Create a series of case studies showing powerful scientific impact stemming from relatively low-profile research software

[dr-eric-jensen]

Potential Activity Scope
To help reveal software's often-overlooked role in scientific discovery, the following steps may be needed:

• The first step involves desk-based research to identify cases where software has been particularly fundamental in scientific discoveries. This requires digging into scientific literature, project documentation, interviews with researchers, and other sources to uncover instances where software has made a significant contribution, even if not explicitly mentioned.
• From the initial research, a selection of compelling cases is made, focusing on those where the software's role was not only significant but also perhaps unexpected or innovative. The selection aims to represent a diverse range of scientific fields, technologies, and contexts, highlighting the breadth and depth of software's impact.
• Each selected case is then considered carefully, exploring the software's functionality, design, development, application, and outcomes. This includes understanding how the software was used, why it was chosen, what challenges it addressed, and what discoveries it enabled.
• A key aspect of the task is to bring to light the often-unseen role of software in scientific research. This involves uncovering and articulating how low-profile software products have made critical contributions, even when they are not mentioned explicitly or are overshadowed by other factors.
• The case studies are not just analytical but also narrative, telling the stories of the software, the researchers, the discoveries, and the broader context. This storytelling approach makes the case studies more engaging, relatable, and inspiring, connecting with a wider audience. It may also be worth including in this narrative an explicit mention of the reasons why the software was not initially highlighted in the traditional research outputs associated with the case.
• If resources are available, to ensure accuracy and credibility, the case studies are validated and verified through expert reviews, feedback from the involved researchers, and cross-referencing with other sources. This ensures that the case studies are not only compelling but also trustworthy.
• Finally, the case studies should be disseminated. The goal is to reach not only the scientific community but also a wider audience of relevant stakeholders to raise awareness.

Potential Objectives

• To review scientific literature, project documentation, and interviews to identify cases where low-profile research software has played a fundamental role in scientific discoveries.
• To select a diverse and compelling set of cases that represent various scientific fields, technologies, and contexts, focusing on software that may not be widely recognized but has been instrumental.
• To analyze each selected case in detail, exploring the software's functionality, design, development, application, and outcomes, and understanding its unique contributions and innovations.
• To uncover and articulate the often-unseen role of low-profile software in scientific research, highlighting how these tools have made critical contributions even when not explicitly mentioned.
• To craft engaging and relatable narratives for each case study, using storytelling techniques to connect with a wider audience and make the content more inspiring and accessible.
• To validate and verify the case studies through expert reviews, feedback, and cross-referencing, ensuring that they are accurate, credible, and trustworthy.
• To disseminate the case studies widely.

Targeted Impacts

This project would help to boost the recognition and celebration of the hidden heroes of scientific discovery, shedding light on the software that quietly but profoundly shapes our understanding of the world.

Other impacts potentially stemming from this activity include:

• To elevate the recognition and appreciation of low-profile research software within the scientific community, shedding light on the hidden heroes of scientific discovery.
• To inspire researchers, developers, and students to explore and engage with diverse software tools, fostering a more innovative, inclusive, and dynamic research ecosystem.
• To contribute to the broader understanding and discourse around science, technology, and innovation, by showcasing the multifaceted and interconnected ways in which knowledge is created and shared.
• To provide valuable resources, insights, and examples for educators, policymakers, funders, and other stakeholders, supporting informed decisions, strategies, and practices related to research software.

---

This potential activity was curated as part of "Charting the Course: Policy and Planning for Sustainable Research Software," a Sloan Foundation-funded project within URSSI dedicated to supporting the future of research software through evidence-informed policy work (Project contacts are: @danielskatz and @dr-eric-jensen). If you are interested in working on this, please add a comment."