Communication within semanticClimate

Basis of collaboration

#semanticClimate is essentially a bottom-up, volunteer, meritocratic project. We share the need to create working systems where different people contribute a variety of tools and functionality. This is common in OpenSource projects but requires communal discipline:

• we need to know what each of us is doing
• we can help each other find and overcome problems
• we need to know that the pieces fit together and work properly.
• we need to interact with the outside world, especially those who want to use the tools

We communicate both synchronously (2 or more people talking in a group) and asynchronously where we leaves messages that can be answered, re-answered, etc.

This is not trivial. The world has created a variety of tools and here are the ones we have found most useful. Access rights are always a problem (we have been Zoom-bombed; not fun).

Asynchronous

Open Notebook Science

As far as possible everything we do is available to the outside world as soon as it is done and is permanent. See Open Notebook Science. The methods we use include:

• Github repositories (mainly code and documents)
• Github Issues (mainly for problems, e.g. bugs)
• Jupyter/Colab Notebooks (mainly for learning and simple prototyping)
• Github Discussions

openVirus Slack

(openVirus is a historic name where semanticCliamte is discussed) Slack is neither permanent nor public. We use it internally for rapid ephemeral messages but the unpaid Slack dies after ca. 2 months. If you want to join the project more permanently we can add your email.

Etherpad

This is a very ephemeral shared (text) pad without structure that anyone can write on. It preserves history (character-by-character). It uses security-by-obscurity (i.e. the URL is not discoverable by chance) and is effortless to use. It's very useful for things like:

• interchanging URLs

• making ad hoc lists

• introductions

• text-cut-and-paste

• Regard all content as public.

We'll open an Etherpad for the duration of the OpenAccess Week, and delete a few days after. If you want something, copy it somewhere safe.

Synchronous

We use Skype, Teams (when we have to) but for OAWeek we only use:

Zoom

We've used many tools over the years, e.g. Discord, Gathertown (fun tool) but generally use Zoom in paid-for mode (University of Cambridge). Sometimes we use breakout rooms where separate conmversations can take place but for OAWeek we'd plan to have just the main room. Zoom Chat is ephemeral - dispappears after the session - (and tricky to copy). You'll need an invite from us. PM-R is guaranteeing to be present at 1230 UTC each day. If there is a critucal mass of people at other times we can open an impromptu session.

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