ENERGY.gov Office of Science
Overview
The Department of Energy Office of Science is home to the nation's cutting-edge and leading research in all areas of science, where networks of scientists and researchers provide deep insights into various scientific fields.
The existing site was the product of years of aggregated material added, but site migrations and resources located on other domains made usability a nightmare.
Background
In an effort to stay at the forefront of scientific research and innovation, the DOE Office of Science recognized the imperative need for a cutting-edge digital platform. The new website aimed to empower various stakeholders, including science researchers, science reporters, government officials, and academics, to navigate and explore the vast array of research and discoveries. With the homepage as the digital front door, we set out to create an immersive experience that would drive discovery, foster collaboration, and advance the Office of Science's mission
We engaged with the DOE team to not only learn about how they internally managed the curation, dissemination, and organization of their vast decades of scientific content. One of our main value proposition for the program was a transformative search platform harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to revolutionize research and discovery. Through the design and development of an intuitive online experience that would facilitate effortless finding, citing, and showcasing the groundbreaking work of research laboratories across the Office of Science network, we proposed a solution that have a lasting impact for site visitors finding usefulness from the experience
Research and Discovery
Over the course of several weeks, my team interviewed people affiliated with the DOE who managed content. We uncovered very inconsistent work patterns and shifting schedules that resulted in a patchwork of unrelated content and unrepeatable publishing processes.
Our conversations with consumers yielded several key insights. There were vast differences in who the OoS visitors were and how they used the content. We were able to see that the sites essentially had 4 audiences: science enthusiasts, science educators, science writers and reporters, and scientists who research and publish findings.
Armed with these understandings, my team and I drafted and presented an experience improvement strategy that not only looked to align content discoverability with the diverse audiences of the DoE/OoS but also to map out ways for content creators to automate the creation of content through an AI research and writing platform that allows the flexibility of adapting publishing for each audience.
To tackle the complex challenge of reimagining the DOE website, our team embarked on a comprehensive research and discovery process. We conducted:
- In-depth interviews with stakeholders, scientists, and users to gain valuable insights into their needs and pain points.
- Thorough analysis of existing research platforms and their features.
- Exploration of the latest AI/ML-powered tools and technologies to inform the design.
- Development of a artefact repository for network researchers and content team to join.
Science enthusiasts are mostly sought after the latest news and information
Researchers and scientists are often looking for citations and publications as part of their own deeper research
Policy officials are often looking for concise summaries and findings to inform them of science
User journey maps helped the team and client plan out the exact stops various users took to find information. All of these qualitative insights helps us develop and program the AI/ML experience
User Experience and Final Design
The new experience offers a friendly, positive, and clean interface, showcasing the nation's knowledge and innovation.
Consistent design and easy, intuitive searches
As a driving force behind American scientific excellence, the ENERGY.gov Office of Science continues to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. The investment in the project allows this innovation to be experienced everyday by users.
Wireframes of the mobile version of the web site, showcasing the enhanced search capabilities
The website show an organized, clean grid that maintains structure across mobile breakpoints
Labs across the Office of Science are shown in a clean grid
Laboratory Landing Pages give a concise overview of the facility as well as highlights the latest news and information along with a link to their own web page
Features
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A user-centric design aims to streamline the user journey, making it easy for users to discover and navigate the vast array of research and discoveries within the Office of Science network.
A transcendent search function provides comprehensive results intuitively managed, facilitating effortless navigation and discovery of research and laboratory information across the Office of Science network.
The redesigned website showcases the latest research achievements by prominently featuring high-profile Office of Science portfolios and engaging, robust visual presentations.
Advanced tracking functionality recommends additional interactive tools and interventions to engage users in meaningful conversations.
Impact
By harnessing the power of AI and ML, the DOE Office of Science has transformed its website experience, empowering users to discover, explore, and engage with groundbreaking research findings like never before. The impact is clear: a more intuitive and accessible platform is driving user engagement, streamlining navigation, and facilitating collaboration and citability within the Office of Science network.
Increase in Website Engagement
The new ENERGY.gov website experience has seen a significant increase in user engagement, with a 300% rise in website interactions and a 400% increase in social media engagement.
Reduction in User Friction
The redesigned website has significantly reduced user friction, with a 70% decrease in reported difficulties navigating the site.
Increase in Research Citations
Users were more easily discovering and utilizing valuable research findings within the Office of Science network.