ValSKA: Building Trustworthy Science Workflows for the SKA
“Extracting robust science from the SKA will require understanding how uncertainties in instrument and sky models propagate through increasingly precise analyses. In this webinar, we will introduce ValSKA, the ukSRC’s emerging framework for reproducible, simulation-driven science validation.
Using our ongoing HERA beam-modelling work as a case study, we will show how controlled simulations, Bayesian null tests and reproducible HPC workflows can be used to establish when an analysis remains reliable and translate modelling uncertainties into quantitative science requirements.
We will also highlight how the framework is being developed as documented, modular tooling that can be adopted and extended by the wider UK science community, with a brief look at emerging applications to SKA-Low science if time allows.
Peter Sims: ukSRC Science Validation & Tooling Lead and Assistant Research Professor, University of Cambridge
Peter Sims is an Assistant Research Professor in the Cavendish Astrophysics Group at the University of Cambridge and leads Science Validation & Tooling within the UK Square Kilometre Array Regional Centre (ukSRC). His research focuses on extracting robust cosmological information from measurements of redshifted 21-cm emission from the early Universe. Within the ukSRC, he leads work on reproducible, simulation-driven validation methods and tooling for understanding how modelling uncertainties propagate into scientific results, including current applications to HERA and SKA-Low.
Ed Polehampton: ukSRC Workflows Development Lead, RAL Space
Ed has extensive experience developing and validating scientific software and data processing systems for astronomy and Earth observation. His work has covered everything from instrument calibration and commissioning to pipeline development, testing and user support. As part of the ukSRC Science Validation and Tooling team, he brings this practical experience to help develop robust, maintainable scientific software and support good software practices across the team.