Episode 254

Batool Almarzouq on Localizing Open Source Communities

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November 1st, 2024

32 mins 29 secs

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About this Episode

Guest

Batool Almarzouq

Panelist

Richard Littauer | Amanda Casari

Show Notes

In this episode, hosts Richard Littauer and Amanda Casari are joined by Batool Almarzouq, Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool and Research Project Manager at the Alan Turing Institute. They discuss Batool's work in open science, including her involvement in the Open Science Community Saudi Arabia, localization efforts, and the challenges of connecting global and local open science initiatives. The conversation covers Batool's efforts to make research more accessible and open in the Arab region, the concept of localization vs. translation, her experiences with translation management systems, and the importance of community and mentorship in advancing open science. Batool shares insights from her collaborations with various groups and the influence of Latin American communities on her work. Press download now to hear more!

[00:02:11] Batool explains her roles at various institutions and how she promotes open science in Saudi Arabia and globally.

[00:03:31] Batool discusses the difficulties Arab researchers face in engaging with open science, including language barriers and the Western focus of many initiatives.

[00:04:50] Amanda asks about the vision for open science in Saudi Arabia and Batool talks about open science values in the Arab world and the cultural significance of knowledge sharing pre-colonization.

[00:07:56] Batool talks about localization efforts and bridging the gap between Western and Arab scientific norms.

[00:11:04] There’s a discussion on how Batool connects researchers and community leaders in Arab countries, the grassroots nature of the Open Science Community Saudi Arabia, and the importance of local engagement.

[00:14:20] Batool details the technical tools used for localization, challenges with translating right-to-left languages, and the importance of building open source tools for internationalization.

[00:20:20] There’s a conversation on the difficulties in securing funding for localization efforts and the importance of empowering local communities to take charge of their own knowledge production.

[00:23:43] Batool shares insights on working with Latin American communities, shared challenges in open science, and the importance of community-led initiatives.

[00:25:33] We hear Batool’s thoughts on the importance of mentorship, community, and collective action in creating meaningful change.

[00:27:51] Find out where you can follow Batool and her work online.

Quotes

[00:06:56] “One of the things is that science used to be more transdisciplinary.”

[00:11:18] “We have our own full-time jobs, there’s no system that we use in place recording or creating things. It’s more about connecting people and creating that space for this discussion to grow.”

[00:25:51] “There’s two places I get a lot of value from outside of academia: engaging with community practice and finding mentors.”

[00:27:17] “Finding people who relate to you, relate to your ideas, and also help you articulate them better and see what other people are trying to do gives you a lot of power.”

Spotlight

  • [00:28:27] Amanda’s spotlight is PyLadies.
  • [00:29:22] Richard’s spotlight is American Atheists.
  • [00:30:14] Batool’s spotlight is Alycia Crall, Richie Moluno and Goodnews Sandy.

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