10.2 Projects, groups and other opportunities

  • The Information Specialists' Portal is a great source of information on professional development.
  • The Cochrane Information Retrieval Methods Group (IRMG) has a remit remit to provide advice and support, to conduct research and to facilitate information exchange regarding the information retrieval activities of Cochrane.
  • Joining the Cochrane Information Specialists' Executive provides an opportunity to become involved in CIS-specific and organisation-wide issues. When a vacany occurs on the Executive, a message inviting applications to join is usually circulated via the Information Specialists' mailing list.
  • Projects and working groups are a good way to network beyond your editorial base and develop new skills. Cochrane provides many opportunities for involvement in working groups, committees and projects. Look out for notices on the Information Specialists' mailing list advertising vacancies.
  • Cochrane Crowd is Cochrane’s citizen science platform launched in 2016. It hosts small discrete tasks that help identify and describe health research. Anyone is welcome to sign up and join this collective effort. Accompanying each task is a comprehensive, yet brief, training module. 
  • SuRe Info is a web resource covering the information retrieval aspects of producing systematic reviews and health technology assessments. It seeks to help information specialists stay up-to-date with the latest developments by providing easy access to current methods papers, and supports more research-based information retrieval practice.
  • Retraction Watch is a blog and database which aim to track and publicise retractions from August 2010 onwards.