Research Software Engineering in the Nordics: Insights from CodeRefinery and Nordic-RSE
16 July 2025
SSI Fellow Samantha Witte writes about her visit to EPCC to deliver a talk titled “RSE by Accident: From CodeRefinery to Nordic-RSE and Beyond.”
My visit followed my participation in the Collaborations Workshop 2025 in Stirling, part of my Software Sustainability Institute Fellowship. My Fellowship focuses on community building and outreach within Research Software Engineering (RSE) in Finland and the broader Nordic region.
My journey into RSE began in 2019 when I attended a CodeRefinery workshop. CodeRefinery offers practical training in research software development, emphasising reproducibility, version control, testing, and collaborative coding practices. For me, as well as for many other researchers, these workshops serve as an introduction to RSE topics and the wider RSE community, with the potential to transform technical skills into pathways for community engagement and even leadership.
Since joining CSC – IT Center for Science in Finland in 2021, I have supported researchers in navigating supercomputing resources through user support, training, and the development of documentation and tutorials. In 2024 I became the community manager and, in 2025, project manager for CodeRefinery, coordinating workshops and supporting community growth. I also serve on the board of the Nordic-RSE association, where we support the expanding RSE community across the Nordic countries. My involvement also extends to ELIXIR Finland as deputy training coordinator, connecting training initiatives across life science domains.
At EPCC I shared insights on how CodeRefinery serves as a gateway to better research software practices and broader collaboration among researchers. While primarily aimed at researchers, these workshops are open to all and emphasise the value of practical and collaborative learning. Participants are encouraged to “bring their own classroom” to enable collaborative learning environments without needing to host entire workshops themselves (see our blog post "Bring your own classroom to a CodeRefinery workshop")
Beyond the presentation session, I enjoyed engaging with EPCC staff to exchange perspectives on training and research support. It was also a pleasure to reconnect with colleagues from earlier conferences and online collaborations. A particular highlight was my conversations with Jyoti and Saranjeet from RSE Asia, where we discussed our respective experiences in community building (See Jyoti's article on the EPCC website). We even started discussions around the idea of launching a joint seminar series between RSE Asia and Nordic-RSE — an exciting and somewhat unexpected prospect for cross-regional collaboration.
Nordic-RSE conference
After my visit to EPCC, I travelled to Gothenburg, Sweden, for our second in-person Nordic-RSE conference. Around 45 RSE enthusiasts gathered for two inspiring days of talks, posters, and discussions. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet both familiar and new faces, and the event reinforced the value of shared efforts in advancing research software practices across our region. (See the blog post Nordic-RSE conference 2025: Thank you for a great time!)
The trip also allowed me to explore some of Edinburgh’s highlights — from walking along the Fife Coastal Path, to Portobello beach, as well as enjoying a sunny evening atop Arthur’s Seat and around the Old Town.
I’d like to thank everyone at EPCC for the warm welcome and insightful conversations.
If you're interested in CodeRefinery, Nordic-RSE, or training initiatives at CSC, feel free to reach out to me at samantha.wittke@csc.fi. Always happy to chat!
Links
Presentation slides from EPCC visit
Author
Samantha Witte, Research Software Engineer, CSC Finland
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