Laboratory Web sites will be ranked in the following categories:

1. Design:

• The site is appealing to look at, with a “clean” appearance.  Font sizes are readable and text is contrasted appropriately against the background colors.
• The site is consistent in its theme (color, layout, graphics, typography)
• The design is original and creative

2. Usability

• The site is easy to navigate and arranged logically. 
• Lab member contact information is easy to find
• The site has a “search” box to help find key phrases or people.
• The site is self-contained, that is, the user can return to the home page or any other page on the site without using the “back” button. 

3. Content

• The description of research is clear and accessible to non-scientists, while at the same time being engaging and educational for researchers
• The list of the lab’s publications is available and up-to-date
• Graphics, videos, and other multimedia components contribute to the site’s content

4. Community

• The site links to other collaborating sites
• The site offers reader interaction with a lab e-newsletter, updates, or RSS feed
• The site has a lab members blog, membership in Facebook, MySpace, or other social networking platforms like Linkedin, or lab groups on Nature Network

Read more about how finalists and winners will be picked