Toby Hodges
@tobyhodges.carpentries.org
he/him
Director of Curriculum at The Carpentries. Views my own. Sorry I haven't replied to your email.
"I only know that hearts made of stone will rarely sail far and may never reach home" - Chuck Ragan
Director of Curriculum at The Carpentries. Views my own. Sorry I haven't replied to your email.
"I only know that hearts made of stone will rarely sail far and may never reach home" - Chuck Ragan
"learning by doing is the best approach" said the LLM chatbot, who had spent the whole of the preceding conversation suggesting that the user get the LLM to do everything for them.
January 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
"learning by doing is the best approach" said the LLM chatbot, who had spent the whole of the preceding conversation suggesting that the user get the LLM to do everything for them.
Reposted by Toby Hodges
There are a lot of people working in research and teaching who need this #AcademicSky
Are you a people pleaser who doesn't know how to say no?
I present to you No as a service: an API that returns a random rejection reason
Test is: naas.isalman.dev/no
Check the GitHub repository : github.com/hotheadhacke...
I present to you No as a service: an API that returns a random rejection reason
Test is: naas.isalman.dev/no
Check the GitHub repository : github.com/hotheadhacke...
naas.isalman.dev
January 16, 2026 at 12:04 PM
There are a lot of people working in research and teaching who need this #AcademicSky
Reposted by Toby Hodges
💬 In our latest blog post #SSIFellow @mdsimpson.co.uk tells us more about delivering his “ConveRSE - Let’s Talk About Mental Health” talk at The Alan Turing Institute. Find out more about it and read the full story at www.software.ac.uk/blog/mental-...
January 15, 2026 at 2:57 PM
💬 In our latest blog post #SSIFellow @mdsimpson.co.uk tells us more about delivering his “ConveRSE - Let’s Talk About Mental Health” talk at The Alan Turing Institute. Find out more about it and read the full story at www.software.ac.uk/blog/mental-...
We had so much fun training these five community members. So many great discussions. I am excited to start teaching alongside them soon!
We're delighted to welcome 5 newly-certified Lesson Developer Trainers to join a group teaching Collaborative Lesson Development Training (CLDT)!
They are Thomas Cason @esallychang.bsky.social Johan Hidding @nathanielporter.bsky.social and @jannettas.bsky.social!
👉 carpentries.org/blog/2026/01...
They are Thomas Cason @esallychang.bsky.social Johan Hidding @nathanielporter.bsky.social and @jannettas.bsky.social!
👉 carpentries.org/blog/2026/01...
Welcoming new Lesson Developer Trainers
The Carpentries is delighted to welcome five newly-certified Lesson Developer Trainers!
Thomas Cason Sally Chang Johan Hidding Nathaniel Porter Jannetta Steyn This new cohort of Trainers enriches the ...
carpentries.org
January 16, 2026 at 10:05 AM
We had so much fun training these five community members. So many great discussions. I am excited to start teaching alongside them soon!
Reposted by Toby Hodges
Looking for examples: do you know any OSS projects that have thoughtfully updated their contribution process for AI-assisted PRs?
Interested in:
* PR templates asking for intent/reasoning
* Comprehension checks
* Other friction-adding methods
Would love to learn from communities experimenting here
Interested in:
* PR templates asking for intent/reasoning
* Comprehension checks
* Other friction-adding methods
Would love to learn from communities experimenting here
January 16, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Looking for examples: do you know any OSS projects that have thoughtfully updated their contribution process for AI-assisted PRs?
Interested in:
* PR templates asking for intent/reasoning
* Comprehension checks
* Other friction-adding methods
Would love to learn from communities experimenting here
Interested in:
* PR templates asking for intent/reasoning
* Comprehension checks
* Other friction-adding methods
Would love to learn from communities experimenting here
Reposted by Toby Hodges
Thank you @2standandstare.bsky.social for your many contributions to The Carpentries community, including your continuing role as a member of our Board. 🙏
Sam's contributions to training and education, inclu. at The Carpentries, were recognised with an award at #RSECon25: bsky.app/profile/soci... 🌟
Sam's contributions to training and education, inclu. at The Carpentries, were recognised with an award at #RSECon25: bsky.app/profile/soci... 🌟
Thanks & congrats to @2standandstare.bsky.social as she steps down from the Software Carpentry 🛠️ Governance Committee after three years, to focus on other roles in the community. Sam has been a dedicated @carpentries.carpentries.org community leader and it has been a pleasure to support her 🙌
January 15, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Thank you @2standandstare.bsky.social for your many contributions to The Carpentries community, including your continuing role as a member of our Board. 🙏
Sam's contributions to training and education, inclu. at The Carpentries, were recognised with an award at #RSECon25: bsky.app/profile/soci... 🌟
Sam's contributions to training and education, inclu. at The Carpentries, were recognised with an award at #RSECon25: bsky.app/profile/soci... 🌟
Thanks & congrats to @2standandstare.bsky.social as she steps down from the Software Carpentry 🛠️ Governance Committee after three years, to focus on other roles in the community. Sam has been a dedicated @carpentries.carpentries.org community leader and it has been a pleasure to support her 🙌
January 15, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Thanks & congrats to @2standandstare.bsky.social as she steps down from the Software Carpentry 🛠️ Governance Committee after three years, to focus on other roles in the community. Sam has been a dedicated @carpentries.carpentries.org community leader and it has been a pleasure to support her 🙌
Reposted by Toby Hodges
Big news! The Data Management team/Data Science Centre at EMBL (i.e. my team) is hiring for a position based in Heidelberg (but working across all sites!). We are looking for a scientific workflows developer that will focus on multimodal pipelines. embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Scientific Workflows Developer
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s life sciences laboratory – an intergovernmental organisation with more than 110 independent research groups and service teams covering the ...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Big news! The Data Management team/Data Science Centre at EMBL (i.e. my team) is hiring for a position based in Heidelberg (but working across all sites!). We are looking for a scientific workflows developer that will focus on multimodal pipelines. embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Reposted by Toby Hodges
We're excited that The Carpentries Lab lesson "Introduction to Deep Learning" has been accepted to the Journal of Open Source Education! 🎉
The lesson is a practical intro to deep learning, intended for researchers who are familiar with (non-deep) machine learning: jose.theoj.org/papers/10.21....
The lesson is a practical intro to deep learning, intended for researchers who are familiar with (non-deep) machine learning: jose.theoj.org/papers/10.21....
Introduction to deep learning: Carpentries-style hands-on lesson material for introducing researchers to deep learning
van der Burg et al., (2026). Introduction to deep learning: Carpentries-style hands-on lesson material for introducing researchers to deep learning. Journal of Open Source Education, 9(95), 307, https...
jose.theoj.org
January 12, 2026 at 1:06 PM
We're excited that The Carpentries Lab lesson "Introduction to Deep Learning" has been accepted to the Journal of Open Source Education! 🎉
The lesson is a practical intro to deep learning, intended for researchers who are familiar with (non-deep) machine learning: jose.theoj.org/papers/10.21....
The lesson is a practical intro to deep learning, intended for researchers who are familiar with (non-deep) machine learning: jose.theoj.org/papers/10.21....
Submitted all supporting documents for citizenship application. Unfortunately Deutsche Post do not offer a "dedicated armed guard positioned by your envelope and its contents at all times" service. So we had to settle for sending our original marriage and birth certificates by recorded delivery.
January 9, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Submitted all supporting documents for citizenship application. Unfortunately Deutsche Post do not offer a "dedicated armed guard positioned by your envelope and its contents at all times" service. So we had to settle for sending our original marriage and birth certificates by recorded delivery.
Reposted by Toby Hodges
🎶 Oh I wish it could be the Thursday before Christmas everydaay-ay-ay 🎶
Email traffic is virtually non-existent today. Feels like everyone has checked out early for xmas.
If only every day was like this..............
If only every day was like this..............
December 18, 2025 at 1:40 PM
🎶 Oh I wish it could be the Thursday before Christmas everydaay-ay-ay 🎶
Reposted by Toby Hodges
I wonder how many UK universities have very similar policies around workplace stress to those of Birmingham......?
'An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Russell Group university “does not have appropriate arrangements in place” for managing workplace stress and was unable to demonstrate that it is managing the risks associated with excessive workloads.' 1/2
Birmingham reprimanded over its management of work-related stress
Investigation by Health and Safety Executive found institution ‘does not have appropriate arrangements in place’ to manage burnout among staff
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I wonder how many UK universities have very similar policies around workplace stress to those of Birmingham......?
Reposted by Toby Hodges
The Max Planck Society has begun an exploratory round table for open science. We are drafting some recommendations to leadership. Still a long way to go! But here are my notes on the most recent draft, just so you all know how I am trying to steer things.
December 17, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The Max Planck Society has begun an exploratory round table for open science. We are drafting some recommendations to leadership. Still a long way to go! But here are my notes on the most recent draft, just so you all know how I am trying to steer things.
A lot that I agree with here, articulated better and grounded in more literature than I could ever hope to achieve. I think similarity of citation gaming and SEO could be further explored: Google has infamously broken search in favour of ad revenue. What is the equivalent for research publications?
December 17, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A lot that I agree with here, articulated better and grounded in more literature than I could ever hope to achieve. I think similarity of citation gaming and SEO could be further explored: Google has infamously broken search in favour of ad revenue. What is the equivalent for research publications?
Reposted by Toby Hodges
🌊 We are happy to announce that the first #CollabW26 Keynote will be delivered by @malvikasharan.bsky.social. Find out more about Malvika and have a look at the draft programme at
www.software.ac.uk/news/cw26-ke...
www.software.ac.uk/news/cw26-ke...
December 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🌊 We are happy to announce that the first #CollabW26 Keynote will be delivered by @malvikasharan.bsky.social. Find out more about Malvika and have a look at the draft programme at
www.software.ac.uk/news/cw26-ke...
www.software.ac.uk/news/cw26-ke...
Reposted by Toby Hodges
Huge congratulations to @heathrturnr.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy for putting together a fantastic team of collaborators and a brilliant proposal.
I'm so happy to be a co-lead on this project, continuing to work with Heather and many others on the sustainability of the language and community we love.
I'm so happy to be a co-lead on this project, continuing to work with Heather and many others on the sustainability of the language and community we love.
🎉 Big news for the future of #RStats. The project
"Enabling the next generation of R contributors"
has received £500k over 2 years.
- mentoring expert contributors
- modernising infrastructure
- improving governance
- strengthen communication and outreach
www.software.ac.uk/rsmf-round-1...
"Enabling the next generation of R contributors"
has received £500k over 2 years.
- mentoring expert contributors
- modernising infrastructure
- improving governance
- strengthen communication and outreach
www.software.ac.uk/rsmf-round-1...
RSMF Round 1 Projects | Software Sustainability Institute
Round 1 of the Research Software Maintenance Fund awarded just under £3 million to 13 projects selected for their potential to deliver high impact, value for money, feasibility, and quality. The funde...
www.software.ac.uk
December 12, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Huge congratulations to @heathrturnr.fosstodon.org.ap.brid.gy for putting together a fantastic team of collaborators and a brilliant proposal.
I'm so happy to be a co-lead on this project, continuing to work with Heather and many others on the sustainability of the language and community we love.
I'm so happy to be a co-lead on this project, continuing to work with Heather and many others on the sustainability of the language and community we love.
Reposted by Toby Hodges
🗓️ Next meeting: 23 January, 14:00 UTC
🔗 Connect via #local-ukrainian or contact Olexandr Konovalov.
Read the full Spotlight on the blog (carpentries.org/blog/2025/12... )
🔗 Connect via #local-ukrainian or contact Olexandr Konovalov.
Read the full Spotlight on the blog (carpentries.org/blog/2025/12... )
Subcommunity Spotlight: Ukraine
The Subcommunity Spotlight blog series aims to raise awareness of the many vibrant subcommunities within The Carpentries and highlight their activities. A brings together a subset of the broader…
carpentries.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🗓️ Next meeting: 23 January, 14:00 UTC
🔗 Connect via #local-ukrainian or contact Olexandr Konovalov.
Read the full Spotlight on the blog (carpentries.org/blog/2025/12... )
🔗 Connect via #local-ukrainian or contact Olexandr Konovalov.
Read the full Spotlight on the blog (carpentries.org/blog/2025/12... )
Reposted by Toby Hodges
🇺🇦 Subcommunity Spotlight: The Carpentries in Ukraine
A collaborative network of Ukrainian researchers working to translate lessons, support learners, and expand access to key coding and data skills. The subcommunity meets monthly to share updates and strengthen their work together.
A collaborative network of Ukrainian researchers working to translate lessons, support learners, and expand access to key coding and data skills. The subcommunity meets monthly to share updates and strengthen their work together.
Subcommunity Spotlight: Ukraine
The Subcommunity Spotlight blog series aims to raise awareness of the many vibrant subcommunities within The Carpentries and highlight their activities. A brings together a subset of the broader…
carpentries.org
December 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🇺🇦 Subcommunity Spotlight: The Carpentries in Ukraine
A collaborative network of Ukrainian researchers working to translate lessons, support learners, and expand access to key coding and data skills. The subcommunity meets monthly to share updates and strengthen their work together.
A collaborative network of Ukrainian researchers working to translate lessons, support learners, and expand access to key coding and data skills. The subcommunity meets monthly to share updates and strengthen their work together.
Reposted by Toby Hodges
For our ethical sponsorship policy, we have collected proposed areas society-rse.org/about/polici....
We are now collecting arguments against the proposed areas. Please fill in this form by the 29th of December docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 🗳️
We are now collecting arguments against the proposed areas. Please fill in this form by the 29th of December docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 🗳️
Avoidance criteria for ethical sponsorship policy - Society of Research Software Engineering
Join in our community consultation and members vote on avoidance criteria areas for SocRSE's draft ethical sponsorship policy.
society-rse.org
December 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
For our ethical sponsorship policy, we have collected proposed areas society-rse.org/about/polici....
We are now collecting arguments against the proposed areas. Please fill in this form by the 29th of December docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 🗳️
We are now collecting arguments against the proposed areas. Please fill in this form by the 29th of December docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... 🗳️
Congratulations to all the new SSI Fellows! 🤩 Fantastic to see so many @carpentries.carpentries.org community members on the list again this year, including two members of our Board of Directors.
🧭 We are happy to announce our new #SSIFellows! Read more about this year's applications and the 2026 cohort at www.software.ac.uk/news/introdu...
December 11, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Congratulations to all the new SSI Fellows! 🤩 Fantastic to see so many @carpentries.carpentries.org community members on the list again this year, including two members of our Board of Directors.
Reposted by Toby Hodges
Super excited to shout about being selected as an @softwaresaved.bsky.social #SSIFellow for 2026!
Lots of conversations to be had and networks to be built in 2026: www.software.ac.uk/news/introdu...
Lots of conversations to be had and networks to be built in 2026: www.software.ac.uk/news/introdu...
Introducing the 2026 Fellowship Cohort: Insights and Celebrations | Software Sustainability Institute
The selection process for this year’s cohort has now ended and we’re excited to introduce the 2026 Fellows and share their plans for the Fellowship.
www.software.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Super excited to shout about being selected as an @softwaresaved.bsky.social #SSIFellow for 2026!
Lots of conversations to be had and networks to be built in 2026: www.software.ac.uk/news/introdu...
Lots of conversations to be had and networks to be built in 2026: www.software.ac.uk/news/introdu...
Reposted by Toby Hodges
Awesome day yesterday plotting 🧐 how to better coordinate dRTP training across the UK, and also make it more sustainable and comprehensive. Thanks to everyone who attended, despite a last minute change of venue due to an underground fire... 🚒😮 Watch this space for outputs and ways to engage!
November 28, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Awesome day yesterday plotting 🧐 how to better coordinate dRTP training across the UK, and also make it more sustainable and comprehensive. Thanks to everyone who attended, despite a last minute change of venue due to an underground fire... 🚒😮 Watch this space for outputs and ways to engage!