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Expert panels

When a question can’t wait, convene verified experts and get a dated consensus in days.

In an outbreak or before a policy decision, people need the best current answer, today. A panel of verified experts answers one urgent question, states its certainty, records dissent, and sets a date to revisit.

Request a panelRead panel statements
Panel statementIssued 26 Sep · 72 hours · revisit 26 Oct · IllustrativeShould publishers shade nurseries during the October heat alert?
Consensus · 6 of 7 expertsYes, for nurseries shallower than 3 m. Low-to-moderate certainty.
Dissent recorded1 expert: evidence too thin below 2 m
Evidence used4 studies · 1 null result · 1 living review
Conflicts declaredNone
Every panellist is named, with topic authority shown
How it works

Fast and fully named

1RequestA government, NGO, journal or community moderators submit one specific, urgent question.
2Panel forms5–9 verified experts with authority in the topic, independent of the question.
372 hours to answerThey review the evidence on CitePep and draft a statement together.
4Dated and revisitedCertainty, dissent and a revisit date are published with the statement.

Request a panel

We reply within 12 hours: whether the question can be answered in time, and a fixed quote.

○Phrased as a question○A single question○Under 200 characters (0)
Who is asking
Answer needed in
Standard. Seats from the standing pool usually fill within 2 hours.
What you set, and what the panel sets
You setThe questionThe deadlineBackground you want the panel to read
The panel setsWho sits on the panelThe wording of the statementWhether it’s published: it always isWhen you see it, at the same time as the public
Three possible outcomes, one price
Consensus statementMost of the panel agrees. Certainty, dissent and a revisit date are published.
Split statementNo clear majority. Both positions are published side by side, each with its evidence.
Not enough evidenceThe panel names the study that would settle it.
Panellists are paid the same per panel, whatever the outcome. Every member is independent of the question.
Panel statements

Recent answers to urgent questions

Illustrative
Issued26 Sep · 7 expertsShould publishers shade nurseries during the October heat alert?Yes, below 3 m · low-to-moderate certainty
Revisit 26 Oct
Panel formingRequested 2 OctIs the new H5N1 strain transmissible between dairy cattle by air?5 of 7 seats filled
Due 72 h after the last seat fills
Rapid note3 Oct · 3 experts · 22 hIs well water in flood-affected Kerala districts likely to carry cholera?Provisional: likely in 4 districts · full panel due 6 Oct
Full panel seating now
Updated · v212 Sep · 7 expertsShould outdoor work in Delhi stop above a set wet-bulb temperature, and at what level?Yes, at 31 °C · lowered from 32 °C after new field data
Next revisit 12 Mar
Split 4–330 Aug · 7 expertsShould Lake Erie beaches reopen once toxin levels fall below the advisory limit?Two positions published side by side
Revisit 30 Nov
Not enough evidence18 Aug · 5 expertsDoes the 2026 microplastics filter standard protect municipal drinking water?Answer pending · panel names the study that would settle it
Revisit when trial reports

Serving on a panel

Seats go to verified contributors with topic authority in the question’s field who marked themselves available for panels. You can decline any invitation without it affecting your record.

Who’s eligibleVerified contributor · topic authority in the field · independent of the requester and the question
TimeAbout 6–8 hours spread across 72 hours, mostly reading the evidence pack
PayA fixed fee per panel, the same whatever the panel concludes
Your nameEvery panellist is named on the statement, along with how they voted.
Mark yourself availableBecome a verified contributor
A panel seat, hour by hour
Hour 0InvitationThe question, the requester and the evidence pack. Accept or decline within 6 hours.
6–24Read and rateRate each study for relevance and quality. Recuse from any you worked on.
24–60Draft togetherThe chair drafts; panellists comment line by line.
60–72Vote and signAgree or dissent. Dissent is published in your own words.
RevisitCheck backOn the revisit date, the panel confirms or updates the statement.