RAS Membership Survey
Posted on September 23, 2006
In January and February 2006 the RAS conducted an on-line survey. It included focused questions regarding RAS publications. Even though the survey was not limited to members, 98% of the 462 respondents reported that they were RAS members. The geographic distribution and reported professional experience (we didn’t ask age!) of the survey respondents mirrored the society’s actual membership statistics. Survey questions asked about respondents’ occupations and technical interests, their level of participation in conferences, publications, technical activities, and other professional activities sponsored by RAS and other organizations, their satisfaction with RAS offerings. The answers highlight the diversity of RAS members and their interests. For example, while approximately 60% of the respondents described their primary employer as “academicsâ€, there were 21 other employer categories reported, and the two largest were “student†(8.2%)†and “other†(3.2%). In addition, open-ended questions asked for suggestions for new activities and general comments, and the response was surprisingly comprehensive, filling more than 16 pages. Analyzing the results of this survey and finding areas of common ground for RAS initiatives presents an interesting challenge to the leadership! Bill Hamel, RAS Vice President for Publications and coordinator the survey, presented the initial results to the RAS AdCom at their May meeting. He expressed his appreciation to all those who took the time to complete the survey and especially to those who made thoughtful comments and suggestions. The various RAS boards and committees will use the results in planning future society initiatives. The survey was announced in RA Magazine, in the e-newsletter, and on the RAS website, which contained a link to the survey. All members of the society were also sent an email invitation to participate in the survey, The society conducts these member surveys approximately every five years. Results from the last survey were instrumental in the Society’s decision to launch the Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering and the Conference on Automation Science and Engineering and to make changes to strengthen support of local and student activities.
