Recognising research software as a first-class output of research
Developing and implementing a national research software agenda is a strategic activity for the ARDC’s Platforms and Software theme. Over 2020-2023, this initiative will enable the ARDC to establish the agenda for recognition of research software as a first-class research output, alongside journal papers and datasets, and for recognising the importance of software as a research enabler.
Now is the time to lift recognition of research software as a first-class output of research, by making it seen, well-shaped and sustained.
The ARDC will work alongside the research community to develop the agenda through participatory community engagement.
Why do we need to elevate research software?
Software is pervasive in modern life. In the research domain, most researchers say that their work would simply not be possible without the use of software. Despite this, software is an often invisible part of research, produced quickly without the application of software engineering principles, and often struggles to be maintained beyond a funding window.
Making research software a first class research output ensures that Australia will be able to fully utilise the value that research software represents. Making software creation and use more visible increases trust in research processes. Shaping cutting-edge research software for broadest and easiest use and reuse at the point of creation means that research software can more immediately translate into benefits for the economy, environment and society. Sustaining valued research software means that it can become resilient and continue to provide those benefits.
See, Shape and Sustain research software
This agenda revolves around three layers of distinct action to See, Shape and Sustain research software. The table below shows different clusters of concerns. Each layer has a distinct cluster of outputs, needs, authors and drivers, all summarised in the table below.
| Layer | Outputs | Core Concern | Authors | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| See | Research data processes in research software form | Sharing/Availability | Researchers | Research integrity |
| Shape | Novel methods and models as research software | Best practice software engineering | Nascent research software engineers (possibly with Research Software Engineers) | Research excellence and impact |
| Sustain | Accepted and broadly used methods and models as research software | Maintenance | Research software engineers | Stable research infrastructure |
Read A National Agenda for Research Software Draft
You can access the draft National Agenda for Research software, published 11 June 2021 at
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4940273
Timeline
ARDC will be engaging with stakeholders regarding the draft agenda in June and July 2021 to measure interest, prioritise actions, and hear new ideas. Engagement will continue on identified priorities thereafter in the context of an implementation plan that will be developed in response to the consultation.
Related events
- The ARDC conducted a survey to help understand the scale and distribution of software engineering or development capability within research organisations in Australia.
- The ARDC, in partnership with AGU, AuScope, NCI and TERN supported an event on “Meeting Publisher Requirements: Data, Samples, Software, Models & Notebooks” (23 November 2021)
- The ARDC presented at ResBaz Sydney “You Can Make Software Count: Best Practices in Software Citations” (23 November 2021)
- The ARDC presented at ResBaz Brisbane “Research Software Visible, Citable and Sustained: the ARDC Software Program” (24 November 2021) View the presentation here.
- ACEMS hosted a podcast episode on “Software as a first-class research output” with ARDC participation (released 17 November 2021). In this episode Prof. Rob Hyndman describes a recent policy change at the Monash Business School to recognise software outputs in that faculty for the purposes of career progression.
- In partnership with the Universities of Melbourne, NSW, and UQ, a Birds of a Feather Session “Data is only half the battle” was held at eResearch Australasia (report) (14 October 2021)
- The ARDC is planning activities to adopt and socialise the FAIR4RS principles upon formal release. For more information on how we will do this, see the presentation given at the Workshop on Sustainable Software Sustainability (WoSSS) (7 October 2021) (presentation video, 10 minutes)
An early indication of outcomes from the agenda validation have been presented at:
- The Workshop on Sustainable Software Sustainability (WoSSS) (8 October 2021) (presentation video 10 minutes)
- eResearch Australasia presentation “A National Research Software Agenda and Research Software at the ARDC” (presentation video 10 minutes) (15 October 2021)
A poster summary of the agenda was presented at:
- eResearch Australasia “A National Research Software Agenda (Poster)” (15 October 2021) (poster / video introduction 2 minutes)
Open invitation consultation events were held for:
- Authors of Research Software (6 July 2021 C3DIS and 23 July 2021 RSE-AUNZ members)
- Support staff who help with writing research software (21 July, 29 July)
- Support staff who assist with software handling tasks like publication, citation, preservation etc (22 July) (presentation video 19 minutes)
How to get involved
If you would like to be part of shaping Australia’s research software agenda, please contact us.
Key resources
- Read the draft National Agenda for Research software, published 11 June 2021.
- Read an article about the Agenda, Launching a draft research software agenda for Australia.
- Learn about the new FAIR principles for research software and how they are incorporated into our draft agenda.