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Darwin and The Science Advisory Board-What to Expect in 2009 Posted 1/28/2009
Dear Members,
I am pleased to be writing to you as The Science Advisory Board’s new Online Communities Manager. I recently joined the team in October 2008 and have been learning the various intricacies of this dynamic and interesting organization. I have a degree in Biology from Georgetown University, and while the life of a researcher or physician was appealing, my real interests lay in the organization of scientific communities. Most recently, I worked starting and managing an innovative educational non-profit for ICU Staff. Since joining The Science Advisory Board I have been impressed with the work my colleagues have carried out, and I look forward to integrating my own expertise and perspectives.
On that note...
We currently live in exciting times in terms of technology, the Web, and communications in general. What better example of such innovation than The Science Advisory Board: one ofthe first online professional social networks geared specifically for life science and medical research professionals. While a number of other communities have evolved over the years, ours alone can boast that it remains100% advertising free and no member’s name has ever been sold or released to a third party. I ask you: Can the same be said of the societies you join, the journals you read or the meetings you attend?
Now, in 2009, we must reflect upon how to maintain and improve our community. I plan to bring The Science Advisory Board, growing steadily since 1997, to new heights, but I need your help! I’ll be reaching out to you soon, in the form of a short survey, to identify what you feel are our strengths, weaknesses and most valuable components. Based on your responses, I will be communicating directly with specific members, community bloggers and forum moderators to determine ways to drive relevant content, ease administration and improve your experience.
One specific area I plan to address is the general appearance and functionality of the Website. This has been a concern of past, and is certainly a chief interest of mine. In this “Year of Darwin” I intend to use your input as the selective pressure to drive the Website’s evolution.
Recruitment for the 2009/10 Steering Committee Members is currently underway. I salute our past Committee Members for their dedication and impetus. Looking forward, I intend to elevate the importance and responsibility of these roles, and expect a proportional increase in public visibility and prominence. I will make final selections for these exciting roles in late February, and the new committee members will assume their duties in March 2009. If you are motivated to embrace a leadership role in our community, I encourage you to contact me directly with your CV and letter of interest.
Perhaps owing to my Washington DC locale and recent grandiose political proceedings, I am pleased to report that The State of the Board is optimistic.
We have a strong membership! There are more than 42,250 (at the time of print) active members with a broad range of interests from general biotechnology to pharmaceutical science/drug discovery and “next generation” sequencing.
Members are engaged! During the 2008-calendar year members completed over 39,000 individual studies ranging from Social Media to the latest Surface Plasmon Resonance Technologies and made over 8,500 forum [non-Muppet] postings!
Board traffic is strong. Member Spotlights highlight great achievements, and Perspectives continue to flow in on a variety of topics.
Members received more than $162,000 in cash and prizes for their participation, making The Science Advisory Board truly the most rewarding site on the Web...and charitable, with members donating thousands of dollars to causes such as The Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association.
While we are doing well indeed, we can do better! With your help, 2009 will be an excellent year for The Science Advisory Board.
Thank you all for your participation in this fine community. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. My most important responsibility is to maintain the integrity and experience that our members have come to expect.
The Science Advisory Board is the world's original professional network of life scientists.
Members of the SAB:
Connect with other scientists.
Find tips, methodologies and procedures from established researchers.
Share insights, stories, jokes and even "gripes" in an open environment.
Voice opinions on companies and products used in their work.
Earn generous rewards for their opinions.
Practicing life science researchers and medical professionals participate in The Science Advisory Board's studies, forums, news articles and social media channels.
