SAB NewsSAB Members respond: "How does The Science Advisory Board affect you?"Posted 4/18/2006 Here are a few of the responses we received and would like to share with you. They have not been edited but are presented as the respondent originally submitted them. Many thanks to all those who responded! We hope you continue to make use of the resources available to you as a member of The Science Advisory Board! ------------------------------------- I enjoy reading and participating in the career forums. It's great to be able to share experiences and ask for advice/opinions. I regularly visit the Science Advisory Board website to look for the "hottest" topic in the scientific field. This keeps me informed of all the happenings in the research world. The other thing that I would usually look for is the job-related articles. They are all very vivid, informative, practically, and useful. I don't remember when I met this place. It was probably looking for some protocol or solution to some technique problem. In a first impression, I didn't believe that the place could be useful in my work since I found that topics were approached to the medicine. My specialty is Plant Biotechnology. Specifically, I work in rice breeding and our laboratory contributes to shorten the times in the arduous task of obtaining new cultivars. In spite of my orientation, my interest for the medicine and genetics made of this place a valuable source of information. Also, the reading of the request in the forums, showed me that I could consult other colleagues and to contribute to solve problems. I could know that the techniques, protocols and problems in the laboratories, don't seem to be very different working with DNA (and other) of plants, animals or human. I have received numerous and valuable contributions. For example as solving amplification problems by PCR of "difficult" DNA fragments , use of restriction enzymes to cut PCR fragments and southern blot The generosity of experienced colleagues allowed me to solve these problems that arose when beginning to use these tools for the first time. In my opinion, generosity it is a key word in this web site. I enjoy the topics that I get to have input on. It's also neat to see how the results of surveys impact the products I use. I am trying to use RNAi teq to do my target gene scienlencing in cardiomyocyte and I come here to see a whole bunch of informations. Even in the forum I get a lot of knowledge on that! Yes, it has enabled me to find useful information in wide topics. I can find querries answered otherwise I would have to ask. As of now I have found good interactions with people and even the topics on which the discussions are going on is also making me to get involved in it. I do find that it is helping me in knowing a few things. As we were planning to buy a Real time PCR for our lab now after the queries and the answer got from SAB I can better know which one will be the best. The SAB keep me up-to date on trends and market tendencies. The Science Advisory Board has made me feel part of the larger scientific community. I rarely have time to go to seminars or conferences in my field, and the board has reduced my sense of isolation. Additionally, it has provided information about current goings-on that I have discussed with others. For a lot of useful information on a wide variety of Life Sciences related questions (protocols, instrument suppliers, news,...) I simply surf to SAB! I am a new member of the SAB. I joined, because I feel that there is a need for a communication platform between users of scientific equipment. Conceptually, this is provided with the SAB, but I think there is still some work to be done in the way the information is presented. Right now, all reviews are merely listed in the order they were submitted. This lack of organization compeletely defeats the purpose of the SAB: researchers don't have the time to "hunt" for the review they are interested in. They want to browse by name, manufacturer, subcategory or something of the like. Hence, while I think the SAB is a great idea with useful information, as it is right now, the users are not provided with sufficient organization of the data to really make good use of them. Think of DNA database - only throwing in sequences is not going to do; proper annotation is the key. It first gives me a break from the work i'm doing to think about other ideas. And for expressing my opinion, I actually get the chance to receive something in return...It's a nice change to a fast-paced week SAB members are professionals and helpful in answering questions, and give useful advice. Although still new to using the SAB regularly, I find the book review section to be quite helpful. There are a number of books on the list that I have thought about reading and have been reviewed in terms that I can appreciate. I first learned about science advisory board at the San Francisco meeting in December 2005 of the Annual American Society for Cell Biology Meeting. The presenters were very professional and informative and I decided to join the advisory board that day...It is a really good idea to have a forum, I might call it, of our scientific community in this way. I used the site for antibody comparison and also to learn about what is new in research through the newsletter. Keep up the good work! I am doing research in the field of cancer biology. I am a beginner in this field so Whenever I have free time I just log in to SAB and start finding the materials that i require in my subject.Nowadays I am mainly focussing on the technical tips and general info about molecular biology. So SAB is helping me a lot to understand the fundamentals of life science research. Simply I can say that I have been updated my knowledge and research experience with the information provided in terms of quessionaire provided time to time on different scientific aspects by the Science Advisory Board. Yes. I use the information on The Science Advisory Borard in my research. I learn lot about new and different methods. Bulletin boards are useful for finding opinions on technical issues. Survey results are of interest, but do not really directly affect research decisions Your surveys inform me about techniques and products I had never considered using! Participating in Science Advisory Board studies has made me think about the research I do, as well as products I use, more critically. I have found information in the forum that I could use to troubleshoot my experiments and also learned about new kits available to aid in my research. The Science Advisory Body (SAB) has affected my work and life experience in a number of ways. Firstly, it has extended scientific discussions beyond the normal lab and conference discussion. It provides a community, which I form part of and we can discuss protocols and problems, which arise during the lab life. I have managed to receive help and also gave help to some specific questions related to protocols and research and data analysis software. For example I had a problem with measuring protein concentration using the Bio-Rad Protein assay when my samples had 2% SDS. I learnt from the other colleagues in the SAB that one can not have SDS in their samples and then determine the protein concentration using that assay, so that me think of another alternative assay, which we discussed in that forum as well. Beside helping and being helped with protocol issues, I have learnt about other things by forming part of the forum and also the humor which comes with it. I now visit the SAB at least once every day if possible. Several students and collegues at our department has really benfit from your questionnaires. We are currently doing experiments that were based on products and techniques featured in your questionnaires. Thanks again for this wonderful networking! It truly had been a memorable association with Science Advisory Board studies. I had utilized the valued studies in my profession and research and had been appreciated for it. Tissue microarray provided was of immense help and gave a new dimension to my knowledge and laboratory expertise. I cherish the bond and would like to contribute as an high impact database. The forum is extremely useful for getting in touch with experts that i normally wouldn't have access to. the discussions are of immediate pratical use and advice given is usually sound. the protocol review has been personally beneficial. in addition, the studies which poll scientists from around the world informs me of the other problems (and solutions!). it sure helps to know i'm not alone. these studies also review common lab pratices/reagents which is extremely useful especially the latest one of restriction enzymes. As a clinician scientist, I really like your website. Hand-on people usually talk about the real things that are happening in the lab which are very useful for me. There were several occasions, which I had been exactly the same situations and responded differently. To me, you are doing a very nice job and whenever I have time, Ill go through your articles. I specifically enjoy the Book Reviews. I guess this section is very useful for those who are dealing with students and fellows. I have utilised the forums on numerous occasions to help with specific protocols or issues that have arisen during my research. I have also used the information provided by SAB to provide links and clues to help with numerous aspects of my career. I always recommend colleagues and students to visit the site, and consider joining because I believe that SAB is a valuable asset to the scientific community. The Forums have helped me with my research by allowing me to have access to experts in molecular biology. And the articles in the Studies section have also proven useful. There is a clear impact of the information coming from industry through the questionnaires proposed to us, and it is good to know its trend from the "other" side of the bench. My experience with Science advisory board is amazing. It provides me information regarding my research area as well as other areas like most devastating diseases. Wnenever i was in trouble it gives me help. I feel proud to join society like Science advisory board. I congratulate full team of science advisory board to do such a good work in this area. The Science Advisory Board has been a big help for me. It is through this venue, that I was updated with the latest trend and discovery in my field of work. I was also able to have a good networking with other Scientist all over the world. The Science Advisory Board is GREAT! The Science Advisory Board has provided insight into a variety or topics, either through surveys, reviews, or polls which I would not otherwise look into. Of special note is the survey program which is remarkably rewarding. Aside from the points that can be used to earn products, each completed survey provides perspective into a number of issues, and into my own scientific practices. It wasn't until I answered a number of surveys that I realized how much I rely on products based on brand reputation or current use. I've since opened my eyes to the products I am using, and have focused on scientific merit and effectiveness rather than the company from which they come. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the Science Advisory Board has a product review section from which I can also elicit an objective opinion on potential purchases. |
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