Building digital skills capability across the research workforce
The theme for eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa 2025 is New Horizons: Shaping the Digital Future of Research in Aotearoa. One of the pillars supporting that theme is a focus on how our sector grows and develops our people.
On this topic, we'll be starting the discussion a day early, hosting NZ Carpentry Connect as a free pre-conference event — check out more details on that below.
Then, through our main conference programme, we've got sessions focused on retaining and developing talent, working collaboratively to share knowledge, and building communities of practice.
Last, we're excited to announce distinguished speaker Dr. Kari L. Jordan, whose unwavering commitment to data science education, exceptional leadership skills, and passion for equity and inclusion have positioned her as a driving force in shaping the future of data literacy.
Before you leave for the summer break, don't forget to register at Early Bird rates and book your accommodations!
NZ Carpentry Connect - 10 Feb 2025
NZ Carpentry Connect is targeted at anyone interested in supporting skills development in data science & computational approaches in research.
A core audience is those who have encountered The Carpentries in some way (perhaps as a learner, helper, instructor, or ally) but NZ Carpentry Connect is also open to anyone interested in learning more about training communities — either to hear what’s happening across regions, strengthen ties within existing networks, or simply learn more about what’s out there and who’s involved.
Hosted by NeSI, NZ Carpentry Connect will be held as a hybrid event, with options to attend online via Zoom or in-person at the University of Canterbury. You do not need to be registered for the eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa conference to participate.
Stay tuned as we finalise the full NZ Carpentry Connect programme. In the meantime, we're excited to announce our first guest speaker:
NZ Carpentry Connect Guest Speaker
Dr. Tom Pollard
Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
Dr. Pollard will deliver an insightful talk on Responsible Machine Learning in Python.
eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa preliminary programme released
Earlier in December we released a preliminary programme.
For those especially interested in the topic of growing and supporting the sector workforce, we've got a range of sessions for sharing insights and exchanging ideas.
Highlights include:
- The Carpentries Pinball Arcade: An immersive game with a training community
Speakers: Sara King (AARNET), Liz Stokes (ARDC), Murray Cadzow (University of Otago), Nisha Ghatak (NeSI)
- Teaching HPC Bioinformacs to Researchers: The University of Melbourne Experience
Speaker: Lev Lafayee (University of Melbourne)
- Reflecting on a Nationwide Bioinformatics Training Programme
Speaker: Tyler McInnes (Genomics Aotearoa)
- Building a Skilled Research Workforce: Strengthening the Naonal Training Landscape
Speakers: Nisha Ghatak (NeSI), Rina Hannaford (AgResearch), Wes Harrell (MWLR), Francois Bissey (UC), Murray Cadzow (University of Otago), Tyler McInnes (Genomics Aotearoa)
Keynote speaker announcements
We are thrilled to welcome another distinguished speaker who will be heading the eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa conference programme:
Dr. Kari L. Jordan
Executive Director, The Carpentries
Dr. Kari L. Jordan is a visionary leader and advocate in data science education and community building. As the Executive Director for The Carpentries, an internationally recognized organization dedicated to teaching researchers foundational coding and data science skills, Dr. Jordan has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of data literacy and empowering individuals worldwide.
Her work centers on making computational skills accessible to all, bridging gaps in technical knowledge, and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in data science. Her contributions to The Carpentries and the broader data science community continue transforming how individuals acquire and apply critical computational skills, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and empowered society.
You can learn more about all our keynote speakers on the conference website.
We also extend our congratulations to Giuseppe Barca, earlier announced as a keynote for our event.
Dr Giuseppe Barca
Associate Professor, The University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne Associate Professor Giuseppe Barca, his Australian research team, and their American collaborators were recently awarded the 2024 Gordon Bell Prize, regarded as the 'Nobel Prize' of HPC. The prize recognises the Australian team’s development of the first quantum-accurate simulation of biological systems at the scale needed to accurately model drug performance.
The software will enable new drugs to be developed faster and cheaper and for diseases that have — so far — been too difficult to treat. For more details, read the University of Melbourne announcement here.
More information about eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa 2025
For more information, visit the conference website or get in touch.
You can also subscribe to the conference mailing list to receive event updates direct to your inbox.
If you'd like to sponsor the event, email Georgina Rae, NeSI Science Engagement Manager.
