NSF RAPID: Collecting perishable critical infrastructure operational data for May 2024 space weather events.
This online survey will explore preparedness, actions taken prior to and during the storm, and any potential asset/system impacts in the following weeks and months.
Why am I being invited to take part in this online survey?
To understand the effectiveness of mitigation decisions around the May 2024 space weather events.
Why is this online survey being undertaken?
The aim is to collect perishable operational information from critical infrastructure operators to understand the effectiveness of mitigation decisions prior, during, and after the May 2024 events.
How long will this online survey last and what will I need to do?
The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to fill out. You will be asked to provide information regarding (i) operational preparedness, (ii) any actions taken prior and during storm commencement, (iii) any potential asset/system impacts in the weeks and months following.
Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me?
Information collected will be purposefully anonymized, preventing association of provided responses to any particular person. For example, the online survey will not collect personal or company-related information, unless (i) you are interested in a follow-up interview, and/or (ii) you would like to be entered into the prize draw to win one of five $20 Amazon gift cards and/or (iii) you would like to receive a summary of the survey findings.
Will being in this study help me in any way?
There are no guaranteed benefits from participation. However, all collected anonymized data will be shared with participants who opt into receiving a summary, helping to boost understanding of space weather mitigation decisions across a range of industries.
What happens if I do not want to be in this research?
Participation in this survey is completely voluntary.
Detailed Information:
The following is more detailed information about this study in addition to the information listed above.
Who can I talk to?
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, contact the research leader (Edward Oughton) via eoughton@gmu.edu or 703-993-1210
This research has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”). You may talk to them at 703-993-6801 or irb@gmu.edu if:
- Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
- You cannot reach the research team.
- You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
- You have questions about your rights as a research subject.
- You want to get information or provide input about this research.
IRB RAMP ID: STUDY00000043
How many people will be studied?
We aim to obtain 100 survey responses (both domestically and internationally).
What happens if I say yes, I want to be in this research?
We will collect the following information, including your critical infrastructure sector, country/region, and company size. We will then ask three general questions related to (i) preparedness, (ii) mitigation decisions taken prior and during the storm, and (iii) any anomalies identified in the aftermath.
What happens if I say yes, but I change my mind later?
You can leave the online survey at any time and the information will not be recorded.
Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me? (Detailed Risks)
All information will be recorded in a anonymized way, to protect survey respondents. We will do our very best to protect the email data optionally provided when stored. There is a very small and unlikely possibility that someone may unlawfully access this data, and we cannot reduce this risk to zero.
What happens to the information collected for the research?
The anonymized information collected will be openly shared with (i) all participants who opt in to receive the findings, and (ii) any open-access publications which arise from the research. At the end of the survey, participants will have the ability to review the recorded information one final time before submission.
While no computer transmission can be perfectly secure, reasonable efforts will be made to protect the confidentiality of your transmission.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) committee that monitors research on human subjects may inspect study records during internal auditing procedures and are required to keep all information confidential. As all information collected will be purposefully anonymized, this prevents association of provided responses to any particular person.
Will my data or samples be used for future research?
The anonymized information collected will be openly shared with (i) all participants who opt in to receive the findings, and (ii) any open-access publications which arise from the research.
What else do I need to know?
This research is being funded by the National Science Foundation grant #2434136. Under U.S. federal tax law, you may have individual responsibilities for disclosing the dollar value of the incentive received in this study.
