# Call for a co-organizer of a PyCon 2026 RSE specialist track

**URL:** <https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/call-for-a-co-organizer-of-a-pycon-2026-rse-specialist-track/5785>\
**Category:** Research Software Community\
**Created:** [16 January 2026 04:46 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/call-for-a-co-organizer-of-a-pycon-2026-rse-specialist-track/5785 "2026-01-16T04:46:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![paulleopardi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.access-hive.org.au/paulleopardi/32/92_2.png) [@paulleopardi](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/u/paulleopardi)\
**Post date:** [16 January 2026 04:46 UTC](https://forum.access-hive.org.au/t/call-for-a-co-organizer-of-a-pycon-2026-rse-specialist-track/5785/1 "2026-01-16T04:46:07Z")

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[PyCon AU 2026](https://2026.pycon.org.au/) (Brisbane 26-30 August) is [calling for proposals for specialist tracks, with a 23 January deadline](https://2026.pycon.org.au/posts/call-for-specialist-tracks/). I would like to propose a specialist track called **“Research Software Engineering - Python for robust research** ” (Thanks to Charles Turner for the topic name suggestion). Ideally, the proposal would include a co-organizer. **Are you interested in co-organizing the specialist track with me?**

The track would include topics related to:

- the use of software engineering practices within Python and mixed-language code bases, especially code used for research or created by researchers,
- the use of Python-based software tools within the RSE ecosystem,
  - Spack is an example

- building bridges between the Python and RSE communities.

Relevant books and presentations include:

- [Research Software Engineering with Python (Irving, et al. 2021)](https://github.com/merely-useful/py-rse)
- [Research Software Engineering with Python (COMP233)](https://github-pages.ucl.ac.uk/rsd-engineeringcourse/)
- [Research Software Engineering with Python (COMP233)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stCRUYX_sTA&list=PL-YIfuwj8R2jp308VymudS5l9z9MVyZXO&index=9) (YouTube)
- [Research Software Engineering skills in Python](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyp9t6mGdsw) - Jack Atkinson, Marion Weinzierl, Amy Pike (YouTube)