Community of expert trainers, who deliver custom trainings in #OpenScience, #DataLiteracy, and #RSE
Account is maintained by @joyceykao.bsky.social and @heidiseibold.bsky.social
A week of open ideas, fresh air & creative collaboration.
It’s not your usual conference, it’s part unconference, part hackathon, all community.
📅 Apr 7–11, 2026 | 📍 Machynlleth, Wales
👉 Sign up: buff.ly/L6MIbtq
#OpenScience
On the final day, the Open Science Bird fluffs her feathers and surveys the forest.
Her nest is strong, her community vibrant, and countless animals have built better homes thanks to shared knowledge.
A warmer, kinder forest — all because she chose to build openly.
On the final day, the Open Science Bird fluffs her feathers and surveys the forest.
Her nest is strong, her community vibrant, and countless animals have built better homes thanks to shared knowledge.
A warmer, kinder forest — all because she chose to build openly.
The Better Nest community expands globally.
She and her partners think hard about sustainability:
How can the community support new nest builders for years to come?
They sketch plans for maintenance, governance, and long-term care.
The Better Nest community expands globally.
She and her partners think hard about sustainability:
How can the community support new nest builders for years to come?
They sketch plans for maintenance, governance, and long-term care.
A podcasting penguin from Antarctica slides into her messages.
“Want to chat about nest building on my show for arctic creatures?”
She agrees instantly — the cross-continental collab she never knew she needed.
check out: Research Podcasting Essentials Series on Spotify
buff.ly/1iO7wsP
A podcasting penguin from Antarctica slides into her messages.
“Want to chat about nest building on my show for arctic creatures?”
She agrees instantly — the cross-continental collab she never knew she needed.
check out: Research Podcasting Essentials Series on Spotify
buff.ly/1iO7wsP
She launches her communication channels and begins connecting with others.
Some birds message her to collaborate; she reaches out to old friends too.
The network grows — and so does the potential.
Learn more: How do you ensure your science is seen, used, and sustained?
buff.ly/51vs6lG
She launches her communication channels and begins connecting with others.
Some birds message her to collaborate; she reaches out to old friends too.
The network grows — and so does the potential.
Learn more: How do you ensure your science is seen, used, and sustained?
buff.ly/51vs6lG
She brainstorms where to spread the word:
forest conferences, birdsong networks
and the wide world of woodland internet.
Different channels for different audiences.
Take a look at: Workbooks: Open Science on the Menu - How to get visibility for your Open Science Initiative
buff.ly/h2Izien
She brainstorms where to spread the word:
forest conferences, birdsong networks
and the wide world of woodland internet.
Different channels for different audiences.
Take a look at: Workbooks: Open Science on the Menu - How to get visibility for your Open Science Initiative
buff.ly/h2Izien
Now she thinks about how she wants to sound and look:
What tone? What visuals?
A logo? A signature feather motif?
Branding helps everyone recognize her communications instantly.
Learn more: Sign up for OSPARK Bootcamp to learn how to do this:
buff.ly/Z8zHVnH
Now she thinks about how she wants to sound and look:
What tone? What visuals?
A logo? A signature feather motif?
Branding helps everyone recognize her communications instantly.
Learn more: Sign up for OSPARK Bootcamp to learn how to do this:
buff.ly/Z8zHVnH
She reflects on her message:
What does she want to share about nest building?
Why does it matter?
Who will benefit--other nest-building animals, of course.
Clarity dawns like morning sunlight through the branches.
Learn more: OSPARK Email Course Sign Up: buff.ly/3GyWMEN
She reflects on her message:
What does she want to share about nest building?
Why does it matter?
Who will benefit--other nest-building animals, of course.
Clarity dawns like morning sunlight through the branches.
Learn more: OSPARK Email Course Sign Up: buff.ly/3GyWMEN
A friendly hedgehog suggests she promote her findings to help others build good nests.
She nods. “Right. Time to make a communication and advocacy plan!”
And so begins the Better Nest Initiative.
Learn more: OSPARK Project Page
buff.ly/9M0IDYG
A friendly hedgehog suggests she promote her findings to help others build good nests.
She nods. “Right. Time to make a communication and advocacy plan!”
And so begins the Better Nest Initiative.
Learn more: OSPARK Project Page
buff.ly/9M0IDYG
A snarky crow swoops down, inspecting the nest with a judgmental tilt of his head.
“Hmm,” he croaks, “but how prestigious is it? Did you build it in a high-impact tree?”
A snarky crow swoops down, inspecting the nest with a judgmental tilt of his head.
“Hmm,” he croaks, “but how prestigious is it? Did you build it in a high-impact tree?”
Her preprint becomes a fully published nest manual—freely available to every creature in the forest and beyond.
No paywalls here; all wings welcome.
Take a look: Streamlining your Open Access Publishing with RDM Episode:
buff.ly/w1gwR6m
Her preprint becomes a fully published nest manual—freely available to every creature in the forest and beyond.
No paywalls here; all wings welcome.
Take a look: Streamlining your Open Access Publishing with RDM Episode:
buff.ly/w1gwR6m
Before finishing her nest, she posts a preprint: “Preliminary Findings on Structurally Sound Nests.”
Other birds leave comments floating on the stream like little notes on leaves drifting past with friendly suggestions. She updates her approach accordingly.
Before finishing her nest, she posts a preprint: “Preliminary Findings on Structurally Sound Nests.”
Other birds leave comments floating on the stream like little notes on leaves drifting past with friendly suggestions. She updates her approach accordingly.
A curious owl wants to learn how she builds such sturdy nests but instead of giving a long lecture, she hands him a “Nest Basics” guide to read before they meet.
When they gather later, they skip the boring explanations and jump straight into practicing twig placing techniques together.
A curious owl wants to learn how she builds such sturdy nests but instead of giving a long lecture, she hands him a “Nest Basics” guide to read before they meet.
When they gather later, they skip the boring explanations and jump straight into practicing twig placing techniques together.
Do you want to learn more about ways to improve how to share computational environments? Join our workshop!
Tuesday 13 Jan 2026, 11:00 → 12:00 CET
More info and sign up here:
events.digital-research.academy/event/128/
#pixi
Do you want to learn more about ways to improve how to share computational environments? Join our workshop!
Tuesday 13 Jan 2026, 11:00 → 12:00 CET
More info and sign up here:
events.digital-research.academy/event/128/
#pixi
Halfway through building, she starts feeling overwhelmed by decisions: twig angle, moss layering, feather placement…
So she tries a new tool: a Large Limb Model—a tiny, Christmassy tree trained on thousands of historical nests.
Halfway through building, she starts feeling overwhelmed by decisions: twig angle, moss layering, feather placement…
So she tries a new tool: a Large Limb Model—a tiny, Christmassy tree trained on thousands of historical nests.
She writes tiny tests to ensure everything works as planned:
“Does this twig hold weight?”
“Does this moss absorb moisture?”
“Do these feathers resist wind?”
Everything passes, except the wind feathers. She adjusts them and the tests turn green.
She writes tiny tests to ensure everything works as planned:
“Does this twig hold weight?”
“Does this moss absorb moisture?”
“Do these feathers resist wind?”
Everything passes, except the wind feathers. She adjusts them and the tests turn green.
A curious raven asks, “How exactly are you layering the moss?”
The Open Science bird shares her full environment setup: temperature, humidity, moss thickness, twig density.
Now the raven can recreate the same comfy structure.
A curious raven asks, “How exactly are you layering the moss?”
The Open Science bird shares her full environment setup: temperature, humidity, moss thickness, twig density.
Now the raven can recreate the same comfy structure.
As her nest grows, she can’t keep up, random twigs everywhere, scattered notes, total chaos. So she creates a simple structure: clear docs, a tiny task board and shared standards for twig-placing. Suddenly everything feels lighter. Teamwork clicks and the nest base finally comes together.
As her nest grows, she can’t keep up, random twigs everywhere, scattered notes, total chaos. So she creates a simple structure: clear docs, a tiny task board and shared standards for twig-placing. Suddenly everything feels lighter. Teamwork clicks and the nest base finally comes together.
A mole shows her a perfect twig but can’t remember where he found it.
Without a record, the twig’s source is lost.
So she starts a simple reference list: every good twig gets its tree, location, and details noted.
Soon, no twig is ever “mysterious” again.
A mole shows her a perfect twig but can’t remember where he found it.
Without a record, the twig’s source is lost.
So she starts a simple reference list: every good twig gets its tree, location, and details noted.
Soon, no twig is ever “mysterious” again.
A flock flies by with the twigs she needs.
“Where did you get those?”she calls.
They shrug.“Somewhere near the stream? Maybe the oak?”
So she invites them to search together. They compare notes, coordinate with twig map.
Suddenly, the forest becomes navigable and the twig pile grows quickly
A flock flies by with the twigs she needs.
“Where did you get those?”she calls.
They shrug.“Somewhere near the stream? Maybe the oak?”
So she invites them to search together. They compare notes, coordinate with twig map.
Suddenly, the forest becomes navigable and the twig pile grows quickly
Collecting twigs turns into chaos: some are hidden, some crumble, some are the wrong shape, and many she finds only once and never again. Moss and string aren’t any better.
By sunset she sighs, “Why is nothing findable around here?”
Collecting twigs turns into chaos: some are hidden, some crumble, some are the wrong shape, and many she finds only once and never again. Moss and string aren’t any better.
By sunset she sighs, “Why is nothing findable around here?”
Before collecting a single twig,she drafts a Nest Management Plan-what she'll gather, where she’ll store it and how long she’ll keep everything organised.
It feels good to see her thoughts laid out.
With a clear plan, the whole project suddenly feels lighter, calmer and completely manageable
Before collecting a single twig,she drafts a Nest Management Plan-what she'll gather, where she’ll store it and how long she’ll keep everything organised.
It feels good to see her thoughts laid out.
With a clear plan, the whole project suddenly feels lighter, calmer and completely manageable
A sudden gust of wind snatches her blueprint, well almost!
Luckily, she has all her versions tucked safely in her pinecone-based version control system.
She smirks, “Ha! Try blowing away v1.1, forest.”
Check out collaborative Git without GitHub: buff.ly/KkJXbcY
A sudden gust of wind snatches her blueprint, well almost!
Luckily, she has all her versions tucked safely in her pinecone-based version control system.
She smirks, “Ha! Try blowing away v1.1, forest.”
Check out collaborative Git without GitHub: buff.ly/KkJXbcY
She sketches her nest design and pins it to a tree trunk like a public notice board.
“Maybe someone can help me improve this,” she says.
A squirrel adds a clever tweak; a hedgehog suggests reinforcing the base.
The blueprint becomes better with every pawprint.
She sketches her nest design and pins it to a tree trunk like a public notice board.
“Maybe someone can help me improve this,” she says.
A squirrel adds a clever tweak; a hedgehog suggests reinforcing the base.
The blueprint becomes better with every pawprint.
In a quiet winter forest, a small Open Science Bird decides to build the best nest ever. Not just any nest but one built openly, so every creature can learn from it.
“If research is a nest,” she chirps, “then I am building mine so everyone benefits.”
In a quiet winter forest, a small Open Science Bird decides to build the best nest ever. Not just any nest but one built openly, so every creature can learn from it.
“If research is a nest,” she chirps, “then I am building mine so everyone benefits.”
Good news — we’ve extended the application deadline for the Open Science Retreat 2026! 🎉
If you’ve been meaning to apply but needed a little more time, this is your chance.
✨ Don’t miss out — apply by Dec. 3 and be part of something special.
buff.ly/lFoKE2K
Good news — we’ve extended the application deadline for the Open Science Retreat 2026! 🎉
If you’ve been meaning to apply but needed a little more time, this is your chance.
✨ Don’t miss out — apply by Dec. 3 and be part of something special.
buff.ly/lFoKE2K