GOSH is excited to announce a call for applications for our GOSH Ambassador Program. This initiative seeks to empower and expand our community of researchers, educators, and practitioners passionate about promoting open science hardware (OScH) principles. We aim to foster a global network of ambassadors who will lead efforts to promote the OScH movement.
For more information on the GOSH Ambassador Program, check out our program framework and review the full call for applications here. Anyone interested in being an Ambassador is encouraged to apply through this form.
Key Dates
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Applications Open: July 1
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First Round Applications Close: July 27
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Review Process Begins: July 28
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Review Process Ends: August 11
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Applicants Notified: August 12
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Launch of the program: September 1
What support will be provided to ambassadors?
Our goal for this program is to support ambassadors in as many ways as possible, and we hope to create a space where ambassadors can receive financial, interpersonal, and career development support. We encourage ambassadors to support one another through active engagement in shared activities. We plan to continue building support structures as the program grows.
We imagine support for ambassadors as the following:
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GOSH funding is available to support ambassadors’ proposed events and activities.
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Capacity building and support for skills, processes, and resources needed to foster collaboration between communities.
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Being part of a network of ambassadors from various societies and associations, with which ambassadors can share relevant opportunities (such as scholarships and fellowships).
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Peer support and sharing knowledge and advice
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Provide resources and promotional materials for when ambassadors attend events on behalf of GOSH.
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Act as mentors to ambassadors who join the program in future rounds
Expectations of ambassadors
The Ambassador Program WG acknowledges that there are many different ways of being an ambassador and will avoid being prescriptive in how ambassadors carry out their duties. However, there are a few activities that we do expect ambassadors to partake in as part of the program. These expectations include:
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Participate in regularly scheduled meetings with ambassadors to share updates from their communities.
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Attend an annual showcase where ambassadors share their accomplishments with the broader GOSH Community. These accomplishments could be shared as a short video, presentation, etc.
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Ambassadors are expected to be knowledgeable of OScH and be able to reference different OScH projects from the GOSH Community.
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Report back on activities via the GOSH Forum.
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Curate resources and create materials (such as presentation slides or elevator pitches) tailored to specific audiences (i.e., students, research funders, or government officials). These materials could also be re-used by other communities and universities (if applicable).
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They are going to provide mentorship to the new ambassadors.
Ambassadors are welcome to promote OScH and the GOSH Community in a manner they feel is most appropriate. Below, we are sharing some suggested activities that ambassadors can do to help spread the word about OScH and GOSH:
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Attend conferences and/or regional events on behalf of GOSH and regional/topical communities
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Create original content (videos, podcasts, etc.) about GOSH to share online or at conferences and events
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Contributing to communication outreach activities (either participating or sharing content).
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Give presentations on OScH in their respective communities (i.e., local makerspace or university)
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Organize workshops with local community members when requested by institutions not connected to GOSH.
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Be involved in the organization of regional GOSH events
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Look for possible institutional partners who would support the program
Application process
To apply to the 2026 GOSH Ambassador Program, please complete the following application form by July 27:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVoj_6Jhyr3aQTFGhGrJIS2fhV9Elfpd9t3Y1fO-aWQV2blA/viewform
We also welcome nominations for ambassadors. If you know someone who you think would make a great ambassador, please send us a note and let us know at jamaica@opensciencehardware.org
Selection Criteria
In selecting Ambassadors for the 2026-2027, we aim to identify a cohort that is representative of the diversity of the GOSH community. Toward this end, the application form has been designed to gather demographic and other information regarding prospective Ambassadors’ backgrounds, as well as the extent to which their expertise and proposed project align with the following criteria:
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Strong connections to relevant open science hardware networks and stakeholders
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Values strongly aligned with Manifesto and GOSH Code of Conduct
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Experience working in communities and comfortable communicating and/or public speaking
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Experience with open hardware Involved in academia, research and/or innovation
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Experience with open science
Each criterion will be weighted on a scale of 1-3, with each criterion being scored on a scale of 0-3.
Diversity Criteria
Ambassador positions will be awarded as follows to ensure the ambassador program is as equitable and representative as possible. This model was adapted from the 2023 GOSH Governance Plan for Seating the 3rd GOSH Community Council. Selections will be made in an attempt to ensure that the final group of ambassadors must has at least one person who identifies with each of the following:
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Individuals who are Women, Trans or Gender non-conforming, and/or those who have historically marginalized sexual orientations
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People of Color and/or Indigenous
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From a low-income country or/and community in Asia or elsewhere
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Differently abled people/persons
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People who contribute to youth participation in governance, e.g., people younger than 25 according to the United Nations definition.