Hello all!
The Search Platform Team usually holds an open meeting on the first
Wednesday of each month. Come talk to us about anything related to
Wikimedia search, Wikidata Query Service (WDQS), Wikimedia Commons Query
Service (WCQS), etc.!
Feel free to add your items to the Etherpad Agenda for the next meeting.
Details for our next meeting:
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 15:00-16:00 UTC / 08:00 PST / 11:00 EST / 17:00 CET
Etherpad: https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/Search_Platform_Office_Hours
Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/vgj-bbeb-uyi
Join by phone: https://tel.meet/vgj-bbeb-uyi?pin=8118110806927
Have fun and see you soon!
Guillaume
--
*Guillaume Lederrey* (he/him)
Engineering Manager
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
*Registration for the 2025 Wikimedia Hackathon is now open! *
*(with apologies for cross-posting)*
The annual Wikimedia Hackathon
<https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Hackathon_2025> is organized by
the Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/> in
collaboration with Wikimedia User Group Turkey (WMTR)
<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Community_User_Group_Turkey> and
will be taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 2nd through May 4th,
2025 at the Renaissance Polat Istanbul Hotel
<https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/istrn-renaissance-polat-istanbul-hote…>
.
The Hackathon is an on-site, in-person event. Those people who cannot
attend the Hackathon in-person will be able to follow some of the program
content online, but should not register using the link provided below. More
information will be provided closer to the event on how to participate
remotely. Registration will be open until mid April 2025, or until we reach
event capacity.
The Hackathon event is free for all* to attend *and each person that
attends the Hackathon is required to register.
- Catering (lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks) will be provided during the
event.
- Covid-related equipment will also be available upon request (e.g. self
test kits and masks).
- We’ll have discounted room codes for those that want to stay at the hotel
venue, to be announced in the coming weeks.
- Check if your passport is up to date and if you will need a visa (or an
e-visa) to travel to Turkey, citizens of most countries can apply for an e-visa
online <https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa>.
Participants are expected to book their own travel arrangements and
accommodation. However, the Wikimedia Foundation is offering to take care
of travel and accommodation for a limited number of scholars and you will
be able to apply for a scholarship during the registration process.
Scholarship applicants - please note:
-
*Scholarship application and Wikimedia Foundation staff sponsorship will
only be available to request until December 10th, 2024. *
-
Priority will be given to scholars who can mentor or support in areas
of high demand and staff with ambitious or impactful projects.
-
Those that have requested a scholarship or sponsorship will be notified
by mid to late December 2024 about the status of their application.
-
All scholarships provided will adhere to the WMF travel policy
<https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Policy:Scholarship_travel_policy>
guidelines.
*Scholarship to this event will cover:*
-
Roundtrip airfare between your city of residence and Istanbul, Turkey -
arriving on May 1, 2025 and departing on May 5, 2025.
-
Private accommodation at the conference hotel for up to 4 nights
-
Medical Insurance Coverage for any scholars traveling outside of their
home country. (Scholars local to Turkey will need to use their regular
insurance coverage.).
-
Airport transfers between the Istanbul Airport (IST) and the conference
hotel.
-
All meals will be provided for the duration of the event (lunch, drinks,
snacks, and dinner will be provided on event days; breakfast will be
provided by the hotel for guests staying there). In addition, dinner will
be provided on Thursday before the Hackathon officially kicks off.
-
Fees associated with obtaining a visa to travel to Turkey (visa
application fees, and travel to in-person travel visa appointment (if
needed)).
-
Citizens of most countries can apply for an e-visa online
<https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa>.
*Scholarship to this event will not cover:*
-
Per diem costs on travel days.
-
Ground transportation costs between your residence and home airport.
-
Insurance for your personal possessions.
The Hackathon registration form runs on Pretix (a free, open-sourced
third-party platform that helps organize and manage events) which may
subject your data to additional terms <https://pretix.eu/about/en/privacy>.
For more information on WMF’s privacy and data-handling for the Hackathon,
please read the privacy statement
<https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Legal:Wikimedia_Hackathon_Privacy_Sta…>
.
<https://pretix.eu/wikimedia/hackathon2025>
If you encounter any issues while registering, or have questions about the
registration process, feel free to contact the coordination team at
hackathon(a)wikimedia.org.
Cheers,
Deb
--
deb tankersley (she/her)
developer outreach program management
Wikimedia Foundation
Dear Wikidata Community,
Wikimania 2025 is fast approaching! This year, we are thrilled to celebrate Wikimania at 20: Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability. Join us in Nairobi, Kenya, from 6–9 August 2025 (with a pre-conference on 5 August) to mark two decades of collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation.
We invite you to submit your program proposals by 31 March 2025. These proposals can take various forms—remote live presentations, pre-recorded videos, or on-site sessions in Nairobi.
Given Wikidata’s role as a cornerstone of open data and knowledge-sharing, we encourage your submissions.
To help spark ideas, here are a few topics that may align with the conference theme:
● Strategies to broaden global participation in Wikidata editing, or case studies on improving accessibility of Wikidata content.
● Examples of impactful projects leveraging Wikidata to solve real-world problems, such as improving access to local knowledge or supporting humanitarian efforts.
● Discussions on sustainable ways to maintain, improve, and expand the Wikidata ecosystem or its integration into Wikimedia projects.
To submit your proposal, please visit: Wikimania 2025 Program Submission Site : https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/2025:Program .
For inquiries, comments, or assistance with your proposal, please email wikimania(a)wikimedia.org. Our team of dedicated volunteers will be happy to guide you.
Additionally, to support you in developing your proposals, the Programme Subcommittee will host a consultation hour: 📅 Today, Thursday, 20 March 🕐 13:00 UTC (Find your local time at https://zonestamp.toolforge.org/1742475600) 🌐 Video Call Link: https://wikimedia.zoom.us/j/84172058297 💬 Live Interpretation Available in Arabic, French, and Swahili
Let’s make Wikimania 2025 a memorable celebration of inclusivity, impact, and sustainability!
Warm regards,
Butch Bustria
https://wikimania.wikimedia.org/wiki/2025:Organisers
Hello all!
The public WDQS Split Graph endpoints have been available for ~6 months, it
is time to have a look at what has been happening and at the next steps.
We don’t see a strong adoption of the new endpoints (~20 req/min for
query-scholary [1]). But we’ve identified almost 90% of the current
requests that would require migration to the split endpoints. The large
majority (~80%) are generated by a tool that is unfinished and has been
dropped by its author. Those queries are already broken or don’t have value
and will never be migrated. Unsurprisingly, Scholia is a major user of the
scholarly subgraph and has not migrated yet.
While we want to move forward, we also want to limit disruption, and give
more time to the projects that need it. To ease the transition, we’ve
created a new endpoint (query-legacy-full.wikidata.org) which contains the
full Wikidata graph, but is limited in terms of performances and
availability [2]. This new endpoint can be used in place of the current
query.wikidata.org for the few projects that need the additional migration
time. This endpoint will be available until December 2025.
The next big step is to drop support for the full Wikidata graph on
query.wikidata.org [3]. This should happen around April 10. After that
step, requests to query.wikidata.org that require the full graph will fail
or return invalid results if they are not rewritten to use SPARQL
federation [4]. You can ask for help to rewrite your queries [5].
In related news, Peter [6] has been exploring the performances of various
alternative RDF backends [7]. This is going to be invaluable when we work
on replacing Blazegraph!
Have fun!
Guillaume
[1]
https://grafana.wikimedia.org/d/000000489/wikidata-query-service?orgId=1&re…
[2] https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T384422
[3] https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T388134
[4]
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:SPARQL_query_service/WDQS_graph_spli…
[5] https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Request_a_query
[6] https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/User:Peter_F._Patel-Schneider
[7] https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Scaling_Wikidata/Benchmarking
--
*Guillaume Lederrey* (he/him)
Engineering Manager
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
Hi everyone,
We’re excited to announce a rerun of the Wikidata Open Online Course for
beginners, starting on March 17, 2025.
About the Course
The Wikidata Open Online Course
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Open_Online_Course> is designed to
simplify learning how to edit Wikidata through a structured online program
in English. Originally developed in French by Wikimedia France, the course
content has been updated and translated into English.
Whether you're:
-
A beginner taking your first steps,
-
In need of a refresher on Wikidata concepts, or
-
A seasoned trainer looking to level up your skills,
this course is perfect for you. Participants will gain insights into how
Wikidata works, its rules, its vibrant community, and how to contribute
effectively.
What to Expect
-
Chapter 1: The Wikimedia Movement and the Creation of Wikidata
-
Chapter 2: Understanding Knowledge Graphs and Queries
-
Chapter 3: Discovering Wikidata, Open Data, and the Semantic Web
-
Chapter 4: Contributing to Wikidata, the Community, and Data Quality
-
Chapter 5: Bonus Resources on Scientific Bibliography from Wikidata
How to participate:
-
Head over to Wikidata 101: An Introduction
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Deutschland+WMDE001+2025/abo…>
to enroll using your Wikimedia credentials.
-
Don’t hesitate to share this opportunity with your friends and
colleagues.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a note here
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata_talk:Open_Online_Course> or write
to me directly.
Cheers!
--
Zita U. Zage
Intern, Wikidata Software Communication Team
Wikimedia Deutschland e. V. | Tempelhofer Ufer 23-24 | 10963 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 30 577 116 2466
https://wikimedia.de
Grab a spot in my calendar for a chat: cal.com/zuz
<https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=eml0YS56YWdlQHdpa2ltZWRpYS5kZQ>.
A lot is happening around Wikidata - Keep up to date!
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Status_updates> Current news and
exciting stories about Wikimedia, Wikipedia and Free Knowledge in our
newsletter (in German): Subscribe now <https://www.wikimedia.de/newsletter/>.
Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
sum of all knowledge. Help us to achieve our vision!
https://spenden.wikimedia.de
Wikimedia Deutschland — Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e. V.
Eingetragen im Vereinsregister des Amtsgerichts Charlottenburg, VR 23855 B.
Als gemeinnützig anerkannt durch das Finanzamt für Körperschaften I Berlin,
Steuernummer 27/029/42207. Geschäftsführende Vorstände: Franziska Heine,
Dr. Christian Humborg
Hello everyone,
As part of *International Open Data Day 2025*, we are happy to invite you
to participate in the *Datathon *& *Mapathon*, organized by the Wikidata
and OpenStreetMap (OSM) communities in India. This event aims to improve
India-related data on Wikidata and OpenStreetMap while also welcoming
contributors from around the world to collaborate and enhance open
knowledge together.
The theme for Open Data Days 2025 is *"Open Data to address the
Polycrisis"*.This
online event will focus on improving and enriching data in Wikidata and
OpenStreetMap through collaborative editing, data enhancement, and linking
efforts. Join us in leveraging open data to create meaningful impact.
*📅 Event Date: 1-15 March, 2025🌍 Where: Online🎯 What’s all activities?
Datathon & Mapathon *
*🗺️ What’s Happening?*
- *Datathon on Wikidata
<https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikiProject_India/Events/Open_Data_D…>
[1]* – Contribute by adding and improving data about places around you,
focusing on topics related to the event's theme. Help enhance the global
accessibility of open knowledge by enriching Wikidata entries and linking
them to OpenStreetMap.
- *Mapathon on*
<https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/India/Events/Open_Data_Days_2025/Mapath…>*OpenStreetMap
<https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/India/Events/Open_Data_Days_2025/Mapath…>
[2] *–Improve map data on OpenStreetMap by adding missing details,
essential geographic information, and enhancing overall accuracy.
Strengthen the connection between OpenStreetMap and Wikidata by linking
relevant entries, making maps more informative and useful.
*💡 Why Should You Join?*
- Be Part of an International Open Data Initiative – Celebrate Open Data
Day by making valuable contributions that benefit everyone.
- Collaborate with Global & Indian Open Data Enthusiasts – Connect with
mappers, Wikimedians, and open data advocates from India and beyond.
- Learn & Improve Your Skills – Whether you’re new or experienced, get
hands-on experience with Wikidata and OSM.
This event is open to everyone. We invite you to join us in strengthening
open knowledge through Wikidata and OpenStreetMap. Your contributions, big
or small, will help make open data more comprehensive and accessible for
all. :)
Best regards,
*Jinoy*
[1]
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:WikiProject_India/Events/Open_Data_D…
[2]
https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/India/Events/Open_Data_Days_2025/Mapath…
*Please don’t print this e-mail unless you really need to.Every 3000 sheets
consume a tree. Conserve Trees for a better tomorrow!*
Hi all -
Wikimedia is participating in Round 30 of the Outreachy program
<https://www.outreachy.org/> [1] that runs from June 2025 through August
2025! The deadline to submit projects on the Outreachy website is March 4,
2025 at 4pm UTC and the project list will be finalized by March 14, 2025.
We are currently gathering a list of interesting project ideas. If you have
some ideas for coding or non-coding (design, documentation, translation,
outreach, research) projects, please share them on this task:
https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T386245 [2]. (Note that tasks will be
hidden until the application period begins.)
About the Outreachy Program
Outreachy is a paid, remote three-month internship program. Outreachy's
goal is to support people from groups underrepresented in tech. We help
newcomers to free software and open source make their first contributions
in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), coding, and non-coding projects
with experienced mentors.
Interns are paid a stipend of USD 7000 for the three months of work.
Outreachy internship projects may include programming, user experience,
documentation, illustration, graphical design, or data science. Interns
often find employment after their internship with Outreachy sponsors or in
jobs that use the skills they learned during their internship.
Outreachy expressly invites the following people to apply:
- women (both cis and trans), trans men, and genderqueer people to apply.
- residents and nationals of the United States of any gender who are
Black/African American, Hispanic/Latin@, Native American/American
Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
- anyone who faces under-representation, systematic bias, or
discrimination in the technology industry of their country
More details and eligibility criteria can be found here:
https://www.outreachy.org/apply/eligibility/ [3]
Tips for mentors for proposing projects
As a mentor, you will engage with potential candidates in the application
period from February to March and help them make small contributions to
your project. You will work more closely with the accepted candidates
during the internship period from June through August.
Each mentor will need to submit an intern project proposal:
https://www.outreachy.org/communities/cfp/wikimedia/ [4]
The project proposal will then be reviewed and approved by the FOSS
community coordinators. Additional co-mentors for the intern project will
be able to sign up for the project after it has been approved by the
community coordinator.
Guidelines for Crafting Project Proposals
- A proposal should include:
- Brief summary
- Skills required
- Learning outcomes
- Possible mentor(s)
- Microtasks
- Each project should have at least two mentors, with one of them
holding a technical background.
- Ideally, the project has no tight deadlines, a moderate learning
curve, and fewer dependencies on Wikimedia's core infrastructure. Projects
addressing the needs of a language community are most welcome.
- Project should require an experienced developer ~15 days and a
newcomer ~3 months to complete.
- To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of mentors, visit
the resources:
- https://www.outreachy.org/mentor/mentor-faq/ [5]
- https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Outreachy/Mentors [6]
Thanks!
- Developer Outreach team
[1] https://www.outreachy.org/
[2] https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T386245
[3] https://www.outreachy.org/apply/eligibility/
[4] https://www.outreachy.org/communities/cfp/wikimedia/
[5] https://www.outreachy.org/mentor/mentor-faq/
[6] https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Outreachy/Mentors
--
Lani Goto (they/them)
Senior Technical Program Manager