OIL & GAS

This week, The Science Advisory Board , an online panel sponsored by market research firm BioInformatics, LLC, surpassed 25,000 members. This achievement marks the panel as one of the largest scientific and medical communities on the Internet. Since the Web site went live in 1997, these scientific and medical experts have taken part in surveys, focus groups and other activities conducted by BioInformatics, LLC on behalf of life science suppliers and other clients. “Members’ opinions about the tools and technologies they use help shape the production and development of research products—making The Science Advisory Board a positive force influencing future achievements in science and medicine. Tapping into the panel is an incomparable market research tool that helps life science suppliers improve their market intelligence,” said Tamara Zemlo, Ph.D., MPH, Executive Director of The Science Advisory Board. The Science Advisory Board, however, is more than just an online panel, it’s a community where members—whether they are a researcher in the laboratory or a healthcare worker in the field—go to exchange information, opinions and insights with their colleagues from around the world. “It is a forum that facilitates sharing—be it through expressing opinions in an online survey, writing a product review or participating in a discussion forum,” noted Zemlo. “In fact, our remarkable success is largely due to the outstanding Web site content provided directly by our membership.” Member contributions can be found throughout the Web site, which includes useful information, such as: profiles of scientists and medical professionals in the Member Spotlight column; book, Web site and product reviews in the Resources section; discussions on science, medical and policy issues in the Discussion Forum and Blogs; editorials on cutting-edge or controversial topics in the Perspectives column; and job and curricula vitae postings in the Career Center. The Science Advisory Board makes all of these avenues of information sharing not only possible, but also easy and rewarding. Some rewards include: professional networking, exclusive previews of new technologies, compensation through the ViewPoints rewards program, consulting opportunities with The Science Advisory Board and access to a vast array of employment resources available in its career center. As membership grows in the coming year, the organization plans to continue offering the wide variety of features and benefits that members have come to expect, as well enhance the Web site and increase available resources.