The Journey from User to Contributor: Getting Started with Tethys

The path to becoming a Tethys contributor often begins with using the Tethys Platform itself. Whether you’re developing flood prediction tools or visualizing climate data, your journey starts with the basics: installing Tethys Platform, following tutorials, and creating your first application. This hands-on experience provides essential context for future contributions.

To simplify the installation process, we’ve video guides covering the installation steps for different operating systems and environments. These guides provide step-by-step visual instructions to help you get Tethys Platform up and running efficiently. You can find our Quick Start tutorial here!

Contributing to Tethys

Tethys Platform provides a robust framework for developing web applications that address real-world scientific challenges. Professional scientists can leverage Tethys to create interactive visualizations of complex research data, making their findings more accessible to colleagues and the public. 

For students and young professionals, Tethys offers an excellent opportunity to develop portfolio-worthy projects that demonstrate both technical skills and domain knowledge. Creating a Tethys application can significantly strengthen a resume, showcasing programming abilities alongside an understanding of scientific concepts. 

Academic institutions can integrate Tethys into their curriculum, allowing students to build applications that solve genuine scientific problems while learning valuable development skills. These projects often connect students with potential employers looking for graduates with practical experience in environmental modeling and data visualization.

Contributing doesn’t require being an expert in everything. The GEOGLOWS Hydroviewer, for instance, combines hydrological modeling with web development. Contributors often start in their area of expertise – whether that’s Earth science or software development – and gradually expand their skills through collaboration.

Community Engagement

The Tethys community welcomes contributors through several channels, including GitHub forums for technical discussions, direct communication with the Tethys team, and opportunities to connect at conferences and events.

We invite you to join us at our inaugural Tethys Summit, bringing together professionals across the Earth science community on July 14-15, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. This focused, two-day event provides a forum for sharing innovations and fostering collaboration among researchers, educators, and technology specialists in the geospatial sciences. The Tethys Summit represents a unique opportunity to connect with fellow users, learn about the latest developments, and share your own experiences with the platform.

Supporting Through Donations

Financial contributions play a vital role in sustaining the Tethys Geoscience Foundation and supporting ongoing development efforts. We offer flexible donation options to accommodate different levels of support:

One-time donations allow you to contribute any amount that fits your budget, providing immediate support for specific development initiatives or foundation activities. For those looking to provide sustained support, our monthly donation program enables automatic contributions that help with long-term planning and continuous development.

As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, donations to the Tethys Geoscience Foundation may be tax-deductible. Upon donation, you’ll receive a receipt documenting your contribution for tax purposes. Consult a tax advisor to see if your contribution can benefit you. These funds directly support software development, documentation improvements, community events, and educational resources.

To make a donation, visit the “Contribute” section of our website where you can select your preferred donation method and amount. Corporate matching programs are also welcome, and we’re happy to provide any documentation needed for your employer’s matching gift process.

Growth Through Engagement

As you become more involved, you may find opportunities to influence the foundation’s direction. Supporting and Contributing members have significant impact and voices, and readily influence the direction we take as we grow as a foundation.

Remember that every contribution matters, whether it’s improving documentation, sharing code solutions, or helping other users. Your experience as a user brings a valuable perspective, helping make Tethys more accessible for future members of the community.

The journey from user to contributor is unique for everyone, but the foundation provides pathways for those ready to take that step. Through consistent engagement and collaboration, you can help shape the future of Earth science tools while building professional experience.

For those interested in becoming contributors, visit the Tethys Platform GitHub repository to get started, or utilize our website to become a Contributing Member.