@geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io

Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · 3d ago

I have some availability for consulting engagements starting in November. I can help you get more value out of your open source efforts by collaborating with you to align your open source contributions with your organization's strategies. I also work with clients to better understand the impact of funding for open source projects, improve open source project governance, and do custom research projects. Reach out now to book consulting engagements starting in November or December. For more details visit https://fastwonder.com/

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Aug 07, 2026

I’m excited to be a part of the new Software Stewardship Lab, which is launching today! The Software Stewardship Lab is a new organization dedicated to funding research on open source sustainability, a topic I care deeply about. https://fastwonderblog.com/2026/08/07/launching-the-software-stewardship-lab/

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Jul 23, 2026

RE: https://floss.social/@FOSSBackstage/116967997753078487 Loving the shares from the back catalog of #FOSSBack! This talk about recruiting contributors from 2023 is particularly relevant today with so many maintainers overworked and burning out. Related: this lovely report on maintainer burnout from @mirandah@mastodon.social at https://stewardshiplab.org/reports/burnout-in-open-source-a-structural-problem-we-can-fix-together

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · May 13, 2026

I've been taking some time off over the past 6 weeks and loving that I have time to focus on learning more about 3D print design. Today's achievement was learning some techniques to remove jagged bubbly spots on the curved bits underneath a shelf I designed for our new IKEA Nordli Headboard.

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · May 02, 2026

We’re enjoying drinks in the sun in the outdoor garden at the pub on this 3 day bank holiday weekend. I know that talking about the weather is a British pastime, but I just heard a couple of 4 or 5 year olds at the next table having a long conversation about the weather, so apparently they start this very young 🤣

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 23, 2026

Boosted by

Kevin Karhan @kkarhan@jorts.horse

Open source projects provide opportunities for people to build leadership skills while learning how to positively influence people without the power that comes with more traditional managerial roles. Thank you to the crew at @allthingsopen@mastodon.social for sharing my post! https://allthingsopen.org/articles/power-vs-influence-open-source-leadership

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 14, 2026

Replying to @d3tm4r@infosec.exchange

@d3tm4r so true!

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 13, 2026

Replying to @canasdiaz@floss.social

@canasdiaz my bat’leth, my pizza 😂

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 12, 2026

Replying to @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io

It came with this card 😂

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 12, 2026

Paul got me an awesome Klingon bat’leth pizza cutter for my birthday! The crazy face pic is when he said that smiling didn’t look Klingon enough 😂

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 07, 2026

I enjoyed hanging out with the folks from CURIOSS who invited me to join them as part of their Deep Dive series where I talked about demonstrating the value of open source efforts. This is the first time I've given this talk focused on the university / academic context, which is a bit different from how we think about OSPO value in corporate environments. The slides and video are available.
https://fastwonderblog.com/2026/04/07/curioss-demonstrating-open-source-value/

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 06, 2026

I feel pretty great for turning 55 years old today! We’re spending the day in London doing some of my favorite things. So far, lunch at Mildred’s, a walk through Regents Park, and now at the British Library to relax for a bit before we go out later for cocktails and Ethiopian food. 😁🎂🎉

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 31, 2026

As planned, my time as the CHAOSS Director of Data Science has come to an end, but I’ll still be around the CHAOSS community as a board member and Working Group lead. I’ll be taking April and most of May off before transitioning into open source strategy consulting starting in June. For more info: https://fastwonderblog.com/2026/03/31/transitions/

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 19, 2026

The #monkigras captioning (Breeze Translate) does a brilliant job of correctly handling technical terms and accents! The only thing it’s struggled with is the name of this conference. So far, we’ve seen MonkeyGraha, MonkeyGrawer, Monkey gras (so close!), Monkey graph, and monkey gra. 😁

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 19, 2026

Replying to @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io

If you want to print your own, the designs are freely available at https://makerworld.com/en/models/685278-chaoss-earrings-or-necklace and https://makerworld.com/en/models/729595-openuk-earrings-or-necklace

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 19, 2026

I’ll be at #monkigras today and tomorrow, and the theme is Prepping Craft. Find me if you’d like some CHAOSS or OpenUK earrings that I designed and 3D printed! 🤩

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 18, 2026

@FOSSBackstage@floss.social is one of my favorite conferences, and again this year, I had an amazing experience. I saw interesting talks, caught up with friends, met new people, and still missed talking to a few people! As with most conferences in Europe, digital sovereignty was a hot topic, but there were also great talks on other subjects as well. A huge thank you to the organizers and volunteers who make the event happen! Here's my short post with a few reflections from the event. #fossback https://fastwonderblog.com/2026/03/18/reflections-from-foss-backstage-2026/

floss.social

FOSS Backstage (@FOSSBackstage@floss.social) - FLOSS.social

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 16, 2026

I’m already enjoying #fossbackstage in Berlin so far! I have a bunch of CHAOSS stickers and a few pairs of CHAOSS earrings, so find me if you want some! 😁 I’ll be around all day today and tomorrow. #fossback

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Mar 01, 2026

Replying to @jorge@hachyderm.io

@jorge@hachyderm.io @pleia2@floss.social I just love it when my passions align. My 3D print design hobby + open source 🤩💖🎉

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Feb 24, 2026

Replying to @pleia2@floss.social

@pleia2@floss.social if you don’t find someone to do this, ping me around EOD on Friday and I can take a look on Saturday 😁

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Dr. Dawn Foster @geekygirldawn@hachyderm.io · Apr 27, 2025

The biggest thing that I wish people knew before starting their 1st tech job (probably most jobs) is that asking someone more experienced for the “answer” is what you should do as soon as you get stuck. It’s drilled into students that this is “cheating”, so this is a big change for new hires. The faster a new hire can unlearn that you’re not expected to do your own work without getting advice from others, the happier and more productive they will be in a team environment.

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Dr. Dawn Foster

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FOSS Backstage (@FOSSBackstage@floss.social) - FLOSS.social

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