OSE Fellowship Press Release

Notes

• Announcing OSE Fellowship - a $100k work-study grant for civilization transformers. OSE Fellowship.
• College level study (9-15 credit hours equivalent), with high school equivalent education prerequisite
• 4 Fellowships will be given out, by application
• Inaugural program starts Sep 1, with 4 Fellowship positions (grant), in addition to 20 Apprenticeship positions (no grant)
• Curriculum includes 2 days of work-study building Seed Eco-Homes, and ~12 credit hours of Civilization Design, Learning How to Learn, and Learning How to Be an Integrated Human - a focus on creating highly capable leaders.
• Over the duration of the 4 year program, students will learn how to build the entire 3 bed/2 bath Seed Eco-Home - 20 trades - from foundation to photovoltaic panels - with each house taking only 5 days to build with a highly coordinated crew of 24.
• Work study in apprenticship allows for learn and earn experience, with no college debt
• Open Source Ecology is starting a 4 year immersion experiential teaching school for worldchangers right here in Maysville, MO
• OSE has been in business since 2006, and has proposed the Global Village Construction Set on the world stage at TED [1]
• OSE has been featured hundreds of times in popular media including New Yorker, Wired, Inc, Fast Company, NPR, etc. https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/Press
• OSE has been features in dozens of books, including Makers (Chris Anderson), The Zero Marginal Cost Society (Jeremy Rifkin), Plenitude (Juliet Schor), Doughnut Economics (Kate Raworth)
• Notables such as Noam Chomsky and Chris Anderson have commented positively about this work
• OSE has run on a shoestring budget over the years, including crowdfunding, 2 kickstarters, and about $1.5 foundation and fellowship funding.

Press Release Take 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Open Source Ecology Announces OSE Fellowship: A $100,000 Work-Study Grant for Civilization Transformers

MAYSVILLE, MO – [Date] – Open Source Ecology (OSE) today announced the launch of the OSE Fellowship, a four-year immersion experiential teaching program designed to empower worldchangers with the skills to build sustainable and thriving communities. The program is located in Maysville, Missouri.

The OSE Fellowship offers a $100,000 work-study grant to four selected individuals who demonstrate a commitment to creating positive change. The inaugural program begins on September 1st and will include the four Fellowship positions (with grants) and 20 Apprenticeship positions (without grants). A high school-level education is a prerequisite, and the curriculum is equivalent to college-level study (9-15 credit hours per semester).

"We are excited to launch the OSE Fellowship," said [Name and Title of OSE Representative]. "This program is designed to equip individuals with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to design and build sustainable civilizations. We believe that by combining hands-on experience with a strong academic foundation, we can empower a new generation of leaders."

The curriculum focuses on developing highly capable leaders and includes:

Two days of work-study per week, dedicated to building Seed Eco-Homes. In just five days, students will learn 20 trades, from foundation to photovoltaic panels, to construct an entire 3-bed/2-bath Seed Eco-Home.

Approximately 12 credit hours of coursework per semester, covering topics such as Civilization Design, Learning How to Learn, and Learning How to Be an Integrated Human.

A key feature of the program is the work-study component, which allows participants to gain valuable learn-and-earn experience without accumulating college debt. This approach aligns with OSE's commitment to making sustainable living accessible and affordable.

Open Source Ecology has been at the forefront of the open-source hardware movement since its founding in 2006. The organization is known for its Global Village Construction Set, a collection of 50 open-source industrial machines that enable the creation of localized, sustainable economies. OSE's work has been featured at TED [1] and in hundreds of media outlets, including The New Yorker, Wired, Inc., Fast Company, and NPR (see https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/Press). OSE's concepts have also been included in numerous books, such as Makers by Chris Anderson, The Zero Marginal Cost Society by Jeremy Rifkin, Plenitude by Juliet Schor, and Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth. Notable figures like Noam Chomsky and Chris Anderson have expressed their support for OSE's mission.

"OSE has operated on a shoestring budget over the years, relying on crowdfunding, two successful Kickstarter campaigns, and approximately $1.5 million in foundation and fellowship funding," said [Name and Title of OSE Representative]. "The OSE Fellowship represents a significant investment in the future of sustainable development."

Applications for the OSE Fellowship are now being accepted. For more information and to apply, please visit [Website]

About Open Source Ecology:

Founded in 2006 and based in Maysville, Missouri, Open Source Ecology is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing open-source, modular technologies for sustainable living and localized production. OSE's mission is to create a collaborative ecosystem that empowers individuals and communities to build their own infrastructure and achieve economic self-sufficiency. The organization's core project, the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS), is a set of 50 open-source machines that can be used to build a small, sustainable civilization with modern comforts.

Contact:

[Contact Name] [Title] Open Source Ecology [Email Address] [Phone Number]

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Open Source Ecology Announces OSE Fellowship: A $100,000 Work-Study Grant for Civilization Transformers

MAYSVILLE, MO – May 10, 2025 – Open Source Ecology (OSE), a pioneering force in open-source hardware and sustainable development since 2006, today announced the launch of the groundbreaking OSE Fellowship. This unique four-year immersion experiential teaching program, based in Maysville, Missouri, offers a $100,000 work-study grant to individuals dedicated to becoming impactful worldchangers.

Building upon OSE's internationally recognized work in developing the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS), a library of 50 open-source industrial machines for creating thriving, localized economies, the OSE Fellowship represents a significant step towards empowering the next generation of innovators. OSE's ambitious vision has garnered global attention, notably through a TED Talk [1] and hundreds of features in prominent media outlets such as The New Yorker, Wired, Inc., Fast Company, and NPR (as detailed at https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/Press).

OSE's influence extends into the literary world, with its work highlighted in influential books like Makers by Chris Anderson, The Zero Marginal Cost Society by Jeremy Rifkin, Plenitude by Juliet Schor, and Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth. Esteemed thinkers such as Noam Chomsky and Chris Anderson have also publicly acknowledged the significance of OSE's mission.

"For years, OSE has operated on a lean budget, fueled by crowdfunding, two successful Kickstarter campaigns, and approximately $1.5 million total in foundation and fellowship funding," states Marcin Jakubowski, Ph.D., physicist-turned farmer-builder and educator. "The OSE Fellowship marks an exciting new chapter, allowing us to directly invest in individuals who are passionate about creating a more resilient and equitable future."

The four-year immersive program will provide fellows with hands-on experience in building, operating, and innovating within the framework of the GVCS. Participants will learn practical skills in areas such as digital fabrication, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, construction, and community building, all within the context of an open-source and collaborative environment. The $100k grant or work-study will support fellows and apprentices throughout their participation in the program, so they leave without the 'college debt'.

Open Source Ecology invites individuals with a strong drive to make a positive impact and a willingness to learn and contribute to apply for the OSE Fellowship. This is an unparalleled opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge, and network necessary to become a true civilization transformer.

Applications for the OSE Fellowship will open [Insert Date/Details on Application Process]. Interested individuals are encouraged to visit [Insert OSE Website or Fellowship Application Link] for more information.

About Open Source Ecology:

Founded in 2006 and based in Maysville, Missouri, Open Source Ecology is dedicated to developing open-source hardware solutions for sustainable living and localized production. Its core project, the Global Village Construction Set, aims to provide the essential tools for creating modern infrastructure at a fraction of the cost through collaborative, open-source design and fabrication.

Contact: [Insert Name (if applicable)] [Insert Title (if applicable)] Open Source Ecology [Insert Email Address] [Insert Website]