Research Software Quality Across Continents

Tuesday 14 Apr 2026, 10:00 → 14:30 Europe/Zurich

An EVERSE-Africa Engagement Event

Software created to address the needs of researchers is playing an increasingly important role in many scientific domains, in industry and is having a broader impact. As a result researchers and engineers seek to improve their research software's quality, learn new skills and also seek recognition for their work.

The goal of this event is to share experience across continents on the challenges faced in creating research software and the improving its quality, and to foster both knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

The EVERSE project is pooling the knowledge of best practices for research software quality, initially targeting diverse research communities initially in Europe.  It seeks to identify the tools, metrics and training available in related topics.  Its target is to  work towards having it valued as a first-level contribution to research.

Organised by the EVERSE project, the University of Cape Town's e-Research Center and the Science for Africa Foundation.

 

 

 

 

10:00 → 10:45 Session 1: Introduction and Keynote

Convener: Fotis Psomopoulos (Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH))

10:00 Welcome and Introduction

Speakers: Anelda Van der Walt, Caxton Murira (Science for Africa Foundation), Fotis Psomopoulos (Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH))

10:15 Research Software Quality

Speaker: Peter van Heusden (University of the Western Cape)

10:45 → 11:30 Session 1: Short talks from the African community

Convener: Anelda Van der Walt (eResearch Center, Univ. of Cape Town)

10:45 From Observatory to Intelligent Observatory: Embedding Research Software Quality in AI-Enabled Astronomy

Speaker: Stephen Potter (SAAO)

10:55 (Title pending)

Speaker: Gabriella Razzano (OpenUp)

11:05 Elevating Usability to Access the Transformative Potential of Research Software

Speaker: Paul Korir (CEMA, University of Nairobi)

11:15 It's all code

Speaker: Barbara Ojur (SKA/SARAO)

11:30 → 12:00 Session 1: Q&A Session with presenters and EVERSE participants

Convener: Caxton Murira (Science for Africa Foundation)

12:00 → 12:30 Lunch / refreshment break

12:30 → 13:30 An overview of EVERSE - best practices / solutions / services: EVERSE

Convener: John Apostolakis (CERN)

12:30 An Introduction to EVERSE

Speaker: Fotis Psomopoulos (Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH))

12:40 Introduction to the RSQKit

Speaker: Shoaib Sufi (University of Manchester)

12:50 Indicators and assessment workflows

Speaker: Daniel Garijo

13:00 The Dashverse tool - a dashboard for your metrics

Speaker: Faruk Diblen (Netherlands eScience Center)

13:10 The TechRadar

Speaker: Dr Thomas Vuillaume (LAPP, CNRS, Univ. Savoie Mont-Blanc)

13:20 Discussion - questions & answers

13:30 → 14:00 Exploring key topics: Breakout sessions

Convener: Giacomo Peru

13:30 Breakout discussion groups - Good practices

Discussion will focus on good practices for the quality of research software.

We also suggest to also discuss indicators of quality.

13:30 Breakout room(s) - Indicators

Discussion will focus on indicators of quality of research software.

Additional topic(s) to touch: good practices for the quality of research software.

14:00 → 14:15 Exploring key topics: Round Table

14:15 → 14:30 Wrap-up: Take-aways