updates on openabm website

[Marco Janssen]

Dear all,

At the start of 2012 we like to update you on some recent updates on the 
openabm.org website:

-          You can follow new additions to the website (events, models, job 
adds, etc) on twitter (@openabm_comses) and via RSS Feed. So follow us on 
twitter and keep up to date.

-          A new types of membership is created for those who want to be more 
involved. For those who are more involved additional tools are available. More 
information is available at http://www.openabm.org/page/comses-net

-          There are now about 100 models in the model library publicly 
available. (Note that you can archive a model and not make it publicly 
available, for example if you submit a model-based paper to a journal for 
review).

-          The journal Ecology and Society (http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/) 
requires nowadays that papers using agent-based models have their models 
archived in the model library. Hopefully, more journals will follow soon who 
require proper standards for publication of ABMs (see also the special issue of 
Science of December 2 on data replication: 
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6060.toc#SpecialIssue).

-          We are now working on a model review system, and start registering 
the number of downloads. In a few months each model will have information on 
the quality of documentation, and the number of downloads.

-          A reminder of the COMSES challenge for 2012 on "Models for 
Sustainability". The deadline is April 2. For more information see 
http://www.openabm.org/story/comses-challenge-2012 .

Have a wonderful 2012

Openabm/Comses team