BackgroundRecent technological advances in the area of genomic sequencing have resulted in an explosion of the amount of data being generated in the life sciences. As a result, the life sciences have become increasingly computational in nature, and bioinformatics has taken on a central role in research studies. However, basic computational skills and data stewardship are rarely taught in life science educational programs, resulting in a skills gap in many of the researchers tasked with analysing these big datasets. In a recent survey from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, over 60% of biologists expressed the need for more training while only 5% called for additional computing power. Moreover, as the ecological impact of travelling to give training and workshops is increasingly a concern, new digital solutions for scaling learning are required. Also, due to the COVID19 pandemic, many teachers are now forced to teach via video conferences with little to no preparation. Therefore, an instructors support programme to provide guidance in these situations is desperately needed.Bioinformatics & Data Analysis CompetencyThe Gallantries project aims to increase bioinformatics and core data analysis skills in the field of life sciences. In order to provide these skills as early as possible, this project focuses on MSc and PhD students. Bioinformatics is a rapidly evolving field, and the tools and concepts taught in degree-length education programs become outdated quickly. Therefore, we will create a modular curriculum, consisting of interrelated but independent modules covering the latest developments in the field. These modules can be integrated into existing Master and PhD-programmes either combined or individually. They will also be suitable for stand-alone use in workshops for researchers, answering the demand for supplemental education of later-career researchers.To reach this aim, the project partners will:1. Develop a set of four (online) training modules covering fundamental computational and data analysis skills and competencies, based around real-world scientific data analysis in the field of genomics (IO1-IO4).2. Deliver these training modules (IO1-IO4) in workshops and lessons via live-streaming sessions to multiple geographically distant satellite classrooms across Europe, applying a hybrid training methodology to ensure scalability and reusability.3. Develop a train-the-trainer program and build a community of instructors to ensure sustainability (IO5).4. Effectively engage stakeholders and disseminate project results to ensure uptake and sustainability.Participants & ImpactWith this new hybrid approach the partners expect to involve around 675 MSc and PhD students, and 225 later-career researchers over the lifetime of the project. These learners will gain the data analysis skills and competences they can apply directly in their current and future work in life sciences research. Moreover, this will enhance their employability in life science industries as well.The Train-the-Trainer (TtT) program will be based on the project partners’ experiences with hybrid training and broadcasting workshops, gained as active instructors in the international training communities of the Carpentries and Galaxy Project. This will provide new instructors across Europe with the skills necessary to broadcast their lessons and training modules. The project partners expect to involve 30 trainers from different European countries and provide them with the necessary experience to conduct hybrid training through the Gallantries approach. This will enable them to run their own hybrid training events in the future, and to help them to integrate these modules into their educational programs. The new instructors will also be able to use the Galaxy data analysis tools and apply them to improve and update their own course materials.The consortium is enhanced with associated partners from across Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Serbia). These higher education institutions are interested to participate in the pilot training workshops and will contribute to the evaluation and improvement of the lesson contents. Additionally, we will engage closely with other transnational projects, most notably ELIXIR.SustainabilityAll educational materials and other project results, from raw inputs to finished outputs, will be published online and will be freely accessible under non-restrictive licenses. Interested stakeholders will be encouraged to use the results and integrate these community-maintained bioinformatics competency modules into their curricula, meeting the needs of a fast developing field. The Train-the-Trainer programme will help instructors to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Long term hosting of the project outputs is funded with support from the German Network for Bioinformaticians (de.NBI), the Galaxy Project, and the Carpentries.