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Ithaka S+R and the Apereo Foundation welcome applications to participate in Sustaining Open Source Software in the Research Enterprise, a workshop made possible by generous funding from the National Science Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Higher education serves as a seedbed for highly successful Open Source Software (OSS). Apache, Linux, R, and Python are all examples of currently widely-used, impactful, and sustained open source projects with roots in higher education.  Colleges and universities have also implemented OSS to a significant degree in support of campus infrastructure, teaching and learning, and research computing. OSS serves a variety of functions in the academy, from addressing resource constraints to aligning with other open initiatives such as Open Science/Research, Open Educational Resources (OER), and others.

Nevertheless, sustainability is a major challenge for even the most successful open source software that, at a minimum, requires ongoing engagement to improve and maintain code and communities. OSS sustainability also includes the identification of a viable financial model, project governance, technology infrastructure, business operations, and navigating legal issues such as copyright and licensing. Dispersed across distinct, specialized, research communities, OSS for research in particular has yet to secure a firm institutional footprint, and is often a low priority of institutions, publishers, and funders.

Successful applicants will receive funding to participate in a one-day, in-person workshop, bringing together OSS leaders from across higher education, open source foundations, and the private sector to discuss sustainability strategies and identify governance and infrastructure opportunities that spur broad and diverse adoption and sustainability of OSS. Participants will identify practical opportunities to develop holistic institutional pathways to better harness the power of OSS for open science and technological innovation by improving the resiliency and sustainability of the OSS ecosystem at their home institutions and across higher education.

Who is eligible to apply?

We welcome applications from practitioners with experience developing or contributing to OSS in higher education settings, especially those who develop OSS for research. We also encourage individuals affiliated with other stakeholder communities, such as the non-profit or private sector, to apply.

Applicants should have experience working on OSS projects, particularly those associated with higher education, and/or research experience that includes leveraging OSS. At this time we are not able to fund participants from outside the US.

When is the workshop?

The one-day, in-person workshop will be held at Ithaka S+R’s offices in New York City on Friday, August 8, 2025 from approximately 8am to 5pm. Applicants are requested to be onsite during the entire duration of the workshop. There will be an optional reception on Thursday, August 7 at 4:30pm.

What support will Ithaka S+R and the Apereo Foundation provide?

The organizing committee will provide funding for travel and accommodations for workshop participants. Reimbursement for reasonable child care costs is available for participants.

When are applications due?

Applications are due on May 9, 2025, at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

What do I need to do to apply?

To apply, submit the following information to Chelsea.McCracken@ithaka.org via a PDF, DOC, or ODF/ODT document:

  1. Your name, affiliation, and contact information.
  2. A CV, resume, or biographical sketch.
  3. A short statement of 250-500 words indicating your interest in the workshop topic and the perspectives you can contribute to the discussion.

If you have questions about this project or the application process, please email Chelsea McCracken at Chelsea.McCracken@ithaka.org.