Fostering a Different Approach to Leadership: R-Ladies Bariloche in Argentina

Lina Moreno, founder and organizer of the R-Ladies Bariloche chapter in Argentina, recently shared her journey with the R Consortium. A biologist focusing on evolutionary ecology, she discussed her experience building a local R community, the challenges of maintaining engagement post-pandemic, and her efforts to foster discussions on leadership and gender equity within academia. Through her work, she aims to create an inclusive space for women in data science and strengthen the R community in Bariloche.

Please share your background and involvement with the RUGS group.

I am a biologist working on evolutionary ecology, I did a bachelor in Sciences in another Argentinian province and then moved to Bariloche to start my PhD. (That was 16 years ago!) I spent a couple of years working in the field (I study reptiles, mainly lizards, and their adaptations to cold environments), and then I had to analyze the data. When I started my main analysis, I could only do it in R. At that time, my boss told me to start with R immediately, so I started searching online. I am doing this kind of work in my home country, so finding resources was complex. I had to work on a comparative analysis and phylogenies, which was difficult initially. However, I started studying and meeting people who taught me, which was awesome. 

After several years, I encountered a problem I couldn’t resolve. I turned to Google and found a helpful community of ladies. They assisted me a lot and saved me from a tight spot. After some communication, they suggested starting an R-Ladies community in Bariloche. I met with them in person when I traveled to Buenos Aires. They convinced me to start a Bariloche chapter, and by the end of 2019, a few of my colleagues and I, mainly biologists working in the same area, created the Bariloche chapter.

What are some challenges you have faced in organizing this group?

We are currently facing some difficulties as people seem unwilling to get involved. As a result, we are exploring new strategies such as combined meetups (online and in person), and together with other R-Ladies groups. We also plan to organize three or four meetups this year. Despite our efforts, we are getting discouraged by the lack of response, but we will see how it goes.

During the pandemic, there were five organizers, three of us with young children, so it was pretty difficult. We started a study group for the R for Data Science book, which had recently been translated into Spanish. We also organized meetups, mainly led by us. Surprisingly, there was good attendance during the pandemic, with around 40 people each time, similar to before the pandemic. However, after returning to in-person meetups, the attendance dropped significantly. The most crowded meetup had only 15 people, whereas before, we used to have two meetups on the same subject, both with 40 attendees.

We are attempting to integrate virtual and in-person components, which has proven challenging. We aim to introduce a beginner’s course in R through a meetup to help attendees gain confidence for future meetups. Our meetups typically have a good turnout, but there is a lack of interest in specific topics, particularly those related to gender bias and women’s issues. Despite this, we are putting in a significant effort. Last year, we participated in a round table during a conference in Bariloche, focusing on gender bias and the difficulties of being a woman in Academia, and it received a lot of support, especially from women. The rest of the group is currently working on documenting our experience at that round table. I am not participating as I have been busy with other responsibilities.

Last year we surveyed people on how they feel R-Ladies is contributing to their careers, its influence on leadership abilities, their reasons for abandoning our events, or why they were too busy to attend. We have received some responses, but not as many as we expected.

However, we have enough data to write a paper about it. We’re also looking into the topic of leadership. We are opening our minds and exploring the possibilities of supporting the R community here in Bariloche, but it’s quite challenging at the moment.

Can you share what the R community is like in Argentina 

The field of artificial intelligence and machine learning is rapidly evolving, which greatly helps incorporate knowledge in R. The leading software used for this purpose is R and Python. R is more popular than Python, as it has been around longer and is more user-friendly. Many people from academia with expertise in machine learning are transitioning to private industries. Regarding statistical analysis in biology, tools such as the Vegan package and those incorporating GAM (Generalized Additive Models) are commonly used. Tools that can handle multiple effects simultaneously are in high demand in ecology.

Would you like to talk about any recent activity from the group?

It was exciting what happened after the conference we participated in. As women, we are trying to maintain an open community. Initially, the organizers needed to learn how to manage an open group without a leader or a head, where everyone is considered equal. The participants ranged from students to established researchers, which ignited discussions about leadership and how women and minority groups navigate the world. We are accustomed to a robust and assertive leadership style, often associated with being at the top. However, as women, we wanted a different kind of leadership. This led to discussions on creating a new type of leadership that doesn’t adhere to the traditional patriarchal model. The manuscript the group is working on currently revolves around creating a new style of leadership that focuses on nurturing individuals to become better persons, researchers, or workers. 

The topics discussed in the manuscript revolve around how we can lead differently. These discussions were not limited to our group; we engaged with several groups from Argentina and Spain who also expressed a similar desire for a different kind of leadership. It is interesting to note that as women and minority groups, we want to be in positions to make meaningful decisions, especially given that our work as biologists primarily tackles environmental issues. Despite historically shying away from more traditional forms of leadership, we are now advocating for different styles. This shared sentiment has brought us closer to other minority groups, and we believe it’s an important topic that needs further discussion. It’s important to recognize that women have a different approach, and it doesn’t make us weaker than men; it simply signifies that we have a unique way of contributing.

How do I Join?

R Consortium’s R User Group and Small Conference Support Program (RUGS) provides grants to help R groups organize, share information, and support each other worldwide. We have given grants over the past four years, encompassing over 68,000 members in 33 countries. We would like to include you! Cash grants and meetup.com accounts are awarded based on the intended use of the funds and the amount of money available to distribute.

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Reflecting on R-Ladies Bariloche’s Contribution to a Gender-Inclusive R Community

Discussions and initiatives within the tech community have recently been centered around inclusivity and opening up realms previously dominated by male counterparts. Nearly two years into the global pandemic, local tech communities, like the R-Ladies Bariloche in Argentina, are onto new strategies to maintain engagement and foster leadership and gender-equality conversations.

Long-term Trends and Implications

The trends and developments brought to the fore by R-Ladies Bariloche have long-term implications for the wider community. Their activities provide useful points from which the R community, or tech groups in general, can take inspiration from to promote inclusivity.

First, the efforts to create inclusive spaces for women and minorities in the tech community signal an increasing awareness and acceptance of the fact that their involvement in the sector is integral. Any future developments would likely involve more provisions geared toward further including women and minorities in tech.

Second, new leadership styles, not adhering to traditional patriarchal models are being explored. This shift in thinking about leadership could spur a more comprehensive and balanced approach to leading, which takes into account the strengths of all individuals, irrespective of gender. In the future, this could encourage more women and people from minority groups to step up and accept leadership roles.

Lastly, the pandemic has shown the impacts of transitioning between in-person meetups to hybrid models. While the process may be complex and faces its challenges, the move towards a more flexible attendance model is an important factor in maintaining the vitality of such groups. In the long-term, other local communities may learn from these strategies and adopt similar measures.

Future Advice and Action Items

The text has suggested valuable paths worth pursuing. Here are some actionable insights that could be adopted:

1. Promote inclusivity: Encourage the participation of women and minorities in the tech community and implement strategies to keep them engaged.
2. Explore new leadership styles: Do away with traditional patriarchal styles of leading and aim to make leadership more inclusive.
3. Adopt a hybrid system: Considering the changing times, adopting a hybrid model of attendance – mixing online and in-person modes – could help keep engagement levels high and provide flexibility for participants.
4. Encourage discussions on gender bias: Even though there may be a lack of interest, continue to initiate talks about gender bias and women’s issues. Keep the conversation going!
5. Seek organizational support: Explore funding opportunities and grants, like the R Consortium’s R User Group and Small Conference Support Program (RUGS).

Conclusion

Inclusive and flexible approaches to running tech groups, like the experience of R-Ladies Bariloche, are worth emulating. There is a lot to learn from considering diverse leadership styles, embracing new meetup strategies in changing times, and fostering discussions on essential topics like gender bias and leadership roles for women and minorities.

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