Nominate the best laboratory Web sites

Some have flashy graphics, some have pictures of lab members battling in lab soccer matches, some have dense text explaining complicated science, but no matter what their individual features, laboratory Web sites are the gateway to the life scientist's research world.

In recognition of the lab leaders and lab members who dedicate their time to creating and maintaining their lab Web sites, The Scientist is launching the Laboratory Web Site and Video Awards (LaWVAs ? pronounced like "lava").

Nominated by you, our online readers, over the next several weeks, the LaWVAs will recognize outstanding life science lab Web sites in four categories: design, usability, content, and community.

Once we've narrowed down the nominations and the top Web sites are selected by our panel of judges, we'll ask you to vote for our "Reader's Choice Best of the Web" award.

The winning sites as selected by our editorial team, judging panel, and our readers will be announced in December, with an accompanying careers feature in the spring on how to create an outstanding lab Web site.

Instead of posting a comment to this story, help us recognize the best life science lab Web sites by submitting your nominations here. On the Awards page, you'll find a few lab Web sites our editorial staff selected that are excellent examples in at least one of the four categories ? design, usability, content, and community.

The Scientist Staff
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