Supporting Open Source leaders in Aotearoa

New Zealand has been the birthplace of a number of high profile Open Source Software (OSS) projects and many smaller niche projects. This BoF session will be an open conversation around the challenges and opportunities present when creating open source communities in New Zealand and around the world, and what support open source leaders need to be successful.

What resources, support systems, financial structures, talent pathways and other supporting infrastructure could unlock a flourishing of open source projects in and around science in Aotearoa? What could research institutions, businesses and government departments do to encourage more open source approaches? How can the philanthropic sector learn about open source models and support their impact?

In science, OSS projects often start based on addressing a scientific problem, they work to develop a solution in software and share that with a broader community. Many open source developers have a choice to make about whether they want to “go-big”, or “stay-small” as their software gains traction and users. Our research is exploring this decision point, and the ways in which projects all over the world have right-sized their projects to deliver the impacts their communities crave. We’re looking at how projects have succeeded and failed in the past, and working to support new leaders to learn from past mistakes.

After a brief presentation outlining our research efforts, we’ll describe a recently funded project supporting this research, and a cohort based learning, and global Community of Practice development. Together we’ll collaboratively brainstorm past successes and failures in OSS in NZ, uncover what interesting open source efforts are underway today and explore possible futures where we can better support open source leaders in Aotearoa.

This will be an engaging, inclusive and open discussion to bring together open source advocates, leaders and supporting institutions to ask: “How could we support people to generate a flourishing of Open Source Software by and for Aotearoa?” All are welcome who share in a drive to bring open source impacts to the world from the shores of Aotearoa.

References:
Understanding Scientific Open Source Software (OSS) Project Leadership – https://orgmycology.com/understanding-oss-project-leadership/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jonah has acted as an organizational leader in software and information systems at private sector companies, universities, and international non-profit organizations worldwide. He's worked to sustain the international non-profit The Carpentries, acting as the chief executive of Software Carpentry and Director of Membership at the follow-on organization, The Carpentries, an impact-driven global volunteer coordination organization. He built innovation spaces, innovative computing environments, and a research informatics team that increased extramural funding competitiveness at The University of Oklahoma. He has worked inside the hyper-growth software company to help advise and structure how skill development and learning are built into the fabric of a globally operating company. As a consultant, he’s advised and facilitated for The Veracity Lab, MolSSI (Molecular Science Software Institute), OMSF (Open Molecular Science Foundation) g0v (Gov Zero) Aotearoa, FutureBees NZ, and Walk Together Aotearoa on their structures, activities, impact, growth, and approaches to sustainment. Jonah received his MS in Forestry and Natural Resources in 2008, and a B.S. in Physics in 2001, both from Purdue University.

For more information about eResearch NZ / eRangahau Aotearoa, visit:
https://eresearchnz.co.nz/