Talks
As part of his Software Sustainability Institute (SSI) Fellowship, Mike Simpson has been giving talks on mental health in the Research Software Community.
The aim of these talks is to raise awareness of mental health issues, share personal experiences, and provide practical tips for managing mental health in the workplace. The talks are designed to be interactive, with plenty of time for questions and discussion.
The Talk
The talk is called "ConveRSE - Let's Talk About Mental Health" and is designed to be a frank but light-hearted discussion about the importance of discussing and supporting better mental health in the workplace.
- The talk can be given remotely or in-person.
- The length and content of the talk can be tailored to suit the audience.
- The talk can include interactive elements, i.e. a Q&A session conducted via Mentimeter.
Slides
I've made the slides from my RSECon25 talk avalilable to download.
About Mike
Mike has been working as a Research Software Engineer (RSE) for over 7 years, and has also worked as a research associate and as a software developer in the games industry.
He also has experience with a range of mental health issues himself, having lived with anxiety and depression for over a decade. He became a father in 2020, which led to burnout and an anxiety attack. You can read more about his experiences in this blog post.
Past Talks
Mike has given talks at a number of venues and events, including:
- Research Software Asia Australia (RSAA) Conference
- The UK RSE Conference (RSECon) 2025
- SSI Collaborations Workshop 2025
- The Alan Turing Institute
- The UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology
- The N8 Center for Computationally Intensive Research
- Durham HPC Days 2025
Book a Talk
If you would like to invite Mike to give a talk at your event/institution, please contact Mike: mike.simpson@newcastle.ac.uk.
Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs can be covered by the SSI until the end of March 2026.
