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Hello, rOpenSci community! It's that time again for our monthly updates! You can catch this post on our blog. Let’s jump right into the notable happenings at rOpenSci and the wider community!
In Memory of Tomáš Kalibera (1978–2026)
We mournfully acknowledge the passing of Tomáš Kalibera, a respected figure in the R community and a dedicated member of R-Core for nearly a decade. Tomáš departed on April 1, leaving a profound void. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.
For more reflections, consider reading Jan Vitek’s tribute to Tomáš.
What's New at rOpenSci
The Arrival of New Editors: Alec Robitaille and Lucy D’Agostino McGowan
We’re thrilled to introduce Alec Robitaille and Lucy D’Agostino McGowan as our newest editors. Alec is joining our general review team, while Lucy will enhance our statistical software review efforts. More details can be found in the introduction post.
Update on the Champions Program
We are proud to announce the selection of our new cohort for the rOpenSci Champions Program! Sorting through a wealth of high-quality proposals was no small feat. We extend our gratitude to all who applied and contributed their insights. Here’s a warm welcome to our new Champions: Bastián Olea Herrera, Durga Valentina Linares Herrera, José Daniel Conejeros, Denisse Fierro Arcos, Evelia Lorena Coss Navarrete, Gladys Choque Ulloa, Linda Jazmín Cabrera Orellana, Patricia Andrea Loto, Marina Cecilia Cock, María Florencia Tames, and Estefanía Torrejón.
In the coming months, this talented group will make significant contributions to the R community, from developing new packages to reviewing existing ones and submitting them for peer assessment. We anticipate fruitful collaborations ahead!
Collaborative Initiatives Between Bioconductor and R-universe
Bioconductor and R-universe are joining forces to gradually modernize critical parts of their infrastructures. This collaboration aims to consider the scale, governance, and established processes of Bioconductor while simultaneously enhancing R-universe's offerings. For a deeper dive into this partnership, check out the full story in the blog post.
rOpenSci Staff Presentations
Highlighting Yanina Bellini Saibene at R/Medicine 2026
Yani will present her keynote, “Software Sustainability and Community Management”, on Thursday, May 7th, from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM ET.
Jeroen Ooms on "Where Do R Packages Live?"
Don't miss Jeroen's contribution to an online discussion panel set for Wednesday, May 20th, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM (AEST). This event is organized by the Statistical Computing and Visualization section of the Statistical Society of Australia, and you can find more details here.
Enhancements to the goodpractice R Package
We’ve long endorsed the goodpractice package, a go-to for identifying and resolving issues within R packages. A significant update has been made possible through the efforts of our community member, Athanasia Mo Mowinckel, who has expanded its functionalities, offering new checks and improved control over which checks run. A detailed blog post outlining these updates will be published shortly. In the meantime, we encourage users to explore the current development version and see the improvements firsthand.
New Tool for Analyzing Targets Pipelines
Following our previous blog post on tree-sitter, Tyler Morgan Wall created a static analysis tool for targets pipelines. This add-on is available as a VS Code extension, enabling more efficient work with targets.
Joining Forces for Coworking Events
Learn more about our coworking initiatives here!
- Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, at 9:00 AM Australia Western (01:00 UTC): join us for “Code Review with rOpenSci”, featuring Steffi LaZerte and co-host Liz Hare.
- Explore resources for Code Review
- Sign up to volunteer for software peer-review at rOpenSci
- Meet Liz Hare, discuss Code Review resources with the community.
- Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026, at 14:00 Europe Central (12:00 UTC) — theme TBA, with Steffi LaZerte and a currently selected co-host.
- Explore resources regarding the upcoming theme
- Network with co-host and participants, discussing themes or any other topics of interest.
And remember, independents can always use this space for R-related work, tackle neglected packages, or simply make headway on projects that need attention!
Upcoming Editors’ Office Hours
We're considering implementing a new series of events called Editors’ Office Hours, where community members can drop in to ask questions regarding rOpenSci Software Peer Review. We plan to rotate timings each month to reach different audiences worldwide.
Mark your calendars for the following session:
- Tuesday, May 19, from 16:00 to 17:00 Europe Central (14:00 to 15:00 UTC) — event link.
Diversity Scholarships for useR! 2026
This year's useR! conference is offering diversity scholarships aimed at encouraging participation from individuals in underrepresented or marginalized groups within the R community. The program features both registration fee waivers and full needs-based scholarships, which also include travel and lodging reimbursement. Applications are open until May 10, and the selection will be based on need, eligibility, and potential impact as assessed by a committee representing Forwards, RLadies+ Global, and rOpenSci.
For complete information and crucial links, visit the conference site: here.
