The laboratory Web site has become the gateway to life scientists’ research world; lab home pages present the major life science questions tackled by the group and share important findings with the public and colleagues. 

In recognition of the principle investigators and lab members who devote their time to developing their lab’s Web sites and keeping them cutting-edge and engaging, this year The Scientist is awarding the Laboratory Web Site and Video Awards (LaWVAs –pronounced like “lava”).

Nominations for the LaWVAs will be submitted by you, our online readers, over the next several weeks.  When you nominate a lab Web site, be sure to include a brief comment about why you nominated it.

Once we’ve narrowed down the nominations and the top Web sites are selected by our panel of judges you, or loyal readers, will be asked to vote for our "Reader’s Choice Best of the Web" award.

Laboratory web site nominations closed on October 26th. Help us recognize the best life science lab Web sites by voting for the ‘Best of the Web’ which opens on November 20th.

Here are a few laboratory websites selected by our editorial staff that are excellent examples in at least one of the four categories – design, usability, content, and community.