title: Workshops: a great way to enhance and supplement a degree.
abstract: As part of the International Society for Computational Biology Student Council (ISCB-SC), Regional Student Groups (RSGs) have helped organise workshops in the emerging fields of bioinformatics and computational biology. Workshops are a great way for students to gain hands-on experience and rapidly acquire knowledge in advanced research topics where curriculum-based education is yet to be developed. RSG workshops have improved dissemination of knowledge of the latest bioinformatics techniques and resources among student communities and young scientists, especially in developing nations. This article highlights some of the benefits and challenges encountered while running RSG workshops. Examples cover a variety of subjects, including introductory bioinformatics and advanced bioinformatics, as well as soft skills such as networking, career development, and socializing. The collective experience condensed in this article is a useful starting point for students wishing to organise their own tailor-made workshops.
authors.affiliation: H3Africa Bioinformatics Network (H3ABioNet) Node, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), Abuja, Nigeria ; International Health Research Group, Dept of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom ; Genetic Epidemiology Group, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Segun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fatumo
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sayane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shome
authors.affiliation: NICTA Victoria Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ; Department of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macintyre
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D012958:Societies, Scientific