In Spring 2017 Mozilla’s Open Innovation team conducted research to better understand the current state of open source on US Campuses. Through that study we discovered a high level of interest around open source but also a knowledge gap and a pressing need for well-supported, networked, informal structures that could help bring people to the open source movement that was already blossoming on campuses in the US.

Based on that research we began developing an idea that would become the Open Source Student Network. A pilot program to create and support a network of clubs on university campuses to learn about, create and contributing to open source.

In parallel to developing a website as a platform for facilitating updates, interactions and knowledge sharing, we initiated a process to structurally support club leaders. This included identifying dedicated students who were passionate about open source and excited to develop their own clubs as part of a larger network.

To find our student leaders, we worked with the Professor’s Open Source Software Experience (POSSE) to ask professors from across the country to nominated students who they thought had the leadership capabilities, passion and entrepreneurial attitude to guide and shape the launch of an open source program. After reviewing dozens of applications we identified 20 students from 7 different countries, at schools in 10 different states. 50% identified as female.

Students & Mentors at the first Open Source Student Leader Weekend at Drexel University

Learning from Mentors

On August 10th, after weeks of virtual trainings, meetings, and independent work, Mozilla’s first ever Open Source Student Leader cohort came together at Drexel University campus in Philadelphia to meet their fellow leaders face to face and to further develop the skills they’d need to bring the Open Source Student Network to their campuses in the fall. Throughout the weekend in Philadelphia, the students had the opportunity to learn from six mentors, each experts in their respective fields.

Katrina Owen from GitHub shares her tips for maintaining welcoming open source projects

These mentors ran workshops and gave talks on a series of topics designed to empower and inspire. Highlights included Don Marti, Open Innovation Experimenter at Mozilla, who had participants laughing and thinking in his presentation Why Open Source Matters that delivered an “off message”, thought provoking history of the open source movement(s) and the factors that threatened its past and its future.

As well, Emma Irwin, who leads Diversity & Inclusion for Participation at Mozilla, held a workshop on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome which guided participants through a deep examination of their own privilege and opportunities, while delivering practical advice for fostering diverse, safe spaces within a club environment.

“Each of the workshops was incredibly insightful, and in addition to the practical knowledge I gained, it was a breath of fresh air to be able to connect with other likeminded students in a safe and open environment.” — Jeffrey Qiu, UCLA

Meet The Leaders

As the school year kicks off each of these student leaders are now starting or advancing clubs on their campuses. You can learn more about the clubs and follow along with their progress on the open source student network website.

Joining the Network

If you’re a US university student with an open source or technical club who is interested in becoming a part of this network, you can register your club on the website: opensource.mozilla.community