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Contribute Data

All standard data formats accepted, with Excel and Tilia (.tlx) preferred.

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There are two ways to contribute data to Neotoma:

1) Contact a Data Steward.

Because the issues encountered with data uploads are often specific to proxy types, and all data has to undergo some amount of curating before it can be added to the Neotoma relational database, data cannot be added directly to the database unless you are a Data Steward.

Data Stewards are analogous to editors of peer-reviewed journals and are experts in particular proxy types. All stewards have the ability to upload data to Neotoma and correct data in Neotoma.

Data stewards will work with you to arrange you data in a suitable format, then upload the data to the database.

Because all data has to undergo some amount of processing before it can be added to the Neotoma relational database, uploaded data will be temporarily stored with basic metadata in a Pending Data repository.

Contact a Data Steward

2) Become a Neotoma Data Steward.

If you are uploading data from a number of different sites, it will likely be easier and faster for you to be trained as a Data Steward so you can upload data yourself. Data Stewards must complete a training course, offered as an on-request webinar or at scientific conferences. People interested in becoming a Data Steward should contact Neotoma to discuss further.

If you are writing a grant proposal, and are planning to use Neotoma as the long-term and public-access archive for your data, we’ve developed some draft text that you are welcome to use and modify (see link below). Note that the US National Science Foundation now requires a Data Management Plan for all proposals.

NSF Data Management Plan Specifications

Draft text for crafting US National Science Foundation proposal Data Management Plans. You are welcome to use and modify this text if you are planning to use Neotoma as the long-term and public-access archive for your data.