What's a Special Interest Group?
Author(s) | Wendi Bacon |
Editor(s) | Saskia Hiltemann |
Reviewers |
OverviewQuestions:Objectives:
What is a Special Interest Group?
What is the purpose of a Special Interest Group?
How are Special Interest Groups represented in Galaxy?
Define ‘Special Interest Group’
Explain the purpose of Special Interest Groups
Learn how Special Interest Groups interact with the Galaxy governance
Time estimation: 15 minutesSupporting Materials:Published: Jul 8, 2024Last modification: Sep 27, 2024License: Tutorial Content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The GTN Framework is licensed under MITpurl PURL: https://gxy.io/GTN:T00444version Revision: 2
In Galaxy, the term Special Interest Group (SIG) refers to a dedicated scientific community that crosses individual lab boundaries and wants to collaborate, share resources, support each other, and/or collectively advocate on a given theme. We have SIGs based on region, domain of science, and more. You might consider that a SIG covers any group of like-minded Galaxy enthusiasts not currently combined into a Working Group.
AgendaIn this tutorial, we will cover:
You can find a directory of current SIGs below.
Characteristics of SIGs
SIGs vary hugely. Some SIGs meet and collaborate frequently, while others use their SIG to simply provide a key contact individual to represent their group in the Galaxy community. The following list, therefore, does not necessary apply to every SIG, but can give you a general idea of what SIGs can get up to.
SIGs can be:
- Focused on user community development
- Self-regulated, which includes organising meetings, developing training material and tools, maintaining the Hub and training pages, and choosing a representative for the Galaxy Community Board
- Long-term or transient
- Supported with administrative infrastructure provided by the Galaxy Project and the GCB, including:
- mailing list
- website infrastructure and a place on the Galaxy hub to present the Community
- presentation slot at the annual GCC conference
- Chat channel/room
- Set up to gather input from members
- Represented in the Galaxy Community Board which articulates needs to the Galaxy community to influence the next innovations (known to software developers as a Roadmap process: the selection of priorities for the coming years)
Purpose of a SIG
Taking into account the wide variety of SIGs, the following are often priorities for SIGs.
Prevent work duplication
It’s surprisingly easy for individuals halfway across the world to need the same tool and build the same tool. What a waste of time when there are so many cool things to do!
Highlight new resources
If you’re working in the same research area, for instance, it can be exciting when someone builds something new that could help your research. With so many things getting added daily, it’s easy to miss this news. SIGs can point out such highlights and give you new ideas for your research or work.
Peer review
Need someone to look at an issue? Want some feedback on a tutorial or tool? Your fellow SIG members are a lot more likely to help you if you help them, and, more importantly, if they know who you are. Cut through the 1.8k of issues on Github by making some work friends in your field.
Build community
The bigger the community you have, the more power in developing further resources (or grant proposals!), finding collaborators, co-authoring papers, etc. Higher user counts give you more sway in decision-making and building up Galaxy further, advancing your own work. It’s a lot easier to say you need something and 100 users agree, than to ask on behalf of yourself alone.
Many hands make light work
Users want tools, workflows, training, and events. When delivering training (like Smorgasbord global training events) or projects, explaining who you are to a grant board, or recruiting individuals to your SIG, it’s rather important that the website you point to, quite frankly, looks nice. Building tools, preparing training material, delivering events, and updating web pages takes time. If you can share these tasks amongst a SIG, you ensure sustainability and increase impact.
How do Working Groups & Special Interest Groups differ?
Working Groups (WGs) are distinct from SIGs.
WGs are:
- Focused on technical issues
- Managing important project infrastructure assets, including source code, for the long term
- Represented in the Galaxy Technical Board, which contributes to the roadmap (prioritisation of innovation goals in Galaxy) by providing technical input and requesting resources for technical and development activities
You can find a directory of current WGs below.
Representation in Galaxy Governance
SIGs send (at least one) representative to the Galaxy Community Board (GCB), which meets throughout the year to share useful tips and practices, as well as collects ideas for promoting via the Galaxy Governance structure to enact global change across numerous groups of individuals. Global software development is tricky, and effective communication and representation is key for making things happen to benefit our SIGs.
Galaxy Governance consists of a Galaxy Executive Board that provides global direction, working with a Galaxy Technical Board that represents Working Groups and a Galaxy Community Board that represents Special Interest Groups.
How to join a SIG
You can find out how to join any given SIG by going to their SIG page, which you can peruse from the SIG directory.
CommentBeing part of a SIG is awesome! You find people from different institutes, disciplines or regions who are all excited about the same thing. It’s one of the best bits of the Galaxy Community more broadly - it’s a welcoming and energetic bunch!
If you do not find a SIG that represents your interest, you may want to make one!
Conclusion
congratulations Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end! Hopefully you think SIGs are brilliant and maybe you have joined one, or want to start one!