**Another approach to research area reviews:**

The review process outlined above built upon previous thinking on research area reviews ([here](https://publiclab.org/notes/stevie/05-23-2019/thinking-through-research-area-reviews) and [here](https://publiclab.org/notes/stevie/05-24-2019/idea-to-distribute-tasks-for-a-reserach-area-review?)), which can also be broken down into more distinct phases and distributed tasks in the following way:

_Phase 1: Information Gathering_

In Phase 1, the goal is to sift through and update all the existing resources on PublicLab.org related to a topic. This could include checking in on other projects' updates as well, and if there's been a previous review, that's also a great place to start. 

_Phase 2: Convening_

Phase 2 involves hosting an [Open Call](/opencall) to bring folks together, to go through the collected materials from Phase 1, identify gaps and plan next steps.

_Phase 3: Synthesizing_

In Phase 3, the notes from the call and the newly collected materials, shared goals, and tasks are organized and shared on PublicLab.org, tying the review together in a single post. 

This table gives more details on the tasks and can serve as a template to organize the phases of a more distributed research area review: 

Phase|Task Type|Who can do this|Difficulty|Task|I'll do this! 
-------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|-------------------------
1|Garden|Anyone|Easy|Go through posts in the area and make sure they are properly tagged|LINK
1|Share|Anyone|Easy|Post questions on the topic area you have, or that you’re not able to find answers to on Public Lab.| LINK
1|Garden|One person|Medium|Make sure the wiki page has clear format|LINK
1|Research|Anyone|Hard|Help find answers to unanswered questions |LINK
1|Facilitate|Anyone|Hard|Invite, listen to, and record new stories related to the topic |LINK
2|Share|Anyone|Easy|Attend the open topic call and collaborate |LINK
2|Facilitate|One person|Medium|Host the public online meeting for group to collaborate to: Highlighting findings, ID gaps in available resources, highlight challenges in this research area |LINK
3|Synthesize|Anyone|Hard|Review existing material and call summary and write an update post on it with materials gathered |LINK
3|Research|One person|Hard|Follow up on gaps identified from the group and post materials to help support information around those gaps.  |LINK

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                Applying any missing “tags” to research notes, question posts, and wiki pages on the current topic so they’re connected and easy to find (<a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/about-tags">Find more about tags and how to use them here</a>)
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                    <li><a href="https://publiclab.org/questions/new?tags=question:general">Posting a question</a> related to the topic. This could be a question you have or a question you think others might have.</li>
                    <li><a href="https://publiclab.org/questions/">Answering a question</a> related to the topic by commenting on the post. Answering questions might involve some background research, or it could involve reaching out to someone who might be able to help.</li>
                    <li>Find out more about asking and answering questions at <a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/public-lab-q-and-a">About Public Lab's Questions & Answers</a>.</li>
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                Editing <a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki">wiki pages</a> or writing <a href="https://publiclab.org/post">new research notes</a> on the topic. This might involve finding, reading, and synthesizing information from various sources, and making technical information from those sources easier to understand.
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                Replicating Step-by-Step Activities
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                Replicating an activity related to the topic and sharing back how it went through comments.            
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                Inviting, listening to, and recording <a href="https://publiclab.org/tag/stories">stories</a> from people working on the topic.
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            <a href="https://publiclab.org/notes/kgradow1/11-08-2020/how-to-build-a-bucket-air-monitor">Diagrams</a>, <a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/water-sensors">drawings and doodles</a>, <a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/air-quality-data#Different+kinds+of+air+quality+data">infographics</a>, visualizations, and photos can all help illustrate something about a topic or tool.
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                Testing & Comparing Tools
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                    <li>Testing, analyzing, or comparing existing tools and methods related to the topic, and posting your findings (<a href="https://publiclab.org/notes/fongvania/11-15-2021/comparing-data-visualization-tools">example here</a>).</li>
                    <li>Identifying next step challenges in tool development and adding them to the topic wiki (<a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/soil#Next+step+challenges">example here</a>).</li>
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                    <li>Identifying next steps could include describing where tool development might go next, or what additional information on the topic is still needed (<a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/soil#Next+step+challenges">example here</a>).</li>
                    <li>Following up on a “next step” that interests you could include any of the other tasks described on this page!</li>
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                Posting Activities & Methods
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            Creating a <a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/activities">step-by-step activity</a> or a <a href="https://publiclab.org/wiki/method-template">method page wiki</a> related to the topic.
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                    <li>Presenting a live build or demonstration of a community science tool related to the topic (<a href="https://publiclab.org/notes/bhamster/12-21-2021/communicating-air-quality-data-research-area-review-summary#%E2%9A%99%EF%B8%8FLive+build+of+the+Simple+Air+Sensor+and+demo+of+data+visualization">example here</a>).</li>
                    <li>Sharing your lived or learned experience with the topic as a guest speaker during a <a href="https://publiclab.org/events">public event</a>.</li>
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                    <li>Posting a summary of new resources and updates in the topic area after a TOTS.</li>
                    <li>Identifying topics and setting up a future TOTS.</li>
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