The Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity (KNB) is an international data repository dedicated to facilitating ecological and environmental research. It enables the efficient discovery, access, and interpretation of ecological data ranging from individual researcher efforts to highly distributed field stations and laboratories. Our goal is to expand the KNB to increase its value to the ecological community. Currently, the KNB contains approximately 1800 data set descriptions (some with associated data sets available online), covering a variety of ecological concepts.

We are now accepting nominations on an ongoing basis for the inclusion of particularly valuable ecological data sets within the KNB. Nominations will be evaluated based on:

•  exceptional quality;
•  potentially broad utility;
•  outstanding scope (thematic, spatiotemporal, etc.);
•  whether they address critical and/or novel issues (e.g., endangered habitats, functional traits).

Consideration will also be given to preservation of legacy data based on lifelong research efforts by individuals or institutions.

KNB staff will collate and document the selected data sets in the KNB, and assist and instruct others interested in contributing their data or metadata. The KNB is committed to making these data more broadly known and accessible throughout the ecological community for perpetuity. We will respect and enforce all requested restrictions on data access.

If you are aware of institutions or individuals who have valuable data, please encourage them to apply.

GUIDELINES FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations should not exceed 3 single-spaced pages and should be organized as follows:

1. Data set title (note: there may be multiple related data sets in a single nomination)
2. Your contact information:
   Name
   Institution
   Street Address
   City, State/Province, Zip/Postal Code
   Country
   Phone/Fax
   Email
3. Data set summary: description of the data set and explanation of why it meets one or more of the criteria listed in the call for data. Please include information about the purpose, types of variables collected and where and when those were collected.
4. Current state of data: specify the data format (e.g., digital format, printed documents, magnetic tapes, etc.) and the approximate size of the data file (e.g., megabytes, number of pages, number of tapes, etc.).
5. Publications resulting from data set: specify whether publications were generated from these data, and if so, approximately how many and in what journals/formats. Please list a few representative publications.
6. Existence of metadata: specify whether there is written documentation regarding the data set (i.e., metadata) that already exists or if metadata will need to be created.
7. Restrictions on data access: specify the access restrictions that apply to the data set (e.g., no restrictions, only metadata made publicly available, obtain permission from data set owner, etc.). While we are most enthusiastic about archiving data that will become publicly available, we will consider data sets with access restrictions as well.

NOMINATION SUBMISSION

Nominations will be accepted in digital format only, as an MS WORD, RTF, or PDF file. Send nominations to Email: knb-helpnceas.ucsb.edu as an email attachment. Be sure to include your name, institution, and return email address in your message.