Episode 240: Yo Yehudi on OLS and open science

Guest Yo Yehudi Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this
episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer is joined by Yo Yehudi,
Executive Director of Open Life Science (OLS), who discusses the
importance of sustaining open source and scientific research. They
cover topics such as the transition of OLS from a life sciences
focus to all sciences, the importance of sharing scientific work
openly, and strategies for building inclusive and sustainable
communities within open source projects. Yo also touches on the
challenges of funding and supporting volunteer-driven initiatives,
their approach to managing volunteer contributions, and insights
from their doctoral research on open source project sustainability.
Hit download now to hear more! [00:02:19] Yo describes OLS as an
organization helping scientists to share their work globally,
addressing the common issue of data loss when scientists leave
academia without sharing their work. [00:02:56] The conversation
explores how OLS has expanded to include all sciences, not just
life sciences, and even fields outside of traditional scientific
disciplines. [00:03:46] Yo critiques the traditional methods of
scientific communication, highlighting the importance of sharing
code and computational methods alongside traditional manuscripts.
[00:05:55] Richard and Yo discuss the inclusive definition of a
scientist, emphasizing curiosity and rigor over formal educational
credentials. [00:07:28] There’s a discussion on OLS’s operational
scope and strategic focus to prevent “scope creep,” emphasizing
training, mentoring, and incubation projects. [00:09:57] Yo details
the team size and funding strategy of OLS, mentioning how they
transitioned from a volunteer-based to a funded organization.
[00:00:00] Richard discusses the challenge of differentiating OLS
for funding in a competitive space filled with similar
organizations. Yo explains that OLS views similar organizations not
as competitors but as potential collaborators, striving to
differentiate by working together and clearly defining each other’s
unique roles. [00:16:20] There’s a discussion on volunteer
contributions and avoiding exploitation. [00:17:49] Richard and Yo
discuss the challenges of altering the mindset around volunteer
compensation and ensuring that project contributions are recognized
and supported financially. Yo explains how OLS had adapted its
approach to offering support, ensuring it meets diverse needs
efficiently. [00:20:44] The conversation shifts to how OLS assists
open source practitioners in publishing their work and code
effectively, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and
thoughtful sharing practices. [00:22:34] Yo highlights changes in
OLS’s teachings, particularly focusing on equity and the experience
of marginalized individuals in open source communities and talks
about open access publishing. [00:25:13] Yo acknowledges that using
platforms like GitHub and arXiv could be viable options for sharing
scientific work, providing it’s done responsibly, respecting
privacy, and not including sensitive data. [00:26:12] Richard draws
a parallel between the challenges faced by scientists needing
traditional publication credentials and open source contributors
needing recognition for their contributions outside mainstream
channels. Yo shares their personal stance on working within the
capitalist system to bring about change. [00:28:45] Yo details
their doctoral study focused on the longevity of open source
projects, noting their findings that the metrics used did not
predict project sustainability as expected. [00:32:23] Yo announces
their recent successful defense of their doctoral thesis,
emphasizing the importance of practical and community-focused
approaches in open source projects. [00:33:36] Find out where you
can learn more about Yo and their work online. Quotes [00:04:10]
“Science is everything else we see.” [00:04:20] “Science uses a lot
of code to create outputs, to visualize the work they’re doing, to
understand things….code and computations come into science in so
many different ways.” [00:18:53] “We had a very low uptake, which
was surprising, and then we changed the way we asked people to ask
for money, and we had more [people ask for funds].” [00:27:50] “The
fact that open source really was founded pragmatically as a way to
exploit free labor makes me uncomfortable.” [00:33:14] “Make sure
you have functional friendly humans.” Spotlight [00:34:22]
Richard’s spotlight is the book, _Joseph Banks: A Life _by Patrick
O’Brian. [00:35:12] Yo’s spotlight is InterMine. Links SustainOSS
(https://sustainoss.org/) SustainOSS Discourse
(https://discourse.sustainoss.org/) podcast@sustainoss.org
(mailto:podcast@sustainoss.org) SustainOSS Mastodon
(https://mastodon.social/tags/sustainoss) Open
Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute)
(https://opencollective.com/sustainoss) Richard Littauer Socials
(https://www.burntfen.com/2023-05-30/socials) Yo Yehudi Website
(https://yo-yehudi.com/) Yo Yehudi LinkedIn
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoyehudi/) Open Life Science (OLS)
(https://openlifesci.org/) Sustain Podcast with host Abigail
Cabunoc Mayes (https://podcast.sustainoss.org/hosts/mayes) Mozilla
(https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/) [Joseph Banks: A life by Patrick
O’Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JosephBanks:ALife)_
InterMine (http://intermine.org/) Credits Produced by Richard
Littauer (https://www.burntfen.com/) Edited by Paul M. Bahr at
Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/) Show notes by
DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound (https://www.peachtreesound.com/)
Special Guest: Yo Yehudi.