In April 2024, the Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS) proudly established UC Berkeley’s Open Source Program Office (OSPO), under the leadership of Executive Director Jarrod Millman. Last month, Millman, along with colleagues from the UC OSPO network, represented the university at the second annual "OSPOs For Good" event, hosted at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
This year's symposium recognized the role of OSPOs in global collaboration around open source initiatives, with an emphasis on the future of open source. Described by organizers as an "action symposium," the 2024 edition aimed to introduce open source more prominently into the UN system. The event’s topics addressed critical areas of open source policy and presented examples of "open source for good" from around the world:
- AI and Open Source
- Open Source at the UN
- Open Source in the Global South
- Open Source and Governments
- Open Source at Work in the World
- Youth and Open Source
- Engaging the Open Source Community
- Open Source Networked Cities
- The Next Decade: Envisioning the Future of Open Source
Reflecting on the experience, Millman remarked, “The meeting provided a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse, international group of colleagues from government, industry, non-profit, and academia, sparking discussions on accelerating the global adoption of open source solutions. It showcased a vibrant global community of open source thinkers, with ambitious visions for championing OSPOs as a worldwide network for positive change.” And a key takeaway was that he gained valuable insights into how government systems across various levels—from international to local—can harness the potential of open source software to advance the UN's global sustainability goals.
Stephanie Lieggi, Executive Director of OSPO at UC Santa Cruz, wrote about her experience too, noting: “The presence of members of the UC OSPO network was seen as a major indicator of how OSPOs working together could improve collaboration and coordination across different sectors.”
Event videos are available on the UN website:
