Ice breaking Session

Participants were asked:

• Five volunteers
  • Act as a facilitator/scribe/reporter.
• Pick 1 of 5 break out points.
  • Want 5 to 6 people per group.
  • Pick a group where you know the least number of people.
• Spend 1 minute/person telling the others in your group who you are.
• Open envelope and answer the question contained therein (10mins).
  • Facilitator to moderate conversation AND take notes on piece of paper.
  • Summarise answers
• Report back to everyone (1 min/group).

Topics and responses

A. What groups should CERSE target first and why?

It was concluded that all of these areas were important.

B. What 5 topics do you think this community would like to be presented on at a future CERSE meeting in ranking order?

Group changed the nature of the question as to what would draw people in. Cake was thought to be an important factor. A couple of other suggestions were also made such as quizzes.

C. Scheduling these meetings to maximise diversity and attendance

• How regular should these meetings be held?
  • Weekly? Monthly? bi-monthly? more often? less often?
• Should we fix a day or move the day for meetings?
• What would be the best time in the day and for how long should the meetings run?

• It was thought that bi-monthly meetings would be good.
• That the meeting time and day should be moved around as should the time.
• Two hours was the right frequency.

D. Realistically, can we cater for all RSEs in Edinburgh?

• Should we try to host meetings in other Edinburgh Universities/Companies or establish a franchise?

Sadly this group did not make notes on the sheet of paper so if a member from this group can provide a summary then that would be good.

E. What basic training should we provide? Can we match these to resources available?

• Regarding a development framework
  • broaden people’s knowledge
  • open data, good data managment (findable, reproducible, documented)
  • advanced carpentries - who can do these
    • Have software/data carpentries already
  • IAD has developed programmes - know what theese already offer
  • wider Edinburgh resources
  • RSE badge/identity
  • How to foster cultures of good practice
  • Continuity/security/log-term career
  • SSI - ensure code is a recognisable contribitution
  • ? needs