OceanHackWeek: An Inclusive, Collaborative Approach to Developing Oceanography Data Science Skills

Over the last two decades, there has been an explosion of oceanographic data from a broad array of ocean observing platforms, as well as dramatic improvements in the ability of ocean models to resolve processes across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Ocean researchers’ ability to leverage computing tools and resources are key to effectively understanding and monitoring our ocean, the marine ecosystems it supports, and the response of the Earth system to climate change. Therefore, data science skills have become essential in the scientific discovery process, and it is becoming increasingly important to have computational skills in our research toolbox. OceanHackWeek was launched in 2018 to build an inclusive community that promotes data and software proficiency in oceanography. With a mission to meet, collaborate, and learn at the intersection of ocean and data sciences, OceanHackWeek provides a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community that embodies the vision of an open ocean science future. In this article we present the OceanHackWeek model, provide an overview of the curriculum and formats of the events, and discuss the lessons learned and recommendations for implementing an OceanHackWeek-style event.