In 2023 the International Science Council is undertaking a process to understand the expectations and needs of its Members and Affiliated Bodies in terms of their digital adaptation and to examine ways in which the ISC could support them.

In the context of this survey, ‘digital‘ refers not only to the use of digital technologies to operate and deliver value to stakeholders, but also, more broadly, to the culture and practices of living in the modern age dominated by digital technologies.

We’re also asking you some questions on mis- and disinformation under the theme of trust in science. Members consistently tell us in our regular one-to-one catch-ups that trust in science and the way in which digital technology intersects with science and scientific rigour is one of your top concerns.

The survey takes approx. 15 minutes to complete.

The survey closes on 1 April 2023.

Please help us by completing the survey below and/or forwarding it to key people in  your organization who are best placed to respond to these questions.

Thank you very much for your cooperation!

What happens next

🚀 We will use the survey results to identify case studies that can inspire us and others on our digital transformation journeys.

📌 The case studies and key findings will be shared during our 2023 Mid-term Meeting of ISC Members on 10-12 May in Paris.

Contact

Zhenya Tsoy, Senior Communications Officer

zhenya.tsoy@council.science

- Step 1 of 3

About you and your organization

Name *

First

Last

Your organization (ISC Member or Affiliated Body)

Position within the organization

• Scientist / researcher
• Executive
• Communications or other support role
• Other

How many people work at your organization? (Paid staff and volunteers)

• 1-5
• 6-25
• 26-75
• 75-200
• 200+
• We have volunteers only

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Digital in your organization today

How would you rate your organization’s skills in the following areas when engaging with your members or users?

	Excellent	Fair	Poor	Don't know / not applicable
Email marketing	ExcellentEmail marketing Excellent	FairEmail marketing Fair	PoorEmail marketing Poor	Don't know / not applicableEmail marketing Don't know / not applicable
Social media	ExcellentSocial media Excellent	FairSocial media Fair	PoorSocial media Poor	Don't know / not applicableSocial media Don't know / not applicable
Making the most of your website	ExcellentMaking the most of your website Excellent	FairMaking the most of your website Fair	PoorMaking the most of your website Poor	Don't know / not applicableMaking the most of your website Don't know / not applicable
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and adverts	ExcellentSEO (Search Engine Optimization) and adverts Excellent	FairSEO (Search Engine Optimization) and adverts Fair	PoorSEO (Search Engine Optimization) and adverts Poor	Don't know / not applicableSEO (Search Engine Optimization) and adverts Don't know / not applicable
Creating accessible, engaging content	ExcellentCreating accessible, engaging content Excellent	FairCreating accessible, engaging content Fair	PoorCreating accessible, engaging content Poor	Don't know / not applicableCreating accessible, engaging content Don't know / not applicable
Learning about our users from website and analytics data	ExcellentLearning about our users from website and analytics data Excellent	FairLearning about our users from website and analytics data Fair	PoorLearning about our users from website and analytics data Poor	Don't know / not applicableLearning about our users from website and analytics data Don't know / not applicable
Digital fundraising	ExcellentDigital fundraising Excellent	FairDigital fundraising Fair	PoorDigital fundraising Poor	Don't know / not applicableDigital fundraising Don't know / not applicable

How would you rate your organization’s skills in the following areas of design and delivery of member or user services?

	Excellent	Fair	Poor	Don't know / not applicable
Understanding how your members / users use digital	ExcellentUnderstanding how your members / users use digital Excellent	FairUnderstanding how your members / users use digital Fair	PoorUnderstanding how your members / users use digital Poor	Don't know / not applicableUnderstanding how your members / users use digital Don't know / not applicable
Undertaking member / user research	ExcellentUndertaking member / user research Excellent	FairUndertaking member / user research Fair	PoorUndertaking member / user research Poor	Don't know / not applicableUndertaking member / user research Don't know / not applicable
Use of digital to deliver services for members / users (e.g. disseminating calls, invitations to working groups, grant applications etc.)	ExcellentUse of digital to deliver services for members / users (e.g. disseminating calls, invitations to working groups, grant applications etc.) Excellent	FairUse of digital to deliver services for members / users (e.g. disseminating calls, invitations to working groups, grant applications etc.) Fair	PoorUse of digital to deliver services for members / users (e.g. disseminating calls, invitations to working groups, grant applications etc.) Poor	Don't know / not applicableUse of digital to deliver services for members / users (e.g. disseminating calls, invitations to working groups, grant applications etc.) Don't know / not applicable
Ensuring online services are accessible to all members / users	ExcellentEnsuring online services are accessible to all members / users Excellent	FairEnsuring online services are accessible to all members / users Fair	PoorEnsuring online services are accessible to all members / users Poor	Don't know / not applicableEnsuring online services are accessible to all members / users Don't know / not applicable
Data protection / GDPR compliance	ExcellentData protection / GDPR compliance Excellent	FairData protection / GDPR compliance Fair	PoorData protection / GDPR compliance Poor	Don't know / not applicableData protection / GDPR compliance Don't know / not applicable

How would you rate your organization’s skills in the following areas of management structures and operations?

	Excellent	Fair	Poor	Don't know / not applicable
Understanding of digital and how to apply it	ExcellentUnderstanding of digital and how to apply it Excellent	FairUnderstanding of digital and how to apply it Fair	PoorUnderstanding of digital and how to apply it Poor	Don't know / not applicableUnderstanding of digital and how to apply it Don't know / not applicable
Basic digital skills (such as email, video calling)	ExcellentBasic digital skills (such as email, video calling) Excellent	FairBasic digital skills (such as email, video calling) Fair	PoorBasic digital skills (such as email, video calling) Poor	Don't know / not applicableBasic digital skills (such as email, video calling) Don't know / not applicable
Using digital tools for remote working (eg instant messaging, online meetings)	ExcellentUsing digital tools for remote working (eg instant messaging, online meetings) Excellent	FairUsing digital tools for remote working (eg instant messaging, online meetings) Fair	PoorUsing digital tools for remote working (eg instant messaging, online meetings) Poor	Don't know / not applicableUsing digital tools for remote working (eg instant messaging, online meetings) Don't know / not applicable
Using, managing and analyzing data about members / users or impact	ExcellentUsing, managing and analyzing data about members / users or impact Excellent	FairUsing, managing and analyzing data about members / users or impact Fair	PoorUsing, managing and analyzing data about members / users or impact Poor	Don't know / not applicableUsing, managing and analyzing data about members / users or impact Don't know / not applicable
Analyzing data to plan services (e.g. statistics, predictive modelling)	ExcellentAnalyzing data to plan services (e.g. statistics, predictive modelling) Excellent	FairAnalyzing data to plan services (e.g. statistics, predictive modelling) Fair	PoorAnalyzing data to plan services (e.g. statistics, predictive modelling) Poor	Don't know / not applicableAnalyzing data to plan services (e.g. statistics, predictive modelling) Don't know / not applicable
Cybersecurity	ExcellentCybersecurity Excellent	FairCybersecurity Fair	PoorCybersecurity Poor	Don't know / not applicableCybersecurity Don't know / not applicable
Keeping up to date with digital trends	ExcellentKeeping up to date with digital trends Excellent	FairKeeping up to date with digital trends Fair	PoorKeeping up to date with digital trends Poor	Don't know / not applicableKeeping up to date with digital trends Don't know / not applicable

Is your organization actively concerned about any of the following issues surrounding technology and digital culture? Tick all that apply

• Misinformation and fake news
• New digital organizations that compete with us for members / users
• Job automation and displacement by AI
• Cybersecurity and data privacy
• Ethics of emerging technologies (AI, biotechnology, nanotechnology etc.)
• Bias and algorithmic fairness
• Ethics and processes around collecting or using data about our members / users
• Digital divides and differing access to technology
• Digital literacy of different members / users (ages, countries etc.)
• Intellectual property rights
• Building / retaining knowledge when we outsource web development
• The impact of the platforms or tech we use on our carbon footprint
• Potential unintended consequences of our digital and design decisions

Have you or your colleagues had to address more or less issues of misinformation or disinformation* over the last four years?

• Yes
• No

* Misinformation is false or inaccurate information; Disinformation is deliberate and coordinated.

Have you or colleagues in your organisation encountered issues of misinformation or disinformation around their field of research in the last 18 months?

• Yes
• No

Were these instances referenced above mainly (or mostly):

• Disinfomation
• Misinfomation
• Hard to distinguish

Were these instances of misinformation/disinformation encountered: (tick all that apply)

• On social media
• In the traditional broadcast media (TV/radio/newspapers)
• In conferences attended mostly by academia
• In conferences attended mostly by policy
• In a closed meeting with government official(s)
• In a closed meeting with civil society members (including private sector)

What areas of support would be most helpful for addressing misinformation or disinformation? (Tick up to 5)

• How to talk to conspiracy theorists
• How to protect myself from harassment
• How to identify the sources of misinformation and disinformation
• How to support partners and publics to identify misinformation and disinformation
• How to get better at manging fact checking and algorithms online
• How to build a compelling narrative around my research
• How to understand what drives the spread of disinformation and misinformation
• How to build allies in traditional media
• How to build allies in social media
• How to plan communication and outreach strategies around my research
• How to position myself (and institution) as credible sources
• How to support regulation and content moderation in various online platforms
• How to apply lessons from health campaigns
• How to apply lessons from climate communication
• How to speak to private sector interests
• Other

Please, specify

How would you prefer to access this capacity support?

• In a structured course with a facilitator online
• In a structured course with a facilitator in person
• In a structured course that allows self-directed learning online
• Through a curated collection of resources to be accessed on-demand
• Other

Please, specify

Is there anything specifically you think the ISC should be doing on the issue of misinformation and disinformation?

What stage is your organization at with digital?

• Curious: We have some digital basics in place, such as social media or remote working, with ambitions to do more
• Starting out: We're developing our use of digital across the organization but we don't have a strategy in place yet
• Advancing: Digital is part of our strategy, but we’ve not embedded this yet. We're investing in technology and developing our skills
• Advanced: Digital is integral to our organizational strategy and embedded in everything we do

Next

Your digital strategy and priorities in the next 18 months

What are the key digital objectives your organization would want to realize in the next 18 months? (Select your top 3 ambitions)

• Grow our membership or user base
• Deliver better services for more members / users
• Disseminate scientific knowledge more widely
• Collect more data, or more insights from existing data
• Increase transparency and accountability
• Innovate by developing new digital services, products and campaigns
• Improve our brand and raise our profile
• Attract more funding
• Promote open science
• Deliver our strategy more effectively
• Influence policy makers and the media
• Develop our staff and retain talent
• Spend less time on administrative tasks

In order to progress with digital, what skills, knowledge or behaviour would your organization need to improve in the next 18 months? (Select your top 3)

• Understanding of digital trends and how they affect your organization
• A clear vision of what we could achieve with digital
• Ability to develop and embed a good digital strategy
• Understanding of digital tools
• Ability to adapt quickly to change
• Understanding of risk management in digital
• Digital leadership skills (e.g. being more collaborative)
• Understand resourcing for effective digital investment
• Understanding of service design
• Confidence to use data to inform decisions or increase our impact
• Understanding the budget needed to support our organization’s digital transformation
• Other

Please, specify

What are the biggest challenges your organization faces in relation to digital? (Select your top 3)

• Balancing scientific rigour with digital speed and agility
• Staff burnout and workload from intense remote working demands (eg Zoom fatigue, information overload)
• Maintaining public trust in science
• Fostering digital literacy among staff and members / users
• Finding time to plan / focus on digital
• Collecting, managing and using data
• Finding an IT support provider / someone we trust to get IT help
• Ensuring all members / users can access digital services
• Finding funds to invest in the devices, software or infrastructure needed
• A need to upskill or hire staff
• Ensuring digital security and privacy
• Uncertain as to how to make further progress with digital
• A lack of buy-in from leaders or trustees
• Our culture needs to change
• Some aspects of our organization are more digitally mature than others
• Other

Please, specify

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Final thoughts

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about how digital technologies could affect or help your organization, or your experiences with digital?

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