Session

DescriptionIn recent years, openness through the availability of source code has increased substantially. This trend has been driven by strong initiatives from funding agencies and scientific journals seeking to enhance reproducibility and transparency. In this minisymposium, we aim to discuss both the benefits and challenges of approaches that go beyond mere code accessibility to enable genuine community participation in model development. Communities engaged in Open Development must take into account several key aspects, including governance, communication, and the cultivation of a welcoming and inclusive culture. Equally important are the practical considerations—such as building and maintaining the community, developing comprehensive documentation, and establishing processes that ensure confidence in the quality of contributions, for example through review and testing practices.