---
# System prepended metadata

title: May 2023 SSI Fellows Community Call
tags: [SSIFellowsCommunityCalls]

---

# SSI Fellows Community Call - May 2023

:::info
* Tuesday, 30 May, 14:00-15:00 BST (UTC+1)
* Recording: [Jesper Dramsch](https://youtu.be/n3u4jCvpKHU)
* Previous calls: [https://bit.ly/3eu7NjT](https://bit.ly/3eu7NjT)
* Summary: We heard a Fellow’s update from Jesper Dramsch. In discussion groups, we talked about alternative methods of contributing and onboarding new contributors, branching out on your own - how to decide if freelancing is right for you and figure out what people would pay you for, and the next phase of the Software Sustainability Institute. 
:::

[toc]

## Agenda
Times in BST (`check your time zone here`)

14:00 - 14:10 Welcome
14:10 - 14:25 Fellows’ updates
14:25 - 14:55 Breakout room discussions
14:55 - 15:00 Closing


## Roll call
_Name / Cohort year / Affiliation / Location / Pronouns / Social media_

* Rachael Ainsworth / 2019 / Software Sustainability Institute, University of
Manchester / Manchester / she,her / t:
[@rachaelevelyn](https://twitter.com/rachaelevelyn) * Diego Alonso Álvarez /
2020 / Imperial College London / London / he,him / github:
[dalonsoa](https://github.com/dalonsoa)
* Abhishek Dasgupta / 2021 / University
of Oxford / he, him / t: [@abhidg](https://twitter.com/abhidg)
* Iain Barrass / 2021 / University of Glasgow / Salisbury / he, him
* Sarah Gibson / 2020 / 2i2c / Midlands, UK / she,her / gh: sgibson91 
* Riva Quiroga / 2022 / Universidad Católica de Chile, Programming Historian / Valparaíso, Chile / she, her / t: [@rivaquiroga](https://twitter.com/rivaquiroga), m: [@rivaquiroga@mastodon.social](https://mastodon.social/@rivaquiroga)
*  Patricia Herterich / 2019 / OLS & self-employed  / Edinburgh, UK? she, her / @pherterich
* Nadine Spychala / 2023 / Doctoral Researcher, Sussex University / she/her / tw: @NadineSpychala 
* Loïc Lannelongue / 2023 / University of Cambridge / Cambridge
* Dave Young / 2023 / Queen's University Belfast / Belfast / he,him / [@thespacedoctor](https://twitter.com/thespacedoctor) everywhere
* Shoaib Sufi / SSI Staff/ University of Manchester / @shoaibsufi
* Saranjeet Kaur / 2023 /Research Software Alliance / GH: @SaranjeetKaur
* Jesper Dramsch / 2022 / ECMWF / Bonn, Germany / they / @jesperdramsch
* Jez Cope / 2020 / The British Library / North Yorkshire / he/him / [@petrichor@digipres.club](https://digipres.club/@petrichor)

### Check-in
_Include your name and answer any of the following prompts: How are you today? What are you working on? Where do you need support?_

* Patricia: sweaty in the hammock
* Nadine: stressed with things!
* Jesper: Stressed about the talk, but happy now it's done!
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## 1. Welcome - 5 min [14:00 - 14:10]

### General Guidance

* 🤝 Please follow the [Code of Conduct](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eQu4EKHKbL-EMCwbwy7F_YGCOFhBcpBbwsET7QAvA1U/edit?usp=sharing), report any issues to [Rachael](mailto:r.ainsworth@software.ac.uk) or [Shoaib](mailto:shoaib.sufi@software.ac.uk).
* 📹 The Fellows updates are being recorded and the videos will be made available on the [SSI YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/SoftwareSaved) after the call. 
* 📝 This document is for SSI Fellows only, so please do not share the link publicly. Feel free to take notes, ask questions, add friendly comments, +1, etc. 
    * Outputs such as blog posts or guides may result from the discussions and shared insights. We will not share any personal information, but if you would like to be contacted and included as a contributing author on any outputs, please include your full name as part of any shared insights.


### Goals of these Community Calls
* Facilitate community building and encourage collaboration within the SSI Fellows community.
* Check in with the Fellows and community care - What are the Fellows up to? How can we support them?
* Provide a welcoming and inclusive space for Fellows to share and explore topics of interest and network with others.

### Breakout room discussion topics 
Feel free to add your own and include your name:
1. OpenSource software for virtual reality applications (Magesh Chandramouli)
2. Branching out on your own, how to decide if freelancing is right for you and figure out what people would pay you for (Jez Cope)
3. Community co-creation (Georgia Aitkenhead)
4. Alternative methods of contributing and onboarding new contributors (Sarah Gibson)
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## 2. Fellows’ updates - 20 min [14:10 - 14:25]
_This is an opportunity for Fellows to share/show and tell during our community calls. During each call, we can accommodate 2 Fellows who will each have 7 min (+ 3 min Q&A) to introduce themselves and share any updates to the network, such as:_
* _Your Fellowship plans, demos of projects, upcoming events or other activities_
* _Projects for which you are seeking support or collaboration_
* _Life after the Fellowship and how the Fellowship impacted your career_

Timer for speakers: [https://cuckoo.team/ssi-fellows-community-call](https://cuckoo.team/ssi-fellows-community-call) 



### Jesper Dramsch (2022) - 7 min + 3 min Q&A
* Useful links:
    * Slides: https://github.com/JesperDramsch/talks/blob/main/2023-05-30%20SSI%20Fellows%20Update/SSI%20Community%20Call%20-%20Fellows%20Update.html
    * Workshop: https://realworld-ml.xyz
    * "Increase citations, ease review & foster collaboration" - Jupyter Book: https://ml.recipes
    * Latent Space Community: https://latent.club
* Notes:
    * 
* Questions:
    * Rachael: What are the main problems in building your new community and how could the SSI help?



## 3. Breakout room discussions - 30 min [14:25 - 14:55]
_Please take notes of your discussion while you are in your breakout rooms in the relevant section below for others to catch up with._

### Main room: SSI4 Update
* Participants:
    * Shoaib
    * Loïc
    * Jesper
    * Iain
    * Abhishek
    * Aman
    * Rachael
* Notes: 
    * Currently putting together the bid for the next phase of SSI4, current phase of funding ends May 2024
    * Are there areas or things that SSI can include as part of the proposal?
        * E.g. "Environmental sustainability" is an area of growing interest - how can the Institute get involved in this area?
            * e.g. Support existing researchers in environmental sciences to make their software more sustainable
            * e.g. Providing guidance, events, workshops on how to make software more environmentally friendly
        * E.g. AI/ML - how can we support ethical practices? Both datasets and algorithms can be biased
            * Stochastic Parrot paper: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3442188.3445922
        * You always need to ask "What for?" - COVID facemask example: "WHY do we want to do facemask detection?" and what will it actually be used for if you build it.
    * Would you have preferred the fellowship to pay for your time?
        * Some Fellows would not be able to accept the Fellowship due to their job, taxes
        * Bureaucracy would have been a nightmare, full economic costs
        * 5 days would not really make a difference
        * If feasible, could make it an option if they can make the case
    * Promotion of the Fellowship outside of the RSE community, SSI Ambassador?
        * Provide professional materials to the Fellows, e.g. slides

### Breakout Room 2: Branching out on your own, how to decide if freelancing is right for you and figure out what people would pay you for 
* Participants:
    * Jez
    * Patricia
* Notes:
    * Going straight from FT employment to FT freelance is hard! Can be easier to gradually switch over with things like flexible working and reducing employed hours
    * ACTION: set up a Slack channel for SSI Fellows who are or want to do work on a contract (non-traditional employment?) basis (either freelance or as part of a small group)
    * Different skill sets and preferences for what work you enjoy might make it work joining up in some kind of collective: can share overheads and admin work, and bid for bigger/more interesting projects/contracts

### Breakout Room 4: Alternative methods of contributing and onboarding new contributors
* Participants:
    * Sarah
    * Nadine
    * Dave
    * Riva
    * Saranjeet
* Notes:
    * Office hours: specific to the Outreachy projects, in the lead up
    * Mentored sprints: could work with clear documentation on what to expect and how to succeed
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## 4. Closing - 5 min [14:55 - 15:00]

### Next call: `call date`
* Doodle poll to determine time: `link to Doodle poll`
* Sign-up/register your interest to speak on a future call: https://forms.gle/4YpTTAFUNuA2XyZEA

### Upcoming events / calls
_Event name / date, time & venue / website / description_

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### Requests for peer assists, collaboration and/or support

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### Other updates, shares and shout-outs
_Please feel free to add any updates or thank-yous that you wish to share with the community._

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### Feedback

* What did you enjoy about this call? What worked well?
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* What could be improved? What did not work well?
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* What topics would you like to explore on future calls?
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