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statusNot funded
The WikiScience Hub: Assessing Needs and Establishing Community
Fluxx IDR-HF-2510-21045
start date2026-01-01
end date2026-12-31
amount requested (local currency)425500 PLN
amount requested (USD)115055.2 USD [note 1]
fiscal year2025-26
roundRound 2
organization (if applicable)University of Warsaw
contact(s)NabuKudurru

This is an automatically generated Meta-Wiki page. The page was copied from Fluxx, the web service of Wikimedia Foundation Funds, where the user has submitted their application. Please do not make any changes to this page because all changes will be removed after the next update. Use the discussion page for your feedback. The page was created by CR-FluxxBot.

Applicant information

[edit]
Organization or group name. (required)
University of Warsaw
Provide your main Wikimedia Username. (required)
NabuKudurru
Have you contacted the Wikimedia Foundation Hub team before applying? (required)
Yes

Is your group legally registered in your country? (required)

Yes
Do you have a fiscal sponsor?
No
Fiscal organization name.
N/A

Main proposal

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1. State the title of your proposal. This will also be a title for the Meta-Wiki page. (required)
The WikiScience Hub: Assessing Needs and Establishing Community
2. Proposed start date. (required)
2026-01-01
3. Proposed end date. (required)
2026-12-31
4. Where will this proposal be implemented? Provide the region or country names and any other information that is useful for understanding your proposal. (required)
Globally, we have teammates in: USA, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and more than 24 other countries that have signed on to the WikiScience COST Action. 
5. Does your group have a theory of change for your proposal? If yes, please provide it. (optional)
Yes
The goal of the WikiScience hub is to support science related Wikimedia contributors and affiliates that engage in activities related to science. We believe that by supporting scientists and academics engaging in Wikimedia, we can make scientific knowledge more available to the public, as well as tap into previously untapped resources, specifically state funders. Our team has brought together over 80 participants from more than 30 nations, and recently submitted an EU COST Action grant with 35 co-proposers from 24 European nations for a grant of approximately 600,000 euros to support a network and events. This Hub grant is a sort of back up and to get us started since that grant will not be decided until the middle of next year. We believe this is a demonstration of the potential of this network and the scientific network.


Currently there are no strong Wikimedia community narratives about accomplishments in science. If we publish a global Wikimedia science portfolio of the science projects which Wikimedia affiliates have accomplished since 2010, then that portfolio will strengthen community efforts to apply for non-Wikimedia Foundation grant funding for Wikimedia science projects. By creating a survey and portfolio, developing a process for the Science Hub to review, endorse, and document Wikimedia community science projects, and hosting regular community meetings to accomplish these things, we expect to be able to help WikiScience members get non-WMF grant funded projects in the Wikimedia ecosystem from ~0 per year to at least 1 per year. Besides direct grant funding, we also want to increase the number of science institutions which organize their own Wikimedia science projects, modeled after how GLAM organizations do Wiki GLAM projects. Right now, there are very few or only discontinued science organizations (e.g., Society for Personality and Social Psychology; American Sociological Association) doing Wikimedia science projects, and the Science Hub seeks to bring these organizations and champions together to learn from each other.
6. Why do you believe your group is best positioned to drive this hub initiative? (required)

Our team has already set up a community page and recruited more than 80 participants from more than 30 nations at 

[1]

Additionally the lead on this project recently (October 21st, 2025) submitted an European Union COST Action grant proposal which is focused on networking and developing future projects with 35 co-applicants from 24 mostly European nations. The goal of this grant and funding will be to support this work and network even if we do not get the COST Action grant, additionally to take it from a European context to the Wikimedia Worldwide context. 

We have identified a Wikimedia community interest in developing a culture for promoting science content. In having discussions with members, we have verified that there is no other Wikimedia organization which seeks to generally support science content, and also that Wikimedia community members want to participate in this activity.

Our group includes members who are familiar with Wikimedia community affiliate organization, and also with realistic goal setting. 

7. Do you have a strategic plan that can help us understand your proposal? If your proposal relates to piloting a hub, share your piloting plan. If your proposal relates to research, share your research plan. (required)
Yes
8. Describe the specific activities that will be carried out during this project. If your proposal is related to piloting a hub, describe the services you plan to offer and include how you are drawing on community consultation and needs assessments to define your activities. (required)

The WikiScience Hub will focus in the first year on identifying and reporting Science related Wikimedia activities, developing infrastructure to support affiliates in running science related activities, and establish a shared narrative and community around science related Wikimedia activities. This work also serves the purpose of giving credit to the thousands of Wikimedians who contributed to these projects. 

1. A survey of Affiliates on science related activities 

Develop an open community survey, review, and endorsement project of science related Wikimedia activities. This serves not only to understand how what science related activities are happening within the community, it enables us to identify and give credit to the  best as well as assess community needs, what is working, and what is not. The survey is expected to launch Q2 2026 and include the following sections: 

  • Outline of affiliate science related activities. 
  • Endorsement, survey of needs, and expectations from the WikiScience Hub. 
  • Ideas and opinions about potential WikiScience Plans. 

2. Development of standard materials for collaboration and grantmaking. 

One of the major goals of the WikiScience Hub is to help affiliates and contributors get credit and funding for their science related activities. Our focus is first and foremost on external to WMF funds, and this is also the goal of the COST Action that our core team has been instrumental in leading. To this end, our goal is to put together a set of standard templates which will help WikiScience members and affiliates in general to prepare high quality and fundable grant applications and impactful programs. This includes for instance information about the development of budgets, standard Gantt Charts, and support mechanisms for instance in standard support documents and certification of e.g., access to Wikimedia datasets and other resources, which are common hurdles to high quality grant applications. The specific materials we expect to create as a part of this grant include: 

  • Standard budget form built for national funders. 
  • Standard and editable  Gantt chart for science related activities. 
  • Standard form indicating that the grant team will have access to Wikimedia datasets. 
  • Standard letter stating that they are in good standing with the WikiScience community. 

3. Development of the administrative and management sides of WikiScience. 

The final pillar of activities we intend to focus on in this first year is to establish the administrative and management aspects of the WikiScience hub. This will be done through both open and closed meetings with the entire community and the Wikimedia core team. Our team is already meeting regularly on Friday in a closed format and with the core team. This grant will help us establish 

  • Hire an administrator part time (~.25fte), also to help administer the grant funds. 
  • Hold regular (open) meetings biweekly once a month with the core team, once open. 
  • Highlight Wikimedia affiliate science projects for others to join. 
  • Review and provide feedback on Science project before they are submitted. 

These projects provide not only to establish the support that WikiScience hub has from the community, but also to assess how it can be most effective in aiding and building the network for success in the future. All of the actions are focused on needs assessment and establishment of the network for future successes. We also believe that have a strong history of successful project development and management throughout our core team - and this hub fund will enable us to help others also be successful in their own projects. 

9. Did you involve communities during the drafting of this proposal? Share which specific communities you involved, the process you used to involve them, and how they will participate in this proposal. (required)

Some of the projects with which the Science Hub has met are listed on the hub's project page.

[2]

Currently 80 participants are signed on to the Science Hub member page, these individuals also represent many different affiliates and organizations which can also be reviewed on the hub page. 

[3]

The Science Hub concept has been presented at the 2025 WikiCite Conference and the 2025 WikiConference North America.

[4]

[5]

There are at least four ways that Wikimedia community groups can participate in the Science Hub, including: 

  1. They can engage on the talk page of the Science Hub, or join any public scheduled events.
  2. They can share their past science projects to be included in the Wikimedia science survey and portfolio.
  3. They can submit their proposed projects to the hub to get an endorsement, which they can use to seek institutional partnership or funding.
  4. They can present their projects for feedback and additional engagement in the community through our proposed WikiScience colloquium series. 
10. Are you in communication with other initiatives or groups that either support similar communities or offer similar services to the ones in your proposal? Provide information about any initiatives, affiliates, and/or hubs that have the potential to duplicate or overlap with your proposal. (required)

There are many Wikimedia affiliates who overlap partially. Wikimedia regional affiliates do many kinds of projects, and almost all of them do science projects occasionally. Perhaps a typical Wikimedia affiliate does 5-15% projects with overlap for science. There are some Wikimedia affiliates, like Wikimedia Medicine, WikiJournal, WikiCite, the Sustainability Initiative, and Wiki Loves Butterfly, which do mostly science projects, but which are specialized and do not engage in science programs generally or globally.

The activities of the Wikimedia Science hub which do not overlap with any other group including storytelling and promoting of Wikimedia science programs within the community, generally, and globally. Also, the Science Hub specifically seeks to support other groups in seeking grants and establishing partnerships for Wikimedia science, and no other group does that.

WikiEducation hub and WikiGLAM hub are also in some ways related and also have representatives as a part of our hub. We believe our hub is different in that it is focused mostly on academic contributors and also in helping them get additional grant funding for their activities. That is, it is mostly an external facing hub, rather than internal facing. 

11. Who is your primary audience(s)? List the communities, affiliates, and groups. (required)

The primary audience of the Science Hub are scientists and academic related Wikimedians and people who want to learn about Science Projects in the Wikimedia community. Our strategic focus is to support Science related wikimedians and present information which will persuade non-WMF funders and institutional partners to invest in Wikimedia academic content development.

While there already are some Wikimedia affiliate organizations and individuals who are primarily interested in science projects, we also expect that many Wikimedia affiliates will consult with the Science Hub when they encounter the opportunity to organize a science project for themselves. For example, regional Wikimedia community organizations frequently encounter the opportunity to develop university partnerships including science content development, or they may encounter a funder who would consider their science project ideas. The idea is to gather science related activities and present them in a way so as to showcase what works and help people build on this foundation of best practices. 

A partial list of activities and groups is provided below: 

Table 1: Some science related Wikimedia initiatives. You can see not many are sustainable. 

Organization

Discipline

Pilot / Initiative (short)

Years 

Link(s)

Royal Society (UK)

Learned society (science)

Women in Science Wikipedia edit-a-thon (Ada Lovelace Day & followups)

2012–2014

Royal Society edit-a-thon coverage. The Guardian

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Chemistry

Wikimedian in Residence / edit-a-thons (RSC–Wikimedia UK residency)

2014–2015

RSC Wikimedian in Residence announcement. Wikimedia UK

British Library

Libraries / cultural heritage

Wikipedian in Residence; GLAM partnerships (BL residency)

2012–2013 (residency)

British Library WiR project page. Wikipedia

Smithsonian Institution

Museums / archives

Wikipedian in Residence; edit-a-thons & GLAM activities

2011–2013 ()

Smithsonian WiR / edit-a-thon posts. Smithsonian Institution Archives+1

University of Edinburgh

University / digital scholarship

University-wide Wikimedian in Residence; teaching & training pilots

2012 → ongoing (multi-year program)

Edinburgh WiR / review. information-services.ed.ac.uk+1

Wiki Education / Wikipedia Education Program

Education / universities

“Teach with Wikipedia” / classroom program and university courses

2010 → present (program expansion)

Wiki Education: program history. Wiki Education+1

WikiCite (community)

Citations / bibliographic metadata

WikiCite conferences & Wikidata citation work

2016 → present 

WikiCite event page. meta.wikimedia.org+1

WikiJournal of Medicine (WikiJournal UG)

Scholarly publishing / medicine

Wiki-integrated peer-reviewed journal (bridge to Wikipedia)

2014 → present

WikiJournal of Medicine/about. en.wikiversity.org

IFLA (Wikidata Working Group & #1Lib1Ref)

Libraries / information science

  1. 1Lib1Ref, Wikidata training and WG activities

2019–2022

IFLA Wikidata Working Group / #1Lib1Ref. IFLA+1

AfLIA (African Library & Information Assoc.)

Libraries (Africa)

“Promoting Open Knowledge practices… through Wikidata” online course

2022–2023 (course delivery)

AfLIA Wikidata course page / report. web.aflia.net+1

Europlanet Society / Planetary Science community

Planetary science

Planetary Science Wiki edit-a-thon (EPSC / Europlanet events)

2020 → ongoing (launched EPSC2020)

Planetary Science Wiki edit-a-thon. europlanet.org

Graphene Flagship (research consortium)

Materials / engineering

Wikipedia edit-a-thon as part of Diversity in Graphene outreach

2021 (event)

Graphene Flagship edit-a-thon page. graphene-flagship.eu

Wikimedia Medicine is the most developed example of a Wikimedia organization which applies for non-WMF grant funding because public health communication is a rich field where sponsors fund distribution of health information. The other named organizations - WikiJournal, WikiCite, the Sustainability Initiative, and Wiki Loves Butterfly - are established Wikimedia organizations and models to emulate, but there are other groups to identify for the Wikimedia Science portfolio who are less documented than those.

12. If your proposal relates to piloting a hub, share the governance structure you plan to establish. If this governance structure is not yet in place, share how you are making decisions in the interim. (optional)

The Wikimedia Science hub has a core team but does not have a board or formal governance structure at the current moment, and part of the work being funded through this initial hub grant will be to establish these structures. It will have four ad hoc teams for this project, one each for the three tasks of this project, and an additional one to manage this grant proposal.

The science portfolio team will oversee the temporary hire of a worker to compile the portfolio. The project review team will develop on-wiki documentation for how it accepts, reviews, and endorses Wikimedia community projects seeking a letter of endorsement for an institutional partnership or a grant application. The meeting team will oversee the hire of a communication consult who will schedule meetings, including by polling for meeting teams, setting up an invite list, and promoting Wikimedia diversity by soliciting for guest presenters from underrepresented groups who want their science projects included in the portfolio.

13. Describe your team. (required)

The WikiScience Hub has over 80 members at the time of submitting this application. Our core team includes Brett Buttliere (also the lead on the recently submitted WikiScience COST Action), Lane Rasberry (bluerasberry), Matthew Vetter (Matthewvetter), Daniel Mietchen (Daniel Mietchen), Iolanda Pensa (iopensa), along with many other cosignatories including: 

  1. --Daniel Mietchen (talk) 19:28, 21 March 2025 (UTC)
  2. Bluerasberry (talk) 19:33, 21 March 2025 (UTC)
  3. Matthewvetter (talk) 16:08, 22 March 2025 (UTC)
  4. NabuKudurru (talk) 14:46, 25 March 2025 (UTC)
  5. Shani Evenstein. 16:00, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  6. Margob28 (talk) 5:08, 12 May 2025 (UTC +1)
  7. Alphaechoromeo (talk) 5:08, 12 May 2025 (UTC +1)
  8. OhanaUnited<sup>Talk page</sup> 16:08, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  9. Suriname0 (talk) 16:10, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  10. --Jeanne Noiraud (talk) 10:03, 16 May 2025 (UTC)
  11. Bibliodrome (talk) 16:10, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  12. Finn Årup Nielsen (fnielsen) (talk) 16:22, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  13. Kaylea Champion (khascall) (talk) 16:23, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  14. Peter F. Patel-Schneider (talk) 16:30, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  15. Mtenaespinoza (talk) 16:43, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  16. Senator Choko (talk) 16:50, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  17. Klaul (talk) 16:51, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  18. Clayoquot (talk) 16:58, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  19. Manavpreet Kaur (talk) 17:10, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  20. Egon Willighagen (talk) 14:57, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  21. Chaotic Enby (talk) 17:20, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  22. Pelajanela (talk) 17:43, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  23. Florenciac (talk) 17:46, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  24. Ngostary2k (talk) 18:40, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  25. Onwuka Glory (talk) 18:59, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  26. Aaronshaw (talk) 19:33, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  27. Soylacarli (talk) 19:55, 12 May 2025 (UTC)
  28. Ngangaesther (talk) 06:10, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  29. Netha Hussain (talk) 06:57, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  30. MarianaSenkiv (talk) 07:58, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  31. Michaelgraaf (talk) 12:18, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  32. IngridThomson (talk)
  33. — Rhododendrites <sup>talk</sup> \\ 12:36, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  34. Derek J Moore (talk) 13:35, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  35. Luis Fernando Flores LAB (talk) 13:52, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  36. Pundit (talk) 15:50, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  37. WikiTatik (talk)--WikiTatik (talk) 17:05, 13 May 2025 (UTC)
  38. Andreas Kaltenbrunner (talk) 7:00, 14 May 2025 (UTC)
  39. Tramullas (talk)
  40. alhen<sup>Did you call?</sup> 12:32, 14 May 2025 (UTC)
  41. Katarzyna Makowska (WMPL) (talk) 15:31, 14 May 2025 (UTC)
  42. FromPunjab (talk), 15 May 2025
  43. Jeanne Noiraud (talk) 10:03, 16 May 2025 (UTC)
  44. --Epìdosis 16:15, 16 May 2025 (UTC)
  45. Kruusamägi (talk) 22:30, 18 May 2025 (UTC)
  46. --Ilario (talk) 08:43, 19 May 2025 (UTC)
  47. Bvprasadtewiki (talk)Bvprasadtewiki (talk) 05:25, 20 May 2025 (UTC)
  48. Physikerwelt (talk) 09:40, 20 May 2025 (UTC)
  49. S.v.Mering (talk) 12:35, 21 May 2025 (UTC)
  50. --Csisc (talk) 00:10, 22 May 2025 (UTC)
  51. ♥Ainali <small><sup>talk</sup><sub>contributions</sub></small> 12:58, 22 May 2025 (UTC)
  52. Romaine (talk) 21:50, 22 May 2025 (UTC)
  53. Stitchbird2 (talk) 02:54, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
  54. Ambrosia10 (talk) 05:50, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
  55. Joaquimsantos1978 (talk) 08:11, 26 May 2025 (UTC)
  56. Chinmayee Mishra (talk) 10:30, 30 May 2025 (UTC)
  57. CristianCantoro (talk) 17:43, 16 June 2025 (UTC)
  58. DMontagne en résidence (talk) 08:40, 7 July 2025 (UTC)
  59. Flávia Varella (talk) 15:47, 25 July 2025 (UTC)
  60. iopensa (talk) 09:48, 29 August 2025 (UTC)
  61. DrThneed (talk) 06:15, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  62. --Gustavo.candela (talk) 14:55, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  63. Egon Willighagen (talk) 14:58, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  64. AdrianoRutz (talk) 15:02, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  65. Zblace (talk) 15:03, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  66. —Ismael Olea (talk) 15:05, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  67. JMMaok (talk) 15:15, 31 August 2025 (UTC)JMMaok
  68. --Uschoen (talk) 18:11, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  69. Gaurav (talk) 19:05, 31 August 2025 (UTC)
  70. Unclezeph (talk) 07:04, 1 September 2025 (UTC)
  71. Sergiosantamarina (talk) 22:04, 1 September 2025 (UTC)
  72. Briianbraiin (talk) 14:28, 4 September 2025 (UTC)
  73. ACheJu (talk) 18:25, 9 September 2025 (UTC)
  74. Tesleemah (talk) 19:41, 15 September 2025 (UTC)
  75. —mako๛ 20:53, 17 September 2025 (UTC)
  76. scotted400 (talk) 10:28, 22 September 2025 (UTC)
  77. –SJ<small> talk </small> 17:57, 26 September 2025 (UTC)
  78. Margob28 (talk) 15:13, 06 October 2025 (UTC)
  79. Luisfff2812 (talk) 02:34, 07 October 2025 (UTC)
  80. Seeris (talk) 13:14, 7 October 2025 (UTC
14. Upload a timeline of activities or provide a link to it. Timeline (operational calendar) is for your programs and activities. (required)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14kqEhDsxqQQpiXsh07DVaKYzfSvHIvUo7kFq3C9y8S8/edit?tab=t.0
15. How do you intend to keep communities updated on the progress and outcomes of the project? Share your communication plans. (required)

All outcomes will be reported on the meta project page at

[6]

We additionally expect to present the hub at a variety of Wikimedia related events - we are estimating at the current time one to two presentations about the hub at Wiki events per core team member. 

We additionally have mailing lists and relatively often post to the WikiResearch mailing list to communicate with members. 

16. If your activities include community discussions, what is your plan for ensuring that the conversations are productive, inclusive, and safe? Provide a link to a Friendly Space Policy or UCoC that will be implemented to support these discussions. (optional)

This group's meetings will use the standard Wikimedia guidance. As is common in Wikimedia community meetings, the host of the meeting will introduce the friendly space policy and code of conduct in the meeting's introduction.

[7]

[8]

17. Are there any other details you would like to share? Consider providing rationale, research or community discussion outputs, and any other similar information that will give more context on your proposed project. You can also upload any additional documents in the section below. (optional)


Metrics

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18. Share quantitative and/or qualitative metrics that you plan to measure in order to showcase the impact of your activities. (required)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uXgFo3xS84pdVn6F2ww3puakNzIf3k8qNdnZWnHQLho/edit?tab=t.0

Budget

[edit]
19. Your local currency. (required)
PLN
20. What is the requested amount in your local currency? (required)
425500 PLN
Requested amount in USD
115055.2 USD [note 1]
  1. ↑ a b The following amount in US dollars was calculated by Wikimedia Foundation staff using the fixed currency rates. This amount is approximate and may not reflect the actual currency exchange rates on the day of submission or distribution. If the application is funded, the funding will be sent in the recipient’s local currency.
21. Does this proposal include compensation for staff or contractors? (required)
No
21.1. How many paid staff members and contractors do you plan to cover through the Hub Fund? (required)

Include the number of staff and contractors during the proposal period as well as their work status (full-time/part-time, indefinite/fixed). If you have short-term contractors or staff, please include them separately and mention their terms (period of work).

N/A
22. Provide an overview of your overall budget categories in your local currency. (required)
Budget category Amount in local currency
Staff and contractor costs 270000 PLN
Operational costs 55500 PLN
Programmatic costs 100000 PLN
23. Upload your detailed budget or provide a link to it. (required)

By submitting your proposal and funding request you agree with the Application Privacy Statement and Universal Code of Conduct

We/I have read and agree:

Yes

Feedback

[edit]
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