---
okf_version: "0.2"
title: "Foundational Open Science Skills (FOSS)"
description: "A self-paced course that teaches researchers core open-science skills: open science, data management, the command line, LLMs, version control, software environments, containers, HPC, and CyVerse cloud computing."
hide:
  - navigation
  - toc
---

# Foundational Open Science Skills (FOSS) { .carc-visually-hidden }

<div class="carc-hero" markdown>

<p class="carc-hero__title">Foundational Open Science Skills</p>

<p class="carc-hero__tagline">A self-paced course in the open-science skills every researcher needs — from FAIR data and the command line to Git, containers, HPC, and the cloud.</p>

<div class="carc-actions" markdown>
[:material-rocket-launch: Start lesson 1](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/01-open-science/){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
[:material-clipboard-check-outline: Before you start](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/course/setup/){ .md-button }
[:material-format-list-numbered: All lessons](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/){ .md-button }
[:material-github: Source on GitHub](https://github.com/UNM-CARC/foss){ .md-button target=_blank }
</div>

</div>

<div class="grid cards" markdown>

-   :material-calendar-check:{ .lg .middle } __Course information__

    ---

    Accounts and software to set up first, the schedule of the last live
    offering, the code of conduct, and a glossary of terms.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Get ready](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/course/)

-   :material-lock-open-variant-outline:{ .lg .middle } __Open science and data__

    ---

    What open science is and why it matters, then FAIR and CARE data,
    data management plans, licenses, and documentation.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Lessons 1–2](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/#open-science-and-data)

-   :material-console:{ .lg .middle } __Talking to machines__

    ---

    Command the Unix shell and write scripts, then prompt large language
    models effectively and responsibly.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Lessons 3–4](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/#talking-to-machines)

-   :material-source-branch:{ .lg .middle } __Reproducibility__

    ---

    Version control with Git and GitHub, shareable software environments
    with Conda, and Docker containers.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Lessons 5–7](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/#reproducibility)

-   :material-server:{ .lg .middle } __High-performance computing__

    ---

    Log in to a cluster, submit Slurm jobs, load modules, and run
    containers with Apptainer.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Lesson 8](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/08-hpc/)

-   :material-cloud-outline:{ .lg .middle } __CyVerse cloud computing__

    ---

    Store and share data in the CyVerse Data Store and run analysis apps in
    the Discovery Environment.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Lesson 9](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/09-cyverse/)

-   :material-flag-checkered:{ .lg .middle } __Capstone project__

    ---

    Apply a FOSS skill to your own research project and share what you
    learned with your peers.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Plan your capstone](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/capstone/)

-   :material-robot-outline:{ .lg .middle } __About and AI agents__

    ---

    Credits, how to contribute, and how agents can read this course through
    llms.txt and OKF frontmatter.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: About this site](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/about/)

</div>

FOSS was created by [CyVerse](https://cyverse.org){ target=_blank } at the
University of Arizona; this UNM CARC edition adapts it under CC BY 4.0. See
[Credits and attribution](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/about/credits/) for authors, funding, and how to
cite the course.

## What you will be able to do

* Organize your lab's communication, teaching, and research around open-source tools.
* Manage research data through its whole life cycle.
* Make your analyses reproducible with version control, software environments, and containers.
* Scale computations from your laptop to cloud and high-performance computing systems.
* Join a larger community of open-science practitioners and advocate for open science in your field.

Each lesson stands on its own, but they build on one another. Along the way,
the [capstone project](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/capstone/overview/) asks you to "level up" the
openness of one of your own projects.

---

## Browse the course

* [Course information](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/course/) - Setup, the dated schedule, code of conduct, and glossary.
* [Lessons](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/lessons/) - Nine core lessons from open science to remote computing, plus extras.
* [Capstone project](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/capstone/) - Apply a FOSS skill to your own work and present it.
* [About this site](https://unm-carc.github.io/foss/about/) - Credits, contributing, guidance for AI agents, and the update log.