TraCS - Training in Computational Science

Project Information

CompSci

Grant agreement ID: 945371

DOI

10.3030/945371

EC signature date 6 May 2020

Start date 1 August 2021

End date 30 April 2027

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 5 207 040,00

EU contribution

€ 2 603 520,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CompSci (TraCS - Training in Computational Science)

Reporting period: 2021-08-01 to 2023-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The use of computing and data science is revolutionizing research, industry, government and society. New skills are needed to be competitive in research and innovation. The EU digital single market estimates that all professionals will need digital skills. There was an unfilled need for 630.000 digital leaders in 2018 - leaders with high-tech leadership and innovation skills. In the context of science and innovation this means that all researchers should build solid skills in computing and data science, in addition to a disciplinary basis. This requires training and skill sets that are different from the traditional training of computer science experts, which is difficult to transfer and apply in a disciplinary setting. It requires an integration between research and methods training. An experimental bioscientist or materials scientists must learn computing and data science with methods and examples that are adapted to their field of research in order for the candidate to be able to apply these methods effectively in their field. This will give them the combination of competences in a discipline and in digital skills needed to impact research and education in their discipline, bring a new cross-disciplinary approach to research and innovation, and digitally transform academia and industry. It will also provide researchers with skills and competence that answer the call for a digitally competent workforce and improve their employability across all sectors.

CompSci is a 5-year program with 31 PhD positions of 36 months each in two calls over the program period. The candidates go through an initial intensive training in scientific programming, computational science and data science. The candidates will then apply and develop these skills in a research project in their science discipline – mathematics, bioscience, geoscience, chemistry, materials science, astronomy or physics – in research groups at the University of Oslo. The research groups and supervisors are experienced supervisors on a top international level, have a track record in interdisciplinary research, and integrate computational and disciplinary approaches. This provides the candidates with skills that significantly improve employability and their impact in their field of research, forming a basis for an exceptional career in research or innovation. CompSci is training a cohort of computationally proficient researchers to become Europe’s digital leaders across disciplines and sectors.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The program has recruited 31 fellows in two main calls and one auxiliary call through an open, transparent and merit-based selection process. The candidates were selected through a two-step process of written applications and interviews using a set of rubrics especially developed for the program by panels that included international experts.

The fellows have successfully completed the compulsory initial 20 ECTS training program in computational and data science. The first of three workshops focusing on computational and other transferrable skills have been successfully completed by the fellows.

The fellows have successfully been integrated in their research groups and began their training as independent researchers under supervision of internationally leading interdisciplinary research groups at the University of Oslo.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

There is a need for a significant number of digital leaders - leaders with high-tech leadership and innovation skills – to lead the digital transformation in Europe. Educating skilled professionals and providing existing professionals with updated digital skills - re-skilling - is therefore recognized as a major challenge for Europe. Students across all educational levels must be taught by digitally proficient teachers. The teachers must be educated and re-skilled - across all educational levels from schools through higher education. Computing and data science open for breakthroughs in research and innovation - whole fields of science - are being changed and industries are upturned. Such a transformation is not undertaken by ICT experts alone, but by changing the way computing and data science is integrated in all research and innovation and in all professions, as in the vision of EUs Digital Single Market strategy. A new generation of researchers, innovators and professionals who understand how digital technology is going to affect research and innovation in various fields must be educated. In order to impact their respective fields, these researchers and innovators must have a deep understanding both of their field and of how digital technology is affecting it, paired with a deep understanding of computing and data science. That is why the goal of CompSci is to train researchers with a strong disciplinary background with new, deep digital skills. They will be the future digital leaders who can transform Europe and educate the next generation of digitally proficient professionals, teachers, researchers and innovators across Europe. We expect the researchers to make significant breakthroughs in their respective fields, extending the state-of-the-art as well as becoming teachers and leaders for the digital technology transition in Europe.

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