Liz Stokes1, Dr. Sara King2, Dr. Lakshmi Mohan, Dr. Nisha Ghatak3, Dr. Murray Cadzow4, Fathima Haseen5, Dr. Pao Corrales6
1Australian Research Data Commons, Australia, 2AARNET, Adelaide, Australia, 3NeSI, Auckland, New Zealand, 4University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 5Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, Perth, Australia, 6The Carpentries
Biography:
Liz Stokes is a Skills Development Lead (Trainer and Research Communities) in Skilled Workforce Development at the Australian Research Data Commons. They are an engaged advocate for the ARDC Carpentries membership, and Chair the Trainers Leadership Committee. As a professional boundary-spanner, Liz is a keen advocate for social infrastructure to facilitating learner communities. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2973-5647
Dr. Sara King is the Training and Engagement Lead for AARNet. She is focused on outreach within the research sector, developing communities of interest around training, outreach and skills development in eResearch. She is a Carpentries Trainer and is passionate about helping others develop the infrastructure and digital literacies required for working in a data-driven world, translating technology so it is accessible to everyone. https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-3199-5592
Lakshmi comes from an education and research background and immensely enjoys teaching; having taught at Unis in India, Middle East and Australia. She has a PhD in distributed systems from the University of Melbourne. Lakshmi has extensive experience in curriculum development, design and delivery of courses, marking, supervision of research and research leadership. Her leadership extends to education, where she has spearheaded accreditation programs and major academic reforms. Lakshmi has contributed to business support, and innovation, delivering impactful projects and publications. Lakshmi has acquired experience in training for researcher capability upliftment and facilitating e-Research platforms for researchers. ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8911-2310
Dr. Nisha Ghatak is a Research Communities Advisor – Training Lead at NeSI. She facilitates skill development efforts nationally and supports training communities through her role as a community coordinator for The Carpentries in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nisha was also recently elected to the Board of Directors for The Carpentries. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1213-2196
Dr. Murray Cadzow is a Scientific Programmer within Research Teaching IT Support at the University of Otago. Prior to this he spent 11 years researching the genetic basis of gout and related diseases. Murray has been heavily involved in computational literacy and bioinformatic training at the University of Otago – organising Carpentries Workshops, Research Bazaar within Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Otago Bioinformatics Spring School. He is both a Carpentries instructor and instructor trainer. His teaching has focused on delivering digital literacy training to researchers, and the development and support of the local Carpentries community at University of Otago. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2299-4136
Fathima is an Education and Training Specialist at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre with extensive experience in designing, developing, and delivering successful training programs across various industries and sectors. She has worked within the British, American, and Australian education systems, bringing significant expertise in adult education. At Pawsey, Fathima focuses on High-Performance Computing (HPC) education and training, equipping HPC users with the skills needed to leverage supercomputing power effectively. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9950-1510
Dr. Pao Corrales has a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences and works on improving severe weather forecasts in Argentina. Pao loves teaching science and programming using evidence-based techniques centered on the students and their context. Pao has been a trainer and instructor for The Carpentries since 2020 and is now also part of their Board of Directors.
Abstract:
Join us for the Carpentries Unconference and Networking Session, an engaging, participant-driven event designed to foster collaboration and open dialogue within the Carpentries community. This informal session provides an opportunity for learners, instructors, and supporters of Carpentries to come together, share experiences, and explore new ideas related to data science and computational skills training. Attendees will help set the agenda, creating space for dynamic discussions on topics like teaching challenges, tool adoption, curriculum development, and building inclusive learning environments. In addition to exchanging ideas, participants will have the chance to network, establish connections across different institutions, and collaborate on potential future projects. The unconference format encourages spontaneous conversations and the free flow of ideas, empowering everyone to contribute. Whether you’re new to Carpentries or a long-time member, this is a great opportunity to learn from each other, spark new ideas, and strengthen community bonds. We look forward to your participation!