Introduction to Cnidarity
Welcome to Cnidarity, a specialized content management system designed for academic and scientific research.
About the Name 'Cnidarity'
Cnidarity (pronounced NI-DAIR-ity) is the brand name of our academic research data management platform. The name "Cnidarity" is a proprietary trademark and should not be confused with "Cnidaria", which refers to the phylum of invertebrate animals including jellyfish, sea anemones, and corals.
Brand Name: Cnidarity (NI-DAIR-ity) - Research data management platform
Not to be confused with: Cnidaria - The animal phylum containing jellyfish and corals
Introduction
Welcome to the Cnidarity documentation. This guide will help you understand how to use the platform effectively for your research data management needs. Whether you're a principal investigator, a research team member, or a data coordinator, this documentation will provide the information you need to organize and manage your research data.
If you're new to the platform, we recommend following the Getting Started section in order, beginning with this introduction.
What is Cnidarity?
Cnidarity is a research-oriented content management system that allows scientists, researchers, and academic institutions to create custom data models that match their specific research needs. The platform enables:
- Creating flexible data structures that mirror your research methodology
- Organizing research data into hierarchical and relational formats
- Collaborating with team members across institutions
- Managing access through fine-grained permissions
- Creating, editing, and analyzing research records
Key Features
Flexible Content Modeling
Create custom data models with various attribute types to represent your research entities precisely. Define relationships between models to accurately represent complex research data structures.
Collaborative Workspaces
Organize research initiatives into workspaces and projects. Invite colleagues to collaborate with different permission levels, ensuring appropriate access to research data.
Record Management
Create, edit, filter, and export research records based on your custom data models. Keep track of changes with version history and audit trails.
Secure Data Handling
Robust security features with role-based access controls and data encryption. Keep your research data secure while enabling appropriate collaboration.
Use Cases
Cnidarity is designed to be flexible enough to adapt to various research disciplines and methodologies. Here are some common use cases:
Biological Sciences
- Tracking specimens, samples, and experimental results
- Managing taxonomic classifications and relationships
- Documenting field observations with structured data
Social Sciences
- Organizing survey data and qualitative research findings
- Managing participant information and responses
- Tracking longitudinal study data
Clinical Research
- Creating structured records for non-sensitive research data
- Organizing study protocols and methodologies
- Tracking publication workflows
Getting Started
To begin using Cnidarity, follow these initial steps:
- Create an account: Sign up on the platform and verify your email address.
- Set up a workspace: Create your first workspace to organize your research projects.
- Create a project: Start a new project within your workspace.
- Design data models: Create custom data models that represent your research entities.
- Add team members: Invite colleagues to collaborate on your research.
- Start adding records: Begin entering your research data.
If you're coming from a traditional database or spreadsheet-based system, consider starting with simple models and gradually adding complexity as you become more familiar with Cnidarity's capabilities.
Next Steps
After understanding the basics, explore these resources to make the most of Cnidarity:
- Account Setup: Detailed guide to creating your account and initial configuration.
- Core Concepts: Understanding the fundamental concepts of Cnidarity.
- Workspaces: Learn about creating and managing workspaces.
- Projects: Detailed guide to setting up research projects.
- Data Models: Creating custom models for your research data.
- Attributes: Configuring custom fields for your models.
For a guided introduction to Cnidarity, check out our various documentation pages to help you get started with your research project.