World Community Grid enables volunteers to donate unused computing power to scientific research on health, poverty, and sustainability. Researchers commented that the grid has enabled research that would otherwise not be possible and allows them to attempt comprehensive analysis. The grid supports research projects from universities and institutions around the world on topics like new solar energy materials, childhood cancer, and clean water. The top volunteers are from the US, France, UK, Germany, and Canada and work in IT or technical fields. To increase engagement, the grid aims to provide more diverse, approachable scientific content and better articulate the value of volunteers' contributions.

1. © 2013 IBM Corporation
World Community Grid
Sophia Tu| December 2013
Juan Hindo | IBM Corporate Citizenship
September 2015

2. © 2013 IBM Corporation
World Community Grid
Sophia Tu| December 2013
World Community Grid enables anyone with a
computer, smartphone or tablet to donate their
unused processing power to scientific research on
health, poverty and sustainability.

4. “World Community Grid has not simply sped up this research, it has
enabled it. The grid has completely transformed the scope of our
work. It is the only environment where we can even attempt to do this
kind of comprehensive and systematic analysis.”
‐ Dr. Igor Jurisica, Ontario Cancer Institute, Help Conquer Cancer
"With this massive computational power, we're asking what can we
understand that we've never understood before. It's the most
fundamentally important thing my lab has ever done. It's also the biggest.“
‐ Dr. Erica Sapphire, Scripps Research Institute, Outsmart Ebola Together

5. © 2013 IBM Corporation
New solar energy materials
Harvard University, United States
Credit: Lance Cheung

6. © 2013 IBM Corporation
Childhood cancer
Breakthrough
in the fight against
childhood cancer
Chiba Cancer Center, Japan
Credit: Gerolf Nikolay

7. © 2013 IBM Corporation
Better access to clean water
Tsinghua University, China
Credit: www.forestWander.com

8. What distinguishes us?
 Open science
 Humanitarian research
 Real, tangible science
 IBM support
 Mobile volunteering

9. Recognition

11.  Demographics
 Top 5 countries: US (30%),
France, UK, Germany, Canada
 Predominantly in IT or
technical occupations
 Retention
Age
Our volunteers

12. Support scientific research
Use my unused computer power
Participate in distributed computing
Good way to make a difference
Support a particular research project
Encouraged by employer/university
Join a team effort
Enjoy earning points for my contribution
Competitive aspects
Want to collect the badges
Points system is better
Badges more attainable
Other
Main reason to join is
support scientific research

13. Need to learn: a reason to stay

14. Better understanding of impact of contribution
More research projects of interest
Better understanding of program achievements
More opportunities to learn about the science
Simpler less technical explanations of the science
What would increase interest?

15. Increasing volunteer engagement
 More diverse volunteer base
 More approachable scientific content
 Articulating value of contribution

16. Opportunity for growth
Millenials Cause advocates Women

20. More approachable scientific content
 Layering of information
 Consistent & regular updates on the research
 Volunteer control over communications they
receive

21. Articulating contribution value
 Highlight research stories
 Celebrate and promote scientific success

27. What’s next?
 Reaching more volunteers:
– What’s working?
– More engaging content: volunteer voice
– Remove barriers to entry
– Recruitment competitions
 Expanding research portfolio

28. World Community Grid
Sophia Tu| December 2013
Thank you