A new cycle of Wikipedia residencies for higher education and research in the framework of open science policy

A new cycle of Wikipedia residencies has started for 2025–2026 with three additional residencies. These are at the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN), at the Paris URFIST (Regional Training Unit in Scientific and Technical Information) and at the University of Montpellier’s Joint Documentation Service (SCD).

Wikipedia residencies are based on a partnership between Wikimedia and a cultural, educational or scientific institution. A Wikimedia contributor works on-site providing training and enriching digital resources to improve the content of Wikipedia or other Wikimedia projects.

Wikipedia residencies are run in partnership by Wikimedia France and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE). Since their launch in 2023, they have been organised at the URFISTs in Bordeaux, Rennes and Toulouse (2023–2024), and subsequently in Lyon, Nice and Strasbourg (2024–2025).

These residencies train staff and students in the use of Wikipedia and other Wikipedia projects like Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, and, in return, help enrich such projects with high-quality scientific content derived from scientific research.

This new cycle is led by the MESRE and Wikimedia France and is being rolled out to a wider range of host institutions:

The Paris URFIST

The Joint Documentation Service (SCD) at the University of Montpellier

The National Museum of Natural History (MNHN). Beyond the usual objectives common to all such residencies, this particular programme will also enrich Wikipedia with material from the Museum’s collections (texts, data, but also and above all scientific images).

A budget of €252,500 has been allocated to these three residencies.

Find out more (in French):

Regional Training Units for Scientific and Technical Information