Collaborate, Innovate, and Explore:
Open Science Across Alabama, a Home to NASA Since 1960

Author Details: Meet Sammy Chatham, one of our newest NASA TOPS Teaching Assistants! Sammy is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in kinesiology at the University of Alabama (UA). With a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in kinesiology from UA, she is passionate about advancing her research in the doctoral program, while implementing and advocating for open science practices.

Advancing Open Science with DUTC and NASA

Don’t Use This Code (DUTC) is partnered with NASA in a mission to promote and foster open science. This year alone, DUTC has delivered virtual training sessions to hundreds of attendees around the globe on topics including data visualization, drafting open science plans, and using tools such as Python, R, GitHub, and more.

One of our latest cohorts was based in the state of Alabama and specifically centered on those who are members or friends of the Alabama Academy of Science (AAS). Founded in 1924, the AAS  has long been a hub for innovation and collaboration among students and scientists throughout the state. In the last 100 years, the AAS has made it their mission to promote scientific discovery, collaborate with other constituents across the state, advance the exchange of scholarly information, encourage scientific publications, and advocate for better instruction.

photo of our lead instructor, teachin assistants, and class facilitator

Empowering Scientists in Alabama with Open Science Tools

With the skills gained through the DUTC NASA Open Science Skills Training, we believe the AAS will continue to inspire and equip Alabama's scientific community to embrace open, accessible, and reproducible research practices.

Here’s what AAS members and friends had to say about their experience in the training:

positive feedback quotes from students who have taken the Open Science Skills Traininer with DUTC

A Champion for Science and Mentorship

Dr. Courtney Haun, our NASA TOPS training coordinator, has been a member of the AAS since 2020. During her time with AAS, she has contributed in various capacities, including serving as a paper judge and helping to plan the 100th AAS conference. Additionally, Dr. Haun has mentored students in their research, guiding them through scholarly presentations at multiple AAS conferences.

In 2022, she was honored with the title of Fellow of the Alabama Academy of Science , recognizing her significant contributions to science and service to the Academy. Earlier this year, Dr. Haun and a former student received the Carmichael Award for the best refereed paper published in the 2022 volume of the Journal of the Alabama Academy of Science

This is, in part, why this cohort is particularly important to Dr. Haun, as it reflects her ongoing commitment to fostering growth and innovation within the scientific community while equipping emerging scholars with the skills and support they need to succeed.

Interested Open Science Training for Your Organization?

Are you interested in running a free, private Open Science Skills training for your organization? Email our team at openscience@dutc.io to learn more! We also host free trainings that are open to the general public you can register through this link: Open Science Trainings.

Cheers to advancing open science!