Since their introduction a few years ago, social networking sites have increasingly attracted the attention of academic and industry researchers intrigued by their reach and effectiveness. If you are not one of those researchers visiting networking sites, you may question the value of an online site as opposed to networking in person. However, given the increased workload in most research facilities and fewer opportunities to meet with colleagues either at meetings or other research-related events, person-to-person networking opportunities have all but vanished. These days it is much more difficult to bounce ideas off of or brainstorm solutions with others in your field. Which is where a vibrant, non-advertiser driven, research specific networking site comes in. Whether you’ve taken the leap or not, the fact is researchers are doing much more online, from attending informational webinars and product press events to career building and networking.
Consider this:
- Researchers using social networking sites find discussion threads—specific to their research or equipment/instrument challenges—that provide realworld, hands-on solutions to their problems.
- Before making an equipment buying decision, researchers are changing the way they evaluate and engage in the buying process. The budget creation, solution criteria and RFP distribution phases are being supplemented with a more peer-oriented approach that now occurs within the social networking medium. Researchers can now engage with peers who have already addressed the challenge and are willing to share their knowledge.
- In an attempt to connect directly with vendors, researchers are beginning to post questions on social networking sites to accelerate the buying process.
With this in mind, the publishers of Lab Manager Magazine and LabX are excited to announce the “official” launch of LabWrench (www.labwrench.com).
LabWrench provides a shared network for users of laboratory equipment and instruments. As a lab professional, you can get answers, find information about the equipment you use in your lab, and interact with others using those same instruments.
The LabWrench networking site provides a community forum around scientific equipment and instrumentation. The discussions are prompted by application notes, white papers, user manuals and videos, as well as questions and answers from other scientists—providing product-specific reviews and troubleshooting tips from end users and industry experts.
As a member of LabWrench you can:
- Get answers to your most pressing laboratory equipment questions from people with similar experiences and challenges.
- Provide answers to others with problems you have already overcome.
- Find opportunities to connect with other lab professionals who can help you overcome the equipment challenges you face in your lab, find solutions to common issues others have had with specific instruments, or read comments on laboratory products you are thinking about purchasing.
- Build relationships and grow your network by having meaningful discussions with serious lab professionals who are using the same equipment you use now or are considering using in the future.
- Find quality vendors and service providers to help equip and maintain the best possible equipment for your specific lab. Equipment and instruments are categorized by product type and brand, and over time we will add a directory of applicable vendors meeting your needs for service, parts, accessories and related products and services specific to each instrument.
- Build a “My Bench” page and start managing the equipment you’ve bookmarked and receive notifications directly from vendors and users when new product information becomes available.
It’s free to join! Visit www.labwrench.com to start building your lab bench of products and connect with your peers to post and answer questions about the lab equipment you use.
