home / mcp / altmetric mcp server

Altmetric MCP Server

Provides programmatic access to Altmetric data via Details Page and Explorer APIs for tracking research attention.

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "altmetric-altmetric-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "altmetric-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ALTMETRIC_DETAILS_API_KEY": "YOUR_DETAILS_API_KEY",
        "ALTMETRIC_EXPLORER_API_KEY": "YOUR_EXPLORER_API_KEY",
        "ALTMETRIC_EXPLORER_API_SECRET": "YOUR_EXPLORER_API_SECRET"
      }
    }
  }
}

This Altmetric MCP Server enables AI agents to access Altmetric APIs for tracking how research is discussed across news outlets, policy documents, social media, and other online platforms. It provides structured, programmatic access to attention metrics from both Details Page and Explorer APIs, helping you monitor real-world impact alongside traditional citations.

How to use

Run the Altmetric MCP Server within your MCP client to start querying attention data for research outputs. You can retrieve high-level citation counts, search across recent mentions, and, for institutions with access, explore detailed mentions, demographics, sources, and journals. Use the server to power your analytics workflows, dashboards, or AI agents that need up-to-date Altmetric data.

How to install

Prerequisites: You need Node.js version 18.0.0 or higher and Altmetric API credentials for at least one of the APIs.

Install and run the MCP server using your MCP client with npx. The following configuration provides credentials for the Details Page API and the Explorer API.

{
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["-y", "altmetric-mcp"],
  "env": {
    "ALTMETRIC_DETAILS_API_KEY": "your_details_api_key_here",
    "ALTMETRIC_EXPLORER_API_KEY": "your_explorer_api_key_here",
    "ALTMETRIC_EXPLORER_API_SECRET": "your_explorer_api_secret_here"
  }
}

Additional setup notes

If you use multiple editors or tools, you can copy the same environment variables into each tool’s MCP configuration. Include only the API credentials you have access to.

Tips for common editors and tools

Follow the inline examples to integrate the MCP server into your preferred development environment. Each integration shows the exact command and environment variables you should include.

Security and credentials

Treat your API keys like secrets. Do not share them publicly. Use separate credentials for testing and production where possible.

Available tools

get_citation_counts

Fetch attention metrics and mention counts for a research output using identifiers such as DOI, PMID, arXiv, or other supported IDs.

get_citation_details

Retrieve detailed mention information including full text, author details, and complete metadata for how a research output is discussed online (commercial tier only).

search_citations

Search aggregated attention data across tracked outputs within a specified timeframe and optional filters.

explore_research_outputs

Query and filter research outputs within your institutional Altmetric Explorer instance by author, department, journal, date, and more.

explore_attention_summary

Get aggregated attention metrics for outputs matched by your query, broken down by source and date.

explore_mentions

Retrieve individual mentions with details such as author, URL, timestamp, and platform.

explore_demographics

Analyze audience demographics and geographic distribution engaging with research outputs.

explore_mention_sources

Examine the sources of mentions and their credibility and reach across platforms.

explore_journals

Access journal-level data, including publication venues and rankings.