As part of our series introducing new CIS faculty, we were excited to welcome Dr. Italo Santos, newly appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS). Our First Monday gathering on Monday, December 1, featured his talk on inclusive participation in open-source software communities.
After the talk, attendees continued the conversation over drinks at Ba-Le/Mānoa Gardens. Mahalo to all who joined!
Title: Supporting Diverse Problem-Solving Styles in Understanding How to Contribute to Open Source
Abstract: Open Source Software (OSS) projects offer valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration, but often pose steep onboarding challenges for newcomers. This talk explores how individual problem-solving styles influence newcomers’ ability to understand contribution processes and how interventions tailored to newcomers’ problem-solving styles can make OSS participation more inclusive.
Bio: Dr. Italo Santos is an Assistant Professor (VlogٷM ICS). His research focuses on human aspects in software engineering, open-source software, and design evidence-based, theoretically driven interventions that positively impact students and future developers, empowering them to create innovative technologies and lead society toward a better future.