Scaling Strategies for Open Source Scientific Projects

Insights from the CZI EOSS Community Call

Authors

Cécile Ané

Clare Dillon

Jonah Duckles

Beth Duckles

Pradeep Eranti

Kate Hertweck

Claudia Solis-Lemus

Reshama Shaikh

Dan Sholler

Yani Bellini Saibene

Published

September 19, 2025

In this document, we share insights discussed in the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative’s Essential Open Source Software program community call held on September 19, 2025.

This resource is intended to be a conversation-starter for open source software project leaders, their collaborators, staff, and community.

The topics contained in the first version of this document reflect only what we discussed on the CZI EOSS community call. We encourage suggestions and contributions to expand the scope of scaling strategies that open source project leaders should consider when managing a project, as well as resources that would be helpful to leaders and their projects.

Community Growth Stages and Engagement Strategies

Growth strategies for Open Source Scientific projects can vary depending on the growth stage that a project is at.

🌱 Early Stage 🌿 Growing Stage 🌳 Mature Stage
Characteristics of Stage of Growth Primarily developer-driven Focused on core product development Limited resources Emerging diverse contributor base Increasing complexity of communication Need for more structured processes Complex, diverse community Multiple communication channels Sophisticated governance needs
Community Engagement Strategies Personal networking Go to disciplinary conference workshops Host targeted hackathons Minimal communication channels Flexible, informal structures Develop clear contribution guidelines Create multiple entry points Introduce mentorship programs Establish basic governance framework Multilingual / translation support considerations Formalized roles and responsibilities Community of communities approach Dedicated community managers Sophisticated feedback mechanisms Cultural translation support
Tools GitHub Small Slack/Discord group Basic documentation Occasional in-person / online meetups Dedicated communication platforms Regular newsletters Async collaboration spaces Documented decision-making processes Beginner-friendly onboarding materials Multi-channel communication strategy Specialized forums Tiered communication approaches Robust documentation Regular community surveys

Cross-Cutting Engagement Principles

Across all phases of growth, some principles made sense for everyone:

Communication Best Practices

Engagement Archetypes

  • Recognize that there are different community member types or archetypes within the community
  • Create tailored engagement pathways for the archetypes.
  • Develop “ambassador” roles for archetypes

Principle of Intentional Overcommunication

  • Communicate across multiple channels to your community, being aware of different community archetypes and their communication preferences.
  • Provide context for decisions
  • Create “low-stakes” welcome spaces

Accessibility Considerations

  • Accommodate different time zones
  • Provide async participation options
  • Support multiple languages where appropriate

Technology and Connection Strategies

Connection Mechanisms

  • Identify “superconnectors” or people who are very well connected to others who can help with building the community.
  • Build international partnerships where appropriate.
  • Create translation support where needed.
  • Develop cross-cultural communication skills

Technology Recommendations

  • Create platform-agnostic communication strategies
  • Use privacy-focused analytics
  • Implement multilingual support
  • Leverage AI translation tools

Scaling Challenges and Mitigation

Common Scaling Obstacles

  • Communications can overwhelm some people in the community
  • Developing and maintaining the community culture is important for community cohesion
  • As the group grows, there is a need to balance technical and social needs
  • Preventing contributor burnout is an ongoing concern.

Mitigation Strategies

  • Implement clear communication guidelines
  • Creating appreciation channels helps allow the community to engage with one another.
  • Develop robust onboarding processes
  • Establish transparent decision-making frameworks

Measurement and Adaptation

Community Health Indicators

  • Contributor diversity (however defined by the community)
  • Communication channel engagement
  • Onboarding success rates
  • Contributor retention

Continuous Improvement

  • Regular community surveys
  • Flexible governance models
  • Periodic strategy reassessment
  • Open feedback mechanisms

Key Takeaways

  • Community is dynamic and requires continuous adaptation
  • Prioritize human connections over technical solutions
  • Create inclusive, accessible participation pathways
  • Remain mission-focused and transparent

Remember: Community building is an art and a science—stay flexible, empathetic, and mission-driven.