VERSO

The Vermont Research Open Source Program Office (VERSO) at the University of Vermont is committed to cultivating a collaborative, transparent, and inclusive open‑science ecosystem. As UVM’s central hub for open‑science activity, VERSO advances research by supporting the creation of reliable, accessible open‑source software and by strengthening a culture of openness across the university. Through its mission, VERSO works to coordinate open‑science efforts, enhance the transparency of research practices, and foster a diverse community of contributors engaged in developing and sharing scientific tools.

A major part of VERSO’s impact comes from its programs and hands‑on project work. The Open Research Community Accelerator (ORCA) brings together interdisciplinary teams of students, researchers, and community partners to address real‑world social, technical, and environmental challenges through open‑source development. Operating through Agile sprints, ORCA participants work on high‑value efforts such as the Vermont Zoning Atlas, which supports statewide housing and sustainability planning; Wastewater Infrastructure Mapping, which documents essential systems for community resilience; and the Heard and Understood App, which aids research into communication and silence in serious‑illness conversations. These projects allow participants to gain practical experience while generating tools with direct public value. 

VERSO’s work also extends far beyond formal programs through its events and outreach activities, which help grow UVM’s open‑science and data‑science communities. The website highlights a variety of recurring gatherings, including UX Speakeasy meetups and Design events, which bring together practitioners and researchers interested in user experience and design. In addition, VERSO’s team has played key roles in organizing major regional technical conferences and community events such as PyData Vermont 2024, a research‑focused data‑science gathering, and earlier initiatives like the Burlington Data Scientist Meetup and GeoDatSci, which have helped shape Vermont’s broader data and open‑source landscape. These outreach activities broaden participation, foster cross‑disciplinary networking, and provide learning opportunities for both new and experienced contributors.

VERSO also supports open‑science engagement by curating an extensive Open Source Project Registry, showcasing the diverse range of open‑source tools, research software, and lab‑driven initiatives developed at UVM. Projects in the registry range from advanced network‑science libraries like XGI—designed for modeling higher‑order interactions—to community‑oriented software developed in partnership with UVM research groups, such as communication‑analysis tools produced by the Vermont Conversation Lab. This directory strengthens collaboration and ensures that UVM’s scientific contributions remain visible, reusable, and accessible to the public.

Through these programs, outreach efforts, and community‑driven projects, VERSO fulfills its mission to build a thriving open‑science culture—one where students, researchers, and partners work together to advance innovation, support transparency, and share knowledge for the benefit of Vermont and the wider scientific community.

How We Support Researchers:

• Open Source Project Registry: Discover and contribute to open-source projects developed by UVM researchers.
• Educational Resources: Access workshops, guides, and other materials to learn about open science principles and practices.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We prioritize EDI to ensure that open science is accessible and inclusive for all researchers.