Session

DescriptionScientific software development is integral to scientific discovery. Reliable software practices are crucial for ensuring the trustworthiness of scientific results. Given its significance, studying and enhancing scientific software development through scientific methods is highly beneficial. The challenge lies in improving the development and utilization of scientific software encompassing a broad scope of concerns from individual practices to multi-disciplinary team efforts and addressing the need for more effective tools, methods, and infrastructure. The US Department of Energy's report on The Science of Scientific Software Development and Use highlights three priority research directions and three cross-cutting themes focusing on developer productivity, team dynamics, workforce challenges, and broader scientific collaboration. This minisymposium explores these research directions and themes, drawing on experiences with emerging tools, including generative AI, social and cognitive sciences, and organizational psychology. It emphasizes the importance of considering various aspects of software development, from maintenance to policy development. Underpinning the discussion will be a focus on improving individuals' and teams' productivity and work experience and creating pathways for the next generation of scientists to gain experience and join our communities.