Research Software Engineering in the Age of Generative AI: Building a Community Vision is a 2.5-day workshop that will bring together ~30 leaders in research software and AI to agree on a shared vision and co-develop a roadmap for how research software will be produced in the age of Generative AI – independent of today’s specific roles or job titles. A small number of funders will also be present as observers.

Through lightning talks, deep critique of a draft vision, and multiple rounds of focused working groups, participants will:

• Explore future practices
• Identify key risks and challenges
• Design a short list of high-impact, near-term pilots (with resources, stakeholders, and success metrics).

The main outputs will be:

1. An agreed vision statement on future research software production
2. A concise position paper
3. A prioritized set of pilots and follow-up commitments to advance safe, reproducible, and effective use of Generative AI in research software and workflows.

The invitation-only workshop will take place in March 2026 in Edinburgh, UK.

For questions about the workshop, please contact ReSA: info@researchsoft.org

ReSA has been supported to undertake this work as part of Schmidt Sciences grant G-25-69965, Research Software Engineering in the Age of Generative AI: Building a Community Vision. The Software Sustainability Institute, led by the University of Edinburgh, is supporting the workshop as local organiser.