Session

DescriptionBroad communities across government, non-profits, industry, and academia are involved in the use and development of scientific software to readily integrate the latest approaches in computing such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The open-source foundation model has proved highly successful in the sustainment of research software. For example, the two-decade-old Linux Foundation supports over 200 communities and 3,400 project source code repositories, including the recently announced High Performance Software Foundation (HPSF). Additionally, NumFOCUS, Inc. established in 2012 and focusing on essential research software projects, has 45 sponsored and 51 affiliated projects. In this minisymposium, we explore strategies of stewardship pathways to foundations fostering innovation and providing common services and infrastructure that benefit all communities. Our speakers will address the following questions: Why would one want to join an open-source software foundation? What are potential pathways to joining a foundation? What challenges and opportunities may be encountered? The talks in this session will address lessons learned and facilitate a thought-provoking discussion aimed at enabling informed decision making when choosing pathways to open-source software advancement.