Resources can include documents such as how-to guides, publications, reports, policy briefs, and protocols; technical tools such as software or hardware; other file formats such as videos, podcasts, and diagrams; and even websites or webpages. Please note that there is a separate form for Training Resources and Materials that are about the practice of citizen science. When creating your resource profile, you will be asked to select one of the following type categories:

  • Collections are organized sets of technical resources such as databases, repositories, libraries, toolkits and toolboxes that bring together relevant resources for a particular purpose in CS initiatives.

  • Datasets are data encoded in a defined structure. Examples include lists, tables, and databases. A dataset may be useful for direct machine processing, for example, or may contain data from a CS project.

  • Events are time-based occurrences that recurs on a regular basis, such as a monthly webcast, annual conference, or workshop series. (You can tell us about your single-occurring event, to have it added to our Events page, by sending us a comment.)

  • Still Images are static visual representations other than text, such as a graphic illustration, a photograph, a drawing, or a map.

  • Moving Images are a series of visual representations that impart motion, such as animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation.

  • Interactive Resources are websites and webpages are online sites where CS related guidance, experience, and knowledge is published and shared.

  • Physical Objects are objects such as hardware and equipment that support or enable a particular task in citizen science initiatives, such as water quality equipment, air quality sensors, etc.

  • Services are a system that provides one or more functions, such as a mobile application development service, a lending library, an authentication service, a data analysis service, or a technology providor.

  • Software is a computer program in source or compiled form, such as mobile applications that support a particular task, or data analysis tools that enable the processing of CS data.

  • Sound Resources are audio resources or sound files with CS related content such as podcasts, audio books, radio broadcasts, etc.

  • Text Resources consist primarily of words for reading, and consist of such sub-categories as guidelines, reports, books, scientific publications, policy briefs, project deliverables, white or green papers, working papers and others.

  • Training Resources and Materials, which have their own dedicated section on the platform and a separate profile form, are resources that are designed or can be used explicitly for the goals of teaching or training a person on the practice of citizen science. For example, how to design and implement a volunteer-based activity, how to control data quality, the ethical and legal requirements of working with volunteers and managing their data. These can include massive open online courses (MOOCs), workshops, webinars, gamified training, and quizzes.