We need your help! We’ve got heaps of data on the research software community but want to know how you’d put that data to use. In fact, we’re so eager to know that we’re offering a prize.

Since 2016, we have been running surveys to better understand the research software community. Starting with the UK in 2016 and expanding to include almost 1000 respondents from 43 countries, the survey provides an unparalleled longitudinal dataset for understanding the RSE community. It’s how we know that almost 40% of RSEs work in the life sciences and that one in five previously held a role in industry.

We’ve explored the data, and now it’s your opportunity to do the same. Ahead of the 2026 survey, which has just launched, we have developed an interactive dashboard showcasing the data from previous RSE surveys.

With these data now at your fingertips, what insights can you uncover? You might explore which countries have the highest job satisfaction, or examine how approaches to open source have changed over time.

If your analysis reveals something interesting, we’d love to hear about it and there could be a prize in it for you! Read on to find out how you can share your insights and contribute to a better understanding of the RSE community.

How it works

Visit our interactive dashboard and have a look at the available data. Once you’ve had a look around, we want to know your answer to the question: what new insight can the survey data tell us about the research software engineering (RSE) community?

We are looking for novel uses of the data and are particularly interested in hearing about aspects that haven’t previously been noticed or discussed. 

In order to be considered for the prize, you need to submit:

• A short write up explaining the analysis process and new insight gained (max 750 words)
• Any visualisations that accompany that analysis (no more than 4)

Your entry can be submitted by sharing a link to the analysis on your personal website, Github page, or by submitting a document as an email attachment. 

All submissions should be sent to m.j.donnay@software.ac.uk by 10.00 GMT on Monday 23 February 2026.

Following submission, we will run a community voting process in March. The winner will be announced in April.

Thanks to generous support from the Society of Research Software Engineering, the winner of the competition will:

• Be invited to present their analysis at the annual RSE Conference in September 2026
• Be awarded a cash prize of £250 or a bursary to cover their registration fee for the conference (for reference, in 2025 this was valued at approximately £380 for in-person attendance)
• Have their analysis published on the SSI and Society websites

The competition is open to anyone interested in research software engineering, regardless of what country you are based in.*

*Due to UK sanctions, we cannot award cash prizes to anyone based in Afghanistan, Cuba, Crimea, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Sudan, Syria or Venezuela.