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October 24, 2024

Book a Software Heritage Ambassador

Booking an Ambassador may be one of the most effective ways to discover Software Heritage services. 

Lower the entry cost, improve your efficiency

Members of the Ambassador community come from diverse backgrounds, but you can usually find one who speaks your professional language: these experts understand the stakes and current practices in various fields and are familiar with the same references as you. This is why inviting an Ambassador to talk to your team or community is the beginning of a journey of discovery about Software Heritage features, tools, and documentation. Having shared knowledge is crucial when implementing new practices. Put in other terms, the Ambassadors know your business. 

Software Heritage Ambassadors come from diverse fields, including academia, industry, cultural heritage, and public administration. A broad range of academic disciplines is represented, beyond computer science. 

Our community is also international. Many of our Ambassadors are fluent in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German. Starting the discussion in your mother tongue can really smooth the adoption process. 

Ambassadors are volunteers. While some are also professional consultants, alongside their commitment to software preservation, their role in the Ambassador program is to provide support, free of charge. You will only need to cover their travel expenses for in-person events.

What can I ask? 

Depending on your field, here’s a basic list of what an Ambassador can do for you: 

  • Guide researchers who need to save and reference research software 
  • Help you foster Software Heritage as a pillar of Open Science in your institution and research community
  • Explain how they implemented workflows based upon Software Heritage 
  • Present the Software Heritage Acquisition Process (SWHAP) for archiving landmark legacy software
  • Make clear how the SoftWare Hash IDentifier (SWHID) can ensure traceability along the supply chain, across future development and organizational changes
  • Explain the importance of collecting, curating, and sharing the public source code 

How can I get in touch with an Ambassador? 

As Ambassadors are volunteers, supporting Software Heritage is just one of many tasks for them. The sooner you contact them, the sooner your project can move forward. There are two options:

  • Send an email to invited-talksATsoftwareheritage.org ; describe your needs (i.e.: type of event, target audience, key deadlines, language, etc.) and we’ll help you find the right expert
  • Check the Ambassador page and get in touch with the expert whose profile fits the best with your needs: https://www.softwareheritage.org/ambassadors

Build your local network on the Ambassador program 

Promoting the Software Heritage Ambassador program may also be a good way to identify experts within your organization and to build connections around software preservation. 

Let’s begin the conversation that will transform your approach to software preservation!