Unlocking Open Science: Upcoming rOpenSci Events and Celebrations You Can't Miss

Hello to all rOpenSci enthusiasts! It’s time for our latest news roundup! You can catch this post on our blog. Let’s jump into the recent happenings at rOpenSci!

rOpenSci HQ

Upcoming Events Spotlight

Mark your calendars for the Openscapes community call on October 1st at 9:30 AM PT (16:30 UTC), featuring rOpenSci's own community manager, Yani, and software review lead Mark. The theme, “Open Communities in the Age of AI”, also includes insights from Mara Averick (Senior Developer Advocate at Quansight) and Hadley Wickham (Chief Scientist at Posit).

To learn more, visit the event page to register for free.

Champions Program Update

Exciting progress is underway with our 2026–2027 Champions cohort, currently immersed in practical project development. Under the guidance of their mentors, they’re also engaging in outreach initiatives.

The 2025–2026 cohort is set to culminate their journey with a community call focused on showcasing their projects, aptly titled Más Allá del Código: Open Showcase of Champion Projects. This Spanish-language session will occur on Monday, October 12 at 15:00 UTC. It’s a chance to hear about innovative R package development and community outreach initiatives from our Champions, including stories of scholarships and new collaborations. Join us to get inspired and celebrate our thriving open-source community!

Celebrating 15 Years of rOpenSci!

As part of our ongoing anniversary festivities, we've been sharing personal stories from community members about their journeys with rOpenSci since July. In our latest story, we feature Yi-Chin Sunny Tseng, who narrates her evolution from a first-time developer to her current opportunities. You can read her inspiring story on our blog: Happy Birthday rOpenSci — My Journey from First-Time Developer to Current Opportunities. Stay tuned for more from our talented community as we continue to celebrate our 15th anniversary!

Upcoming at LatinR 2026 in Medellín, Colombia

Registration is now live for LatinR 2026, taking place from November 11–13 at Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín! This year's conference features strong participation from rOpenSci.

Jeroen will present on R-Universe, while Yani will lead a workshop on R package development and present insights on our Champions Program's open curriculum. We're also proud to have Nic Crane as one of the keynote speakers, alongside Evelia Lorena Coss Navarrete, a Champion sharing her project experience. Other rOpenSci contributors like Natalia Da Silva, Luis Verde, and Francisco Cardozo will also be in attendance. Jeroen, Francisco, and Yani will join the hackathon at the conference.

We hope to see you there!

Co-Working Offerings

For collaborations and skill-ups, check out our co-working sessions!

• On Tuesday, October 6th, 09:00 AM Americas Pacific (16:00 UTC), join “Writing Tests & Testing in R”, featuring Yanina Bellini Saibene and co-host Olivier Leroy to enhance your testing skills.
• Then on Tuesday, November 3rd, 09:00 AM Australia Western (01:00 UTC), partake in “Climate Science in R”, led by Steffi LaZerte and co-host Elio Campitelli.
• Finally, on Tuesday, December 8th, 14:00 Europe Central (12:00 UTC), join us for “Code Linting in R”, with Steffi LaZerte and co-host Etienne Bacher.

Remember, you can always cowork independently on R-related projects, tackle neglected packages, or progress on your tasks. The community's supportive spirit is always here for you!

Wrapping It Up

As we conclude this snapshot of ongoing developments in the rOpenSci community, it’s clear that the momentum is strong. The submission of various projects—from the versatile camtrapReport generating camera trap reports to grumpy, which reads NumPy files—demonstrates a vibrant engagement from developers eager to contribute to open science. What's particularly noteworthy is the pending attention on two submissions under the ‘2/seeking-reviewer(s)’ label. This situation highlights a common bottleneck in open-source projects: while ideas have merit, the success of these initiatives often hinges on securing timely peer reviews. Without enthusiastic reviewers, impactful software can languish unnoticed. Moreover, with five projects currently labeled for editor checks, including exciting developments like ocean3d and tarpolyglot, we see the intricacies involved in ensuring quality and usability. Each of these projects rests on the shoulders of dedicated developers, and the support of the community is crucial in amplifying their reach and effectiveness.

Looking Ahead

If you’re involved in this space, you’ll recognize the challenge of sustaining engagement among contributors and maintaining project momentum. The call for maintainers, as seen with charlatan, illustrates the demand for ongoing support that’s essential for long-term viability. For those eager to contribute, now is the time to step forward; opportunities abound not merely in coding but in fostering community interaction and sharing knowledge. Check out the help wanted page before initiating pull requests, as understanding the current needs can guide your contributions effectively. The message rings clear: the future of rOpenSci depends on us all engaging as both creators and reviewers. The community thrives on collaboration and support, and there’s a place for everyone. Whether through code, feedback, or outreach, you can play a role in shaping the tools that empower open science. Thanks for following along. If you’re not already part of this growing ecosystem, I encourage you to dive in. The impact you can make is more significant than you might realize.