Websites of Research Organizations as Mass Media (a Case Study of the Institutes and Research Centers of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences)

The article examines the websites of research institutes as mass media and their role in science popularization. The study focuses on a preliminary analysis of the representation of research organizations of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SB RAS) through their web resources. The study is based on theoretical works in science communication, and empirical studies of research organizations’ websites conducted by other research teams. The study analyzes 118 research organizations using webometric tools, structural-functional content analysis, and the survey. The data shows a limited audience for research institute websites (70 % of the sites receive fewer than 1,000 views per day) and outdated website designs. News sections often contain only announcements of internal events, although some institutes publish popular science texts. Additionally, a standardized template for research institute websites is absent: each organization independently makes the structure and content of its website.