Meet Our Open Science Training Team

Cameron Riddell, a former academic researcher turned expert Python trainer, leads trainings at Don’t Use This Code as part of NASA's Towards Open Science (TOPS) initiative, where he equips researchers with the skills to adopt open and transparent scientific practices using tools like Jupyter, git, GitHub, and Zenodo. His work with NASA TOPS is focused on fostering a culture of collaboration and reproducibility in research, ensuring that scientists have the resources to share data and methodologies more effectively. At Don’t Use This Code, Cameron continues to apply his expertise to empower teams in solving complex data challenges.

James Powell is the founder and lead instructor at Don’t Use This Code and serves on the NumFOCUS advisory board, where he ensures the sustainability of major Python tools like pandas, NumPy, and Jupyter. His leadership in building global open-source communities and organizing the PyData conference series aligns closely with NASA's Towards Open Science (TOPS) mission, which promotes transparency, collaboration, and data sharing in scientific research. James’s extensive experience in fostering open-source ecosystems makes him a key player in advancing these principles. With over 100 talks at Python events worldwide, he is one of the most prolific voices in the PyData community, driving conversations around openness and reproducibility in science.

Brooklyn Olson is a Technical Writer with a B.A. in English (specializing in Professional Writing) and a certificate in Computer Information Technology. She currently works for Don't Use This Code, supporting NASA’s Transform to Open Science initiative by developing educational and procedural materials for corporate trainees. Previously, she served as a technical writer for Curtiss-Wright’s Nuclear Division and as a ghostwriter for Brigham Young University–Idaho.