. Quality, accessibility, citability, etc. have to be ensured.
11. The importance of software for research is widely ignored.
14. Common problems with research software • Source code not published/available or even proprietary • No quality control / automated tests • Missing documentation • Discontinued development (e.g. due to end of contract) • Long-time availability not guaranteed • Missing citability https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg - PD
15. Potential reasons • Lack of awareness • Lack of skills • Lack of time • Lack of incentives • Lack of dedicated long-term funding • No reviewing • To hinder competitors https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg - PD
16. Several iniatives have been launched to address these issues. https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
17. • Software Carpentry (1998) https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
18. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
19. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
20. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
21. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software • DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
22. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software • DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) • sciforge https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
23. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software • DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) • sciforge • DFG program ”Research Software Sustainability” (7M €, 130 applications) https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
24. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software • DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) • sciforge • DFG program ”Research Software Sustainability” (7M €, 130 applications) • Helmholtz Association Task Group ”Access to and re-use of research software” formed; organized a workshop about research software https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
25. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software • DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) • sciforge • DFG program ”Research Software Sustainability” (7M €, 130 applications) • Helmholtz Association Task Group ”Access to and re-use of research software” formed; organized a workshop about research software • de-RSE founded (de-rse.org) https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
26. • Software Carpentry (1998) • Software Sustainability Institute (2008) • WSSSPE (Working towards sustainable software for science: practice and experiences) • Free Software Foundation Europe published a position paper regarding research software • DANS (Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) • sciforge • DFG program ”Research Software Sustainability” (7M €, 130 applications) • Helmholtz Association Task Group ”Access to and re-use of research software” formed; organized a workshop about research software • de-RSE founded (de-rse.org) • Several more ... lot of them here! https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I - PD
27. Since 2008: Priority Initiative ”Digital Information” of the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany The logos in this slide are excluded from the CC-BY license statement
28. Priority areas of the iniative • Research Data • Virtual Research Environments • National Licensing • National Hosting Strategy • Legal Frameworks • Open Access
29. Priority areas of the iniative • Research Data • Virtual Research Environments • National Licensing • National Hosting Strategy • Legal Frameworks • Open Access Some fame due to the recent ”DEAL” negotiations.
30. Since 2016 The cross-disciplinary ad-hoc working group ”Research Software” https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
31. Mathias Bornschein Ressortforschung des Bundes Dr. Matthias Katerbow German Research Foundation Prof. Dr. Andreas Zeller German Research Foundation Dr. Bernadette Fritzsch Helmholtz Association Dr. Uwe Konrad Helmholtz Association Dr. Georg Feulner Leibniz Association Dr. Jürgen Fuhrmann Leibniz Association Michael Franke Max Planck Society Stephan Janosch Max Planck Society Dr. Michael Erben-Russ Fraunhofer Society Dennis Zielke Fraunhofer Society Prof. Dr. Björn Brembs German Rectors’ Conference Dr. Konrad Förstner German Rectors’ Conference https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
32. The members have diverse backgrounds - scientist of different fields and scientific service / infrastructure providers. https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
33. Our modus operandi Compile recommendations and carry them back into our research organisations. https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
34. Guiding principle The concept of Good Scientific Practice (GSP) must be also applied to research software. https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
35. But what can Good Scientific Practice mean for research software? https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
36. • Reproducibility • Confirmability • Transparency • Qualility • Re-usability https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
37. Our working model – three types of software 1. Small tools written for single purpose 2. Software applications (as research output) 3. Infrastructure and online services https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
38. All three levels are relevant and have to be addressed. https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
39. Exact needs and possibilities might differ between scientific communities. Discourse must also happen inside of these communities. https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
40. E.g. what exactly means ”reproducibility” (bit-identical compilation?) and how long would this needed to be guaranteed? https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-coffee-meeting-team-7096/ - PD
41. Our aims / wishes https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
42. Raise the awareness for the relevance of research software. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
43. Include standards for research software into the common Good Scientific Practice recommendations. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
44. Introduce standards and mechanisms for quality control of research software. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
45. Create institutional platforms to publish and archive software/source code/workflows. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
46. Enable citation of such items. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
47. Make these citations part of the scientific reputation system. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
48. Foster the education of computational skills inside of the scientific community. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
49. Develop new carreer paths like Research Software Engineers, Software Librarians, Data Scientists. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
50. Raise awareness about and teach legal aspects (i.e. licensing) of software. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
51. Raise awareness about and teach legal aspects (i.e. licensing) of software. Make open source the default. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
52. Facilitate the transition from single-purpose solutions to application to services. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
53. Provide long-term funding to enable sustainable software development. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ogimogi/2223450729 - CC-BY Eran Sandler
54. A lot to do and a lot of open questions.
55. We represent the German scientific community / research organisation. http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=2380666 – The Library of Congress, PD
56. We represent the German scientific community / research organisation. Ideally all these issues are adressed on an international level. http://www.everystockphoto.com/photo.php?imageId=2380666 – The Library of Congress, PD
57. Let’s do this together! https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre_P%C3%A9nicaud_-_Plaque_with_Acrobats_-_Walters_44189.jpg PD
58. www.allianzinitiative.de @konradfoerstner http://www.flickr.com/photos/nateone/3768979925/ – CC-BY by flick user nateone