Changes made according to Open Source

Author: AjithAkuthota23

blog/2024-10-23-story-telling-in-grant-writing

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+---
+title: Storytelling in Grant Writing Workshop  
+description: The "Storytelling in Grant Writing" workshop introduced participants to the power of narrative in crafting compelling grant proposals, emphasizing emotional engagement and data-driven storytelling.  
+slug: blog_storytelling_in_grant_writing  
+authors: [Ajith Akuthota]  
+tags: [announcement, workshop, open source software, research software]  
+hide_table_of_contents: false  
+---
+
+Julie Turner presented the "Storytelling in Grant Writing" workshop, offering valuable insights into how narratives enhance grant proposals. The event highlighted strategies for combining emotional connection with data to create compelling grant narratives—an approach particularly relevant to researchers and developers working on open source and research software projects.
+
+The workshop was facilitated by the Associate Dean, who initiated a discussion on applying storytelling principles to collaborative academic and software development contexts.
+
+<!--truncate-->
+
+**What:** Storytelling in Grant Writing Workshop  
+**Who:** Presented by Julie Turner  
+**When:** Wednesday, Oct 23, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  
+**Where:** McDonnell Douglas Room 1001  
+**Questions:** [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])  
+
+### **Why Storytelling Matters for Open Source and Research Software**  
+
+Julie emphasized the unique challenges faced by researchers and developers seeking funding for open source and research software projects:
+
+- **Justifying Community Impact:**  
+  Open source software thrives in collaborative environments where community engagement is critical. Storytelling can highlight how the software meets specific community or research needs, fostering a deeper connection with grant reviewers.
+
+- **Balancing Metrics with Narrative:**  
+  While data-driven results are essential, integrating personal stories—like how a bioinformatics API empowers researchers in underfunded labs—can make a proposal more memorable.
+
+- **Illustrating Long-Term Benefits:**  
+  For research software, storytelling helps convey broader impacts, such as advancing scientific discoveries or making computational tools accessible globally.
+
+### **Workshop Highlights**  
+
+1. **Introducing Characters and Context**  
+   - Showcase developers, researchers, or end-users behind the software.  
+   - Create a vivid picture of the problem the software solves, emphasizing real-world relevance.  
+
+2. **Building Tension in the Proposal**  
+   - Highlight challenges in sustaining open source and research software without institutional funding.  
+   - Use conflict—such as the limitations of proprietary tools—to justify the need for open, scalable alternatives.  
+
+3. **Crafting the Narrative**  
+   - **Orientation:** "This software was born out of a need for accessible computational tools in underserved regions."  
+   - **Complication:** "However, without sustainable funding, maintaining quality and usability for the community is challenging."  
+   - **Resolution:** "With grant support, we will extend functionality, provide training, and ensure long-term impact."
+
+### **Real-World Applications**  
+
+The workshop’s lessons directly apply to open source and research software. For example:  
+
+- A **collaborative bioinformatics tool** that accelerates genomic research. A strong narrative could highlight its potential for advancing cancer research in resource-constrained labs.  
+- A **climate modeling software** where storytelling underscores the urgency of accessible tools to address global environmental challenges.
+
+---
+
+Questions? Contact us at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).  

blog/authors.yml

@@ -38,4 +38,9 @@ maryam:
   name: Maryam Moshrefi
   title: Graduate research assistant at Saint Louis University
   url: https://github.com/Moshrefi
-  image_url: /img/maryam_avatar.jpeg
+  image_url: /img/maryam_avatar.jpeg
+
+Ajith Akuthota:
+  name: Ajith Akuthota
+  title: Tech Lead at Open Source with SLU
+  url: https://github.com/AjithAkuthota23