diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
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@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-datacarpentry
+Data Carpentry Core Curriculum
 =============
 
-Data Carpentry workshop materials
+This repository contains core material for the 2-day data carpentry workshop. Please see our [contribution guidelines](https://github.com/datacarpentry/datacarpentry/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md) before contributing updates, bug fixes, or other corrections.
+