Integrating R in a Distributed Scientific Workflow via a Jupyter-Based Environment

The Research Infrastructure Lifewatch Italy has developed a Virtual Research Environment for studies on phytoplankton ecology that includes computational services based on R, a programming language widely used for data science and ecology. Here we have verified the feasibility of a Jupyter-based research environment, the NaaVRE, which has so far been tested only with Python, for running R code in a workflow on the Cloud. The successful execution demonstrated the potentialities of R in Cloud-based research environments. However, further investigation is needed, in particular, to overcome the issue of the lack of dependencies declaration in R. The possibility of performing analyses in a workflow, combined with the computational resources of remote infrastructures, will support scientists in carrying out FAIR and innovative research in a more efficient, integrated and collaborative way.