SOT’s web presence has received a facelift, but this change wasn’t just skin deep. We overhauled the entire site and hope you like what we’ve done.
The motivation for this change was twofold. We wanted to enable the website’s ability to continue to be a relevant communications tool and resource to take advantage of new technologies, and we wanted to restructure the website to serve our members and potential members first.
With these objectives in mind, there are a few features of the new site to which I would like to draw your attention:
- The new site is customized for the individual user.
When you log into the site using the button in the upper right corner, the main homepage and navigation areas become specific to your membership. Links to the websites of specific Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, and Specialty Sections in which you hold membership are now available directly on the homepage.
If there are pages you visit on a regular basis, you can bookmark them through the “My Links” area in the orange main navigation bar, so these links will be available to you no matter what page of the site you’re visiting.
If you’re looking to access your membership information, update your contact information, pay your dues, etc., you just need to click on the membership picture icon in the upper right to be taken to your membership management page.
- The new site emphasizes core SOT activities and membership benefits.
The new site makes it easier to get to information on many of the Society’s most popular programs, such as the Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, Toxicological Sciences, SOT Awards, and career and education resources. With the Members & Groups area, you also can quickly get to the areas of membership that are most relevant to you, whether it is a Regional Chapter or Student Membership information. If you’re not familiar with some of SOT’s groups, I encourage you to go exploring and join the ones applicable and important to you.
Many of the changes to the site were recommended by you through a membership feedback survey distributed last summer. Thank you to those who provided us with invaluable information on what is important to you in a website.
I want to thank the Website Task Force (Chair Sarah Campion, Weimin Gao, Nicole Churchill Kleinstreuer, Teresa Leavens, Matthew Thomas Martin, Carolyn Mattingly, Postdoctoral Representative Chad Brocker, Student Representative Kathy Siyu Xue, and SOT Council Contact John B. Morris) for their dedication to this process and guidance. They spent countless hours creating and reviewing the membership survey and developing the organization of the new site, and I am thrilled with their efforts.
I also applaud the SOT Headquarters staff for their efforts on taking the vision of the Website Task Force and making it a reality.
Since its launch, I’ve enjoyed exploring the new site. Some of the elements that I’ve particularly noted are that the content on the homepage feels more concise and better organized and that it is easier to navigate to various areas of the site to find the most up-to-date information on SOT events and programs. I hope you will take some time to explore the new site and provide us with your observations and feedback. A website is always a work in progress and we want to make sure the SOT site continues to serve our members and those interested in the field of toxicology.