Survey of Open Source at UW
The Open Source Program Office (OSPO) conducted a campus-wide survey to map the landscape of open source software and practices at UW-Madison. By gathering data from over 300 faculty, staff, and students, we aim to better support the researchers and educators who drive innovation. The survey itself is open source and used open source tools like R and Quarto.
Key Metrics
53%
Contribute to open source
84%
Use open source tools in workflows or research
89%
Support university contributions
Vibrant Culture
While 60% of respondents stated that a vibrant open source culture is “very valuable,” only 31% agreed that such a culture currently exists at UW-Madison, highlighting a significant opportunity for growth and community building.
Training Gap
Despite the reliance on open source, only 22% of respondents have received formal training. However, 87% indicated they want more education and support for learning how to contribute to open source projects.
Support & Interest
There is high enthusiasm for centralized initiatives, with 73% of respondents expressing specific interest in attending open source training sessions and workshops organized by OSPO.