""Given the value of the grant to the community and the PSF, we did our utmost to get clarity on the terms and to find a way to move forward in concert with our values. We consulted our NSF contacts and reviewed decisions made by other organizations in similar circumstances, particularly The Carpentries," the Python Software Foundation said."
""The Carpentries, which teaches computational and data science skills to researchers, said in June that it withdrew its grant proposal after 'we were notified that our proposal was flagged for DEI content, namely, for 'the retention of underrepresented students, which has a limitation or preference in outreach, recruitment, participation that is not aligned to NSF priorities.'" The Carpentries was also concerned about the National Science Foundation rule against grant recipients advancing or promoting DEI in 'any' program, a change that took effect in May."
""The Python Software Foundation similarly decided that it "can't agree to a statement that we won't operate any programs that 'advance or promote' diversity, equity, and inclusion, as it would be a betrayal of our mission and our community," it said yesterday. The foundation board "voted unanimously to withdraw" the application. The Python foundation said it is disappointed because the project would have offered "invaluable advances to the Python and greater open source community, protecting millions of PyPI users from attempted supply-chain attacks.""
The Python Software Foundation withdrew its NSF grant application after consulting NSF contacts and reviewing decisions by similar organizations. The Carpentries previously rescinded its proposal after being notified that its DEI-focused retention work was flagged as not aligned with NSF priorities. The new NSF requirement effectively would force grant recipients to discontinue all DEI-focused programming, even if those activities use non-NSF funds. The PSF said it cannot agree to a pledge to cease programs that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The PSF expressed disappointment because the project would have improved PyPI security and protected users from supply-chain attacks.
Read at Ars Technica
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]