Develop and implement an advocacy project to encourage wider use of socio-demographically diverse interns to broaden participation in research software

[dr-eric-jensen]

Potential Activity Scope
Developing and implementing an advocacy project to encourage the wider use of socio-demographically diverse interns to broaden participation in research software is a multifaceted endeavor. The process begins with understanding the current landscape of efforts to improve intern diversity and inclusion within the research software community, gathering information on existing practices, identifying gaps, and understanding barriers and opportunities.

Next, the objectives of the advocacy project must be clearly articulated, focusing on specific outcomes, and the target audience must be identified. This could include research institutions, software companies, academic departments, and other stakeholders. Crafting compelling messages that resonate with the target audience is essential, emphasizing the value, benefits, and ethical considerations of diverse intern participation. Strategies aligned with these messages might include awareness campaigns, workshops, partnerships, and policy advocacy.

Creating resources and tools, such as guidelines, best practices, case studies, and toolkits, will support the advocacy effort by providing practical guidance on recruiting and supporting diverse interns. Engaging allies and influencers within the research software community to champion the cause can enhance credibility and reach.

The advocacy project should then be launched. A robust monitoring and evaluation framework will be essential to track progress, assess impact, and identify areas for improvement, including defining clear metrics, indicators, and feedback mechanisms.

Adaptation and iteration based on ongoing feedback and performance may be necessary, possibly involving tweaking messages or introducing new activities. Building long-term commitment to diverse intern participation beyond the project may require creating a community of practice, securing ongoing support from key stakeholders, or integrating the advocacy effort into existing diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Some specific examples of steps that could be taken in this domain is to reach out to projects to encourage them to mentor Outreachy interns and those from other programs (e.g., Linux Foundation diversity programs), and to work with Google Summer of Code.

Potential Objectives

• To understand the current landscape of intern diversity within the research software community.
• To identify the target audience for the advocacy effort, including research institutions, software companies, academic departments, and other stakeholders.
• To craft compelling messages that resonate with the target audience, supported by strategies such as awareness campaigns, workshops, partnerships, and policy advocacy.
• To create resources and tools that provide practical guidance on recruiting and supporting diverse interns, such as guidelines, best practices, case studies, and toolkits.
• To engage allies and influencers within the research software community to champion the cause, enhancing credibility and reach.
• To launch the advocacy project across various platforms, ensuring a coordinated and consistent approach.
• To adapt and iterate the advocacy project based on ongoing feedback and performance, ensuring long-term commitment to diverse intern participation.

Targeted Impacts

• To increase awareness and understanding of the importance of socio-demographically diverse intern participation within the research software community.
• To foster a culture that values, supports, and actively seeks diverse interns, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and equity.
• To provide practical tools and resources that enable organizations to effectively recruit, retain, and support diverse interns.
• To build partnerships and collaborations that amplify the advocacy effort, creating a collective momentum towards broader participation.
• To influence policies, practices, and norms within the research software community, embedding diversity and inclusion as core principles.
• To create a lasting impact by integrating the advocacy effort into existing diversity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring sustainability and continuous improvement.

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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.