PAMS Research Groups FAQ
From WolfWikis
Why does my research group have a page here? I didn't ask for this.
Pages for active PAMS research groups were created and customized by the Librarians for Physical and Mathematical Sciences as a service to these groups. If you would like to use your group's page, you have implicit permission and can begin immediately.
Why doesn't my research group have a page here? I would like one.
Whoops! Maybe we missed you. Contact us to let us know about your group.
Why should a research group use a wiki?
Do you communicate with your group by copying e-mail to several people? Do you share documents by attaching them to e-mail? This works, but it’s a headache, too. Sorting through a mass of messages wastes time, leads to missed information, and forces you to deal with multiple versions of documents that have been edited by several people. Modern information tools make collaborative work much easier. A wiki is just one example of this sort of tool.
Here are some things you can do with this wiki:
- Bookmark it as a customized link center for journals and databases you use in your research.
- Save documents and edit them collaboratively.
- Post links, articles, discussions, and new findings.
Any NCSU user can edit a page, all work is saved, and all mistakes are recoverable. So feel free to edit these as you wish, or pass suggestions to the librarians and we'll be happy to do it for you.
How do other research groups use wikis?
A notable example is the UsefulChem project at Drexel University. Check Wikipedia’s page on Open Notebook Science for more information and examples like this.
A local example is the Forecasting Lab Guide to using the WRF Model at NC State.
Also see the Example Research Group page.
Can you help me get started using my group's wiki?
Yes! Contact us if you'd like a demo or just a quick tip. We're happy to meet with individuals learning to edit wikis or provide a demo for your research group.
Also try the Help link in the navigation box on the left. There are lots of examples of wiki editing syntax here to guide you.
I'm new to wikis and not sure how to edit.
First thing to note: you cannot "break" a wiki. Edit at will. All changes are saved. All previous versions are recoverable.
That said, use the Help link to get assistance with basic editing. If you have any questions you don't see immediately addressed by the help, feel free to contact us with any questions. You can even send us the changes you want and we can make them for you.
I’m not sure I want my research in progress to be seen publicly.
This is an entirely valid concern for some research groups. You can use WolfWikis for only certain communication tasks, or use another wiki site that supports private space. Contact us and we can point you to a good alternative.
What is WolfWikis?
WolfWikis is the wiki hosting service at the NCSU Libraries. Faculty, staff, and students use it for a variety of reasons, such as posting class information, collaborative project work, and hobbies.
All NCSU faculty, staff, and students (and ONLY these populations) can edit WolfWiki pages.
What is the PAMS reference wiki?
The PAMS reference wiki is a guide to information sources in the physical and mathematical sciences. It has been (and continues to be) developed by the reference librarian for these subjects.
Use it to help find information, and add your expertise and tips.