Are you wondering how your research could benefit from workflow containerisation?

Containers enable you to package up an application and its dependencies and encourage reproducibility, portability and shareability of computational workflows. This workshop explores the merits, advantages and limitations of applying containers in bioinformatics.

During the workshop you will:

• learn and practice the basics of building, deploying and running applications in containers

• explore real use cases related to biology

• discuss tips and best practices, and have your questions answered.

This workshop will be delivered online through a combination of presentations, demonstrations and hands-on interactive exercises supported by containers experts. On day 1 you will learn new skills through undertaking practical exercises and on day 2 you can bring your own pipeline to get advice and tips in a small group setting.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you should be able to:

• Identify when you would benefit from using containers in your workflow

• Download container images and run commands from inside a container using Singularity

• Identify popular image registries

• Discuss the pros & cons of building with Singularity vs Docker

• Describe the basic syntax of a Dockerfile

• Build and share an image with Docker

• Convert a Docker image into the Singularity format

Lead trainer: TBC

Date/time: 12:30pm - 4:00pm AEDT/ 11:30am - 3:00pm AEST/ 12:00pm - 3:30pm ACDT / 9:30am - 1:00pm AWST Thursday 25 - Friday 26 March 2021

Who the workshop is for

Basic familiarity with UNIX shell concepts and command line interactions are required. Participants do not need any previous experience with containers.

This workshop is open to staff and students from Australian universities and research institutes.

How to apply

The workshop is free but participation is subject to application with selection.

Please note that applications that do not nominate an Australian institute and do not provide an appropriate institutional email address will not be able to take part.

Applications will be reviewed by the organising committee and all applicants will be informed of the status of their application (successful, waiting list, unsuccessful) by Friday 19 March 2021. Participants will be provided with a Zoom meeting link closer to the date.

Please complete the application form if you are interested in attending this workshop.

Applications close 5pm AEDT Monday 15 March 2021.

Apply here

The workshop is presented by the Australian BioCommons and Pawsey Supercomputing Centre with the assistance of a network of facilitators from the national Bioinformatics Training Cooperative.

This event is part of a series of bioinformatics training events. If you'd like to hear when registrations open for other events, please subscribe to Australian BioCommons.