Harvard Medical School's Scientific Citizenship Initiative

The Scientific Citizenship Initiative (SCi) is a nonprofit organization within Harvard Medical School with a mission to foster scientific citizenship and inclusivity in the realm of research. SCi believes that science thrives when scientists actively engage with diverse voices, steering research towards the betterment of society. Personally, I was immediately drawn to their mission. Together, we ventured down a journey of a transformative website redesign and UX research project aimed at amplifying SCi’s mission, values, and impact in the digital landscape.

Our mission was to revitalize the SCi website, aligning it with the organization’s values while enhancing user engagement. The challenge was to create a digital platform that not only represented SCi’s vision but also functioned as an accessible hub for students, educators, and communities. To address this, we embarked on a comprehensive user-first approach, or in this case, a community-first approach:

Approach:

• Analytical Research: Our journey commenced with an in-depth review of the current site’s metrics, deciphering its functionality and user utilization. This analytical research provided critical insights into the existing user behavior and paved the way for informed decisions.
• User Interviews: We engaged in conversations with stakeholders, dissecting their desires and expectations from the website. These interviews unearthed valuable user objectives, shedding light on how people aimed to interact with the platform.
• UX Strategy: Armed with a profound understanding of both organization and user objectives, we meticulously crafted a site plan. This strategy was a harmonious blend of SCi’s mission and the needs and aspirations of its diverse user base.
• Information Architecture: The redesign process also involved a strategic overhaul of the site’s information architecture. We meticulously organized and structured the content to ensure ease of navigation, empowering users to access resources and engage seamlessly.
• Wireframes and Design Integration: Our efforts extended to the creation of wireframes that served as the backbone of the redesigned website. Collaboratively, we worked closely with the visual designer and branding lead to seamlessly integrate their designs, ensuring a cohesive and visually compelling design that resonated with SCi’s mission.

The collaborative efforts in the SCi website redesign led to a digital presence that not only reflects SCi’s core values but also empowers its stakeholders. The revitalized website now serves as a dynamic and communal space for students, educators, and like-minded people to identify critical issues, challenge norms, and champion inclusivity, equity, cooperation, and service in the realm of science. The UX research journey has not only amplified SCi’s mission but has also laid the foundation for a digital platform that bridges the gap between scientific citizenship and a global community of learners and leaders. Together, we are shaping a digital landscape where science becomes a beacon of inclusivity and positive change for everyone.