• You will be actively involved in the development and management of the UN Atlas of the Oceans.
• You will play a key role in promoting and guiding the topic you edit.
• You will be the first to see the knowledge and information submitted to you.
• You will be linking into a global network of producers and users of information about the oceans.
• Your biodata (and photo) will be displayed online, raising your profile in the global research community.

Who can become a UN Atlas of the Oceans Topic Editor?

• A topic editor is a Registered Member who has volunteered to act as the content administrator of a particular topic or topic tree.
• You will have demonstrated a proven record of interest and ability in the topic for which you are volunteering by including details of relevant expertise and/or experience in your contact knowledge object. You can do this either when you register or subsequently by editing your contact information via the My Knowledge screen in your Explorer.
• You will need to be able to allocate a short amount of time, preferably on a weekly basis, to review and upload the knowledge and information submitted to you which will appear in your Inbox in your Explorer.

What does a Topic Editor do?

• You will assess the quality, value and relevance of related knowledge items which are submitted to you and appear in your Inbox in your Explorer, and either accept or reject them, or forward then to a more appropriate topic.
• You can subsequently edit, move or de-link related knowledge objects within your topic area, as required.
• You can suggest additional links between related knowledge within your topic and other topics.
• You can initiate and moderate discussions with Atlas contributors.
• You can add value to some related knowledge objects within your topic area by marking them `Editor's Choice'.
• You can add or accept news items and events, and accept or initiate polls on current issues.

What Next?

• Register to become a member of the UN Atlas of the Oceans.
• When you have received your password, send an email to the Atlas Project Manager (UN-Atlas-Oceans-Project@fao.org) telling him the name(s) of any existing topics you would like to volunteer to edit or jointly edit.
• Briefly describe your experience in the topic(s), and, if acceptable, he will contact you and make arrangements for you to become the topic editor.
• If you want to suggest a new topic for the Atlas that you also wish to volunteer to edit:
• • Use search or browse to find an appropriate topic in which to add your new subtopic.
  • Click on +suggest sub-Topic to go to the add topic form.
  • Following the on-screen examples and help?, complete the required and optional fields.
  • Enter keywords specific to the subject of your topic.
  • Click on Submit. You will be notified in a few days, via your Inbox, whether your suggested new topic has been accepted.
• After your suggested topic has been accepted you can then suggest linking it or relating it to other Atlas topics.

Get more information on submitting, linking, relating and editing topics