# SciRate

> website

**Wikidata**: [Q109356450](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109356450)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/scirate

## Summary
SciRate is an open peer review website specifically designed for arXiv preprints. Established in 2007, the platform serves as a collaborative tool for the scientific community to review and rate research papers. It is an open-source project supported by the National Science Foundation.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** SciRate was founded in 2007.
- **Primary Function:** It operates as an open peer review site for arXiv preprints.
- **Website:** The platform is accessible at https://scirate.com/.
- **License:** The platform operates under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.
- **Sponsor:** SciRate is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (as of 2021).
- **Source Code:** The code repository is publicly available on GitHub at https://github.com/scirate/scirate.
- **Key Contributor:** Aram Harrow is listed as a contributor to the project (as of 2021).
- **Social Media:** The project maintains a Twitter account (@scirate3) which was created in March 2014.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the main purpose of SciRate?
A: SciRate serves as an open peer review platform specifically for arXiv preprints. It allows the scientific community to provide feedback and ratings on research papers prior to formal journal publication.

### Q: Is SciRate open source?
A: Yes, SciRate is an open-source project. Its source code is available in a public repository on GitHub, and it uses a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

### Q: Who funds or sponsors SciRate?
A: As of 2021, SciRate lists the National Science Foundation as a sponsor.

## Why It Matters
SciRate addresses a critical gap in the modern scientific publishing workflow: the delay between the dissemination of research on preprint servers like arXiv and the completion of formal peer review by journals. By providing a platform for "open peer review," SciRate allows for immediate community feedback, increasing the speed at which research can be validated, critiqued, and improved.

The platform matters because it democratizes the review process. Instead of relying on a small pool of anonymous referees selected by a journal, SciRate allows the broader community to participate in the evaluation of scientific work. This transparency can lead to higher quality feedback and helps researchers identify high-impact work more quickly. The backing of the National Science Foundation and the involvement of contributors like Aram Harrow underscore its legitimacy and importance as an infrastructure project within the open science movement.

## Notable For
- **Niche Focus:** It is distinctively tailored for arXiv preprints, a primary distribution method in physics and mathematics.
- **Open Source Model:** Unlike proprietary review platforms, its codebase is public and licensed under Creative Commons.
- **Institutional Backing:** It is one of the few open review platforms specifically sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
- **Longevity:** Having launched in 2007, it is an early and enduring example of open peer review infrastructure.

## Body

### Operational Scope and Function
SciRate is a website class entity that functions as a peer review system. Its specific motto defines it as "An open peer review site for arXiv preprints." The platform is primarily an English-language service hosted at the domain scirate.com. It allows users to publicly evaluate and discuss research papers that have been posted on the arXiv preprint server.

### History and Development
The project was established in 2007. Development and maintenance have been supported by notable figures in the academic community, including contributor Aram Harrow. The project's online presence was expanded in March 2014 with the creation of its Twitter account (@scirate3). As of 2021, the project lists the National Science Foundation as a sponsor, indicating continued operational support.

### Technical and Licensing Details
SciRate is built as an open-source project. The source code is maintained in a GitHub repository located at https://github.com/scirate/scirate. The content and software are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. This licensing allows for wide distribution and modification of the work, provided appropriate credit is given and derivative works are shared under the same terms.

## References

1. 400+ Tools and Innovations in Scholarly Communication
2. [Source](https://scirate.com/legal)
3. [Source](https://github.com/scirate/scirate)
4. [Source](https://scirate.com/about)