Digital Research Academy

OSPARK Bootcamp #1 starts today!

Participants will spend the coming weeks exploring how to make their Open Science initiatives more visible, engaging and impactful.

Before the bootcamp began, we shared short outreach resources on: short-form video basics, finding your niche, scriptwriting, refining your message and editing tips.

Watch the series here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL30npmtub7ILPW7FXFLHAAB2j5EDaFAc

Missed this round? The second edition is coming to Munich (4 June –25 July):
https://events.digital-research.academy/event/131/

DRA is heading to deRSE 2026 and we’re bringing a booth!

Visit our booth for pins & merch (yes, goodies await!) and chat about open education, reproducibility, and building stronger research data communities. Let’s connect and strengthen Open Science together.

And Heidi will moderate the panel “Structuring the research software ecosystem in Germany” helping guide conversations that shape the future of research software and Open Science.

🔗 https://events.hifis.net/event/2945/contributions/21220/

See you there!

We’re excited to highlight Love Replications Week (2–6 March), an initiative from our collaborators @FORRT@mastodon.social focused on strengthening reproducibility and replication across disciplines.
Daily online Lunch Talks (15 min input + 15 min Q&A) plus workshops and further sessions are open to all researchers.
Learn how to conduct replication studies, prepare reports and integrate replication into teaching.
Because robust science must be repeatable.
🔗 https://forrt.org/LoveReplicationsWeek/

OSPARK Outreach Resource Series!
Communication for your Open Science project shouldn’t prevent people from discovering your work.
Ahead of OSPARK Bootcamp (starting 5 March), we’re sharing short videos on powerful outreach tools.
https://events.digital-research.academy/event/116/
First resource: What is a short-form video and why does it matter?
It’s not about going viral. It’s about explaining your initiative clearly in 60 seconds.
Could you?
Organised by DRA & OLS. Funded via OSCARS.

Our DRA community member @lisaspitzer@fediscience.org & the RDM Compas team invite RDM professionals to join a survey on skills, needs & training requirements in research data management.
If you’re a data steward, curator, or work in RDM, your input will shape future training and improve existing materials.
15–20 min | 📅 Deadline: 31 March 2026
The survey is voluntary & confidential
https://sosci.rlp.net/rdm_compas_demands_survey/

DEADLINE EXTENDED!
The application deadline for DRA Train-the-Trainer Program #8 is now February 20 (midnight CET) 🎉
Part 1 (March 2026 – Didactics):
Kick-off, evidence-based training & interactive peer-teaching
Part 2 (Apr–Jul 2026 – Practicals):
Design & teach your own course, receive peer feedback & publish your materials openly
Sharpen your teaching skills & join a vibrant training community
https://events.digital-research.academy/event/129/

Today is the LAST day to apply for Train-the-Trainer #8.
Strengthen your teaching, improve how you train researchers & students and turn your expertise into reusable, open learning materials.
TTT is a structured, hands-on programme: learn evidence-based methods, practice teaching, get feedback and publish your materials openly.
Starts 2 March 2026 (fully online).
Apply now: https://events.digital-research.academy/event/129/

You have an amazing open science project or endeavour but did it reach the right audience?
The OSPARK Bootcamp helps you turn good work into visible and community oriented impact.
And there’s only one day left to apply.
Over 6 weeks online + a 2-day onsite workshop in Belfast, you will:
sharpen your outreach & communication strategy
learn through peer exchange and deep discussion
experiment with formats (social media, events, audio, video)
Applications close tomorrow: https://events.digital-research.academy/event/116/

Love Data Week 2026 is all about community 💜
DRA is excited to highlight the inaugural rainbowR virtual conference, bringing together LGBTQIA+ users of R and allies to showcase their work, collaborate and strengthen the community.
The programme includes lightning talks, keynotes, expert-led workshops, and virtual spaces to connect.
25–26 Feb 2026
Register by 21 Feb
https://conference.rainbowr.org

Love Data Week 2026 is here and our DRA community is in action!
@lisaspitzer@fediscience.org & colleagues are organising the RDM Compas Hackathon to co-build an interactive query & tagging system for RDM training materials.
If you're a data steward, curator or RDM professional, join in and help shape community resources.
13 Feb 2026
10:00–12:00 (Zoom)
https://rdm-compas.org/love-data-week-2026
#LoveDataWeek #RDM

Ankita Dolai (Admin Assistant, DRA):
“My first day at DRA was attending the Train-the-Trainer program. I didn’t know what TTT entailed, but it opened new ways of doing better research, teaching research skills, and turning knowledge into reusable content.”
TTT isn’t just for experienced trainers its for anyone who want to evolve their teaching, strengthen research practices and make knowledge reusable.
ONE WEEK LEFT
Apply by 13 Feb
https://events.digital-research.academy/event/129/

Running an Open Science initiative or infrastructure and wondering how to make it visible, acknowledged and used?
The OSPARK Bootcamp is starting soon and designed for people who want to produce real impact through their Open Science work.
Over 6 weeks online + a 2-day onsite workshop in Belfast, you will strengthen your outreach strategy, experiment with formats (social media) and work directly on your own initiative.
5 March – 24 April 2026
Apply by 13 February 2026
https://events.digital-research.academy/event/116/

Struggling to turn data into meaningful insights? Or wondering where to find the right data for your research?
If you’re a PhD candidate, early-career researcher, or advanced Master’s student in business, economics, or the social sciences, join the EconData Workshop.
A hands-on, unconference-style event where your questions shape the program.
No prerequisites. No passive listening. Just practical problem-solving with peers.
Berlin, March 9–10
Free, Register by 20 Feb
https://izd2m.hu-berlin.de/events/2026-03-09_EconData-Workshop.html