Between 29 April and 2 May 2025, AARNet’s Training and Engagement Lead, Dr Sara King, alongside Professor Mik Black, Co-Director of Genomics Aotearoa at the University of Otago, and Associate Professor Arindam Basu from the University of Canterbury, co-hosted a four-day Carpentries Instructor Training workshop in collaboration with New Zealand eScience Infrastructure (NeSI). The workshop brought together a vibrant international cohort of researchers and trainers from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, and aimed to empower researchers from diverse disciplines, including life sciences, with the tools and teaching strategies to become certified instructors in The Carpentries’ globally respected curriculum.

From managing genomic datasets to modelling ecological systems and analysing epidemiological trends, life sciences research is increasingly driven by data. To support researchers in this rapidly evolving landscape, AARNet is working with the Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) to help build national capacity in foundational digital skills through the Australian Carpentries Network.

Strengthening life sciences through digital pedagogy

The Carpentries community is dedicated to teaching foundational coding and data science skills to researchers. The life sciences stream — particularly through Data Carpentry workshops — offers critical support for fields such as genomics, biodiversity, epidemiology, and bioinformatics.

“The Carpentries pedagogy is about more than just teaching software — it’s about inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices that build community and confidence,” said Dr King. “As research becomes more interdisciplinary and data-intensive, we need skilled instructors who can deliver high-quality, relevant training for the life sciences sector.”

What attendees had to say

For participants like Emma Gail, Training Lead at Melbourne Bioinformatics, the workshop was invaluable.

“Getting in-depth training on the Carpentries’ pedagogy was invaluable for my role... I found the impromptu thoughts and ideas to be just as relevant as the prepared content. The feedback sessions really helped refine my live coding and instructional skills,” said Gail.

Siobhan Egan, a Research Fellow at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, echoed the benefits of the program:

“The training was a great mix of theoretical content and practical exercises... It was incredibly valuable to revisit fundamental teaching skills and inclusive practices, which I can now carry into both Carpentries workshops and my broader teaching journey.”

Building capability and community

AARNet’s support for initiatives like The Carpentries is part of a broader effort to build digital research capability in life sciences across the country. AARNet’s national high-speed network and collaboration services underpin large-scale projects in genomics, biosecurity, health informatics, and environmental monitoring — disciplines that rely on the very skills The Carpentries help researchers develop.

“We’re not just providing network infrastructure,” said Dr King. “We’re investing in the people and communities who make research happen.”

Looking ahead

As data in life sciences continues to grow in volume and complexity, initiatives like Carpentries Instructor Training are becoming essential to equip researchers with the skills to meet emerging challenges.

Liz Stokes, ARDC Skills Development Lead said: "ARDC is dedicated to building bridges between research organisations to elevate digital skills nationally, and our Carpentries partnership with AARNet is a prime example of that synergy in action for the life sciences. By supporting and connecting efforts like these, we help create a cohesive national capability, ensuring researchers across Australia have access to high-quality, impactful training like The Carpentries."

By fostering a culture of open, collaborative, and inclusive digital skills training, AARNet and its partners are helping secure a stronger, more connected future for life sciences research in Australia.