Open Science Labs Ambassadors Program

Build connections. Create opportunities. Help people grow.

The Open Science Labs Ambassadors Program is a global network of active OSL contributors who connect our community with universities, research groups, students, open-source communities, companies, nonprofits, funders, and other mission-aligned organizations.

Ambassadors are not simply promoters. They are listeners, community builders, connectors, and opportunity creators who help people learn, collaborate, and develop their potential through science, technology, education, mentorship, and open source.

Why the Ambassadors Program exists #

OSL is for people from different countries, disciplines, backgrounds, and career stages. We want more people to find meaningful ways to learn, contribute, build experience, and create positive social impact.

Our approach is simple: we grow while helping others grow. Ambassadors start by asking what a community needs, what challenges it faces, and what OSL and that community could create together—not only what the community can do for OSL.

That approach can turn:

• a research tool into a sustainable open-source project;
• a student contribution into valuable professional experience;
• a workshop into access to new knowledge and skills;
• an introduction into a project, partnership, mentorship, or job opportunity;
• a local need into an international collaboration.

No Ambassador needs to solve every problem. The strength of the program comes from a network that shares relationships, knowledge, experience, and opportunities across regions and disciplines.

What can an OSL Ambassador do? #

Ambassadors choose activities that fit their community and experience. They may:

• build relationships with universities, laboratories, researchers, student groups, open-source communities, nonprofits, companies, foundations, funders, public organizations, conferences, and other aligned groups;
• listen to researchers, students, developers, and communities, then bring their needs and ideas back to OSL;
• connect people with OSL projects, contributors, mentors, learning activities, research collaborations, or professional opportunities when available;
• help researchers explore how software, datasets, educational resources, or other work could become open and community-supported;
• organize workshops, lectures, hackathons, project clinics, mentoring sessions, contributor onboarding, or open-science discussions;
• introduce potential collaborators and help shape proposals involving research, education, software, consulting, outreach, or community building;
• identify grants, sponsorships, infrastructure, expertise, event support, or other resources that may help open-science work;
• represent OSL at relevant events and help form local open-science communities;
• create reusable guides, presentations, translations, tutorials, case studies, workshop materials, or community reports;
• help other Ambassadors develop initiatives and make useful connections.

Meaningful Ambassador work creates a relationship, opportunity, resource, or outcome. Simply reposting OSL content on social media does not normally count as an Ambassador activity by itself.

Who can apply? #

The program is intended for people who already have an established relationship with OSL. Applicants should:

1. be an active contributor to at least one OSL project, program, working group, community initiative, or other recognized activity;
2. normally have at least three months of involvement with OSL and have made meaningful contributions;
3. understand OSL's mission, projects, values, and community culture;
4. care about helping other people and communities grow, rather than using the role only for self-promotion;
5. be willing to listen, build relationships, share opportunities, and collaborate openly with contributors and other Ambassadors;
6. communicate activities, opportunities, and challenges back to OSL;
7. follow the OSL Code of Conduct and Ambassador guidelines; and
8. be at least 18 years old.

Contributions are not limited to software. Research, documentation, project management, mentoring, review, translation, design, communications, teaching, events, outreach, writing, partnerships, fundraising support, and community infrastructure can all demonstrate meaningful participation. When work is not publicly visible, an OSL lead, maintainer, mentor, or initiative coordinator may confirm it.

Eligibility is considered through three principles:

• Contribution: the applicant knows OSL through meaningful participation.
• Trust: OSL can reasonably expect the applicant to represent the community responsibly.
• Purpose: the applicant shares our commitment to opportunity, learning, social impact, and mutual growth.

Meeting the requirements does not guarantee acceptance because public representation requires additional trust and responsibility.

How to apply #

Applications are submitted through GitHub using the OSL Ambassador Application issue template. The application link will be published on this page when it is available.

Applicants will describe:

• their current OSL involvement and examples of contributions;
• the communities, institutions, disciplines, regions, and languages they know;
• why they want to become an Ambassador and what helping people grow means to them;
• relevant experience helping people learn, connect, or find opportunities;
• needs they see in their community and ideas they want to explore;
• the impact and activities they would like to pursue during the next year;
• an OSL contributor who can confirm their participation; and
• which profile information they consent to make public.

Do not publish private contact information belonging to references or external contacts in a GitHub issue. Any necessary private verification will use an appropriate private channel.

Applications are evaluated for established participation, mission alignment, community mindset, initiative, collaboration, respectful communication, and trust. Prestigious titles, large networks, or professional experience in public speaking, fundraising, or partnerships are not required. The program is also a place to develop those skills.

Ambassador term #

Active Ambassador status lasts 12 months and may be renewed. A renewable term shows that the person is currently participating rather than holding a permanent credential.

To remain active, an Ambassador should:

• stay involved in at least one OSL project, program, initiative, or community activity;
• complete at least two meaningful Ambassador activities during each rolling six-month period;
• submit a brief check-in about every three months;
• remain reasonably reachable; and
• continue following the Code of Conduct and Ambassador guidelines.

A check-in is a lightweight way to share what the Ambassador did, what they learned, what happened next, and how OSL can help. Public links to events, issues, presentations, repositories, photos, or other evidence are useful when available, but not every valuable conversation produces a public URL.

Examples of qualifying activities include meeting a research group, creating a new university relationship, connecting students with projects, mentoring, organizing an event, giving a talk, developing a collaboration proposal, helping research become open source, identifying a partner or funding opportunity, creating a reusable resource, or helping another Ambassador's initiative.

Leave, inactive status, and renewal #

Ambassadors are volunteers with responsibilities outside OSL. Anyone who needs a break can request On Leave status without penalty and may return after confirming that they still meet the program requirements.

OSL will normally contact an Ambassador before changing their status. Active status may end after six months without a qualifying activity, two missed check-ins without communication, departure from OSL participation, loss of contact, a voluntary decision to step down, failure to meet program requirements, or serious conduct or trust concerns.

Near the end of a term, renewal uses a short review of continued participation, activities, lessons, interests, future plans, and agreement with program rules. Former Ambassadors who served in good standing may join the OSL Ambassador Alumni network and later apply to return. OSL may reserve Ambassador Emeritus as an honorary recognition for exceptional, sustained impact; it does not necessarily authorize current representation.

Public directory #

Active Ambassadors will be listed on the OSL website so others can verify their status. With each person's consent, a profile may include their name, photo, region, languages, interests, OSL work, biography, public links and contact method, activities, start date, current term, and status.

Ambassadors choose which optional personal information is published. An institutional affiliation provides context; it does not imply that the institution endorses OSL or that the Ambassador represents it unless a separate relationship establishes that authority.

Representing Open Science Labs #

Ambassadors may introduce people to OSL, explain our mission, share public information, explore possible collaborations, organize approved community activities, meet with organizations, and bring proposals or opportunities back to the community.

Ambassadorship does not authorize someone to make legal, financial, contractual, employment, or institutional commitments for OSL. Contracts, funding, sponsorships, grants, formal partnerships, employment, official endorsements, use of OSL assets, and similar commitments require approval from the appropriate OSL leadership. An Ambassador's role may simply be to open the door and connect the right people.

Sensitive partnership discussions, personal information, confidential material, and early-stage opportunities should be shared only through appropriate private OSL channels. Transparency matters, but protecting people, trust, and relationships matters more.

Ambassadors must follow the Open Science Labs Code of Conduct in OSL activities and whenever they identify themselves as OSL Ambassadors, including at events, institutions, meetings, online communities, and on social media. Serious or repeated violations may lead to suspension or removal under OSL's community procedures.

What does OSL provide to Ambassadors? #

OSL aims to help Ambassadors build relationships rather than expecting them to work alone. As the program develops, support may include:

• onboarding about OSL's mission, projects, and opportunities;
• a dedicated space to communicate with Ambassadors around the world;
• reusable presentations, outreach resources, and workshop materials;
• help planning activities, preparing talks, and evaluating opportunities;
• introductions to relevant contributors, specialists, and Ambassadors;
• mentorship and opportunities to develop communication and leadership skills;
• opportunities to present ideas and lessons to the wider community;
• recognition, an official profile, and a time-limited credential; and
• confirmation of verified contributions when appropriate.

Specific activities may receive additional support when resources are available, but Ambassador status does not guarantee funding.

Volunteer participation #

The Ambassadors Program is voluntary and does not constitute employment by OSL. It does not guarantee employment, internships, contracts, travel or conference funding, grants, scholarships, sponsorship, or financial compensation.

What success looks like #

Success is measured by meaningful outcomes, not by the number of Ambassadors or social-media posts: a student finds a project, a researcher opens useful software, a community gains knowledge, a contributor becomes a mentor, an Ambassador develops leadership skills, or a new collaboration receives the support it needs.

We build the network so people can grow—and OSL grows with them.

Become an OSL Ambassador #

If you already contribute to OSL, share our mission, and want to create opportunities for other people and communities, review the eligibility criteria and apply when the GitHub application link becomes available.

Not yet eligible? Join the Open Science Labs community, contribute to a project or initiative, learn with us, and help others along the way.