The Building Open Source Capacity in Academia CURIOSS Workshop will facilitate connections between CURIOSS members, explore corporate/academic collaboration theme, best practices to promote Open Source as part of Open Science/Open Research initiatives and OSS discovery at Universities. It will be held during the United Nations Open Source Week.
This event is organized by CURIOSS and the University of Vermont and open to CURIOSS Members and organizations/institutions that support open source in academia. Funding is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Register
Registration Closes May16!
There is limited number of travel support through reimbursement for CURIOSS members on a first come, first serve. We will confirm travel awards individually when registration closes, if not before. Please reach out to Kendall Fortney (kendall.fortney@uvm.edu) with any questions.
Date
June 17, 2025
9:30AM – 3:00 PM
Schedule
- 9:30 – 10:00 Breakfast Snacks and Registration
- 10:00 – 10:30 Opening Address -CURIOSS Organizers
- 10:30 – 12:00 Session 1 – Recognizing OSPO-Like Activities (even if you don’t have an OSPO)
- 12:00-1:00 Lunch
- 1:00 – 1:45 Session 2 – OSPO Value Proposition
- 1:45 – 2:45 Session 3 – Open Discussion
- 2:45 – 3:00 Wrap Up & Closing Remarks
Location
Sloan Headquarters
630 5th Ave #2200
New York, NY 10111
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED IN ADVANCE TO ACCESS THE SLOAN BUILDING
Workshop Details
Session 1: Recognizing OSPO-Like Activities (Even If You Don’t Have an OSPO)
Many universities already engage in open source activities—whether through research software development, open data projects, student groups, or community outreach—without labeling them as part of an “Open Source Program Office” (OSPO). This session helps participants identify the open source work already happening across their institution, understand how it aligns with OSPO goals, and explore how these efforts can be coordinated, supported, and amplified—even without formal OSPO infrastructure.
Session 2: OSPO Value Proposition
What does an OSPO bring to a university setting? This session explores the value an OSPO can offer to faculty, students, administrators, and external partners. We’ll discuss how an academic OSPO supports research impact, workforce development, industry collaboration, reproducibility, community building, and public engagement. Participants will leave with language and examples they can use to advocate for open source infrastructure at their own institutions.
Session 3: Open Discussion
This is a space to bring your questions, ideas, challenges, and curiosities. Participants will have the opportunity to share their institutional context, compare notes with peers, and brainstorm strategies for advancing open source work in academia. Whether you’re just starting out or already running an OSPO, this session is designed to support cross-institutional dialogue and community building.
Travel
Reimbursement
We will be reimbursing airfare/train/bus and hotel rooms up to $1,200 for one individual from each member organization, first come first serve. For all domestic attendees, we need itemized receipts and W-9s (blank form attached here, which needs to be signed in ink or with certified digital signature). For international participants please follow the “For Reimbursement for expenses” path in this document. Reimbursement will be a check, International attendees are able to request wire transfer.
Please submit all receipts to cems.travel@uvm.edu at the University of Vermont.
Required Tax Forms
- American Citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens need to fill out a W9 and either signed with a Adobe Certificate or there will be printed copies at the event if you want to do it then. You will need a SSN or other taxpayer ID#.
- Non-American Citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens will need to fill out a W8BEN and either signed with a Adobe Certificate (not just a normal e-signature, see here) or there will be printed copies at the event if you want to do it then. Additionally you will need a scanned Passport Information Page
Important: For all charges you will need to provide a Credit Card Statement from bank of the card used for the transaction or a screenshot of the processed transaction in the credit card portal.
Airfare Documentation needed: Include a receipt with the full round-trip itinerary (itemized) that shows the amount paid, last 4 of cardcard #, and ticket number. Please note that UVM cannot provide reimbursement for additional costs like travel insurance, seat selection, or any business/first class tickets (i.e. economy/coach only)
Hotel Documentation needed: Include a receipt with the full hotel folio that shows the amount paid, last 4 of cardcard #, and daily breakdown of expenses (itemized) and remember to ask that they exclude Vermont Tax. Please note that UVM cannot provide reimbursement for food charged to the room.
Taxis/Ubers (if necessary for transit from the airport): Please include the full receipt with total $ amount paid and trip itinerary (Ubers). Please note UVM will not reimburse for tips over 20%
All receipts will need to be either handed in person to Kendall at the event, or digital copies can be submitted to cems.travel@uvm.edu at the University of Vermont.