Sci-Tech Library Newsletter

3/21/00

Newsletter archive > 2000 March 21 Issue

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  1. MORE ELECTRONIC JOURNALS AT YOUR DESKTOP: The NSF Library has added hundreds of new titles!
  2. TUTORIALS ON HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET: A growing tutorial library written by a master …
  3. FINDING REVIEWERS WORKSHOP: We still have room in these workshops. Sign up now!
  4. NEW E-JOURNALS
  5. TIP OF THE WEEK: SUBJECT SEARCHING ON PARS: It isn’t straightforward, but you can do it. You can even make the system better!
  6. INTERESTING WEBSITES, ETC.: Copyright, preprints, science news, searching the Internet, teaching science, PRI; Biological Sciences: tropical marine biota, tarantulas, bonobos; Geosciences: 2000 climate, geomorphology from space; Polar Programs: photos of Greenland; Mathematical and Physical Sciences: deep space lithographs, life out there, solar max, Alchemist, new state of matter, scientific lectures, nuclear weapons tests, Curves, Chaos, Polymers, math education, origins, Copernicus, particles, ancient arithmetic; Engineering: transportation millenium; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences: Venzuelan Amazon peoples, peoples of Russia, SOSIG, US demography, evaluation in social research, women in ancient art, kiowa drawings, the new economy, Internet and Society, and more …
  7. INTER ALIA: New Yorker cartoon bank, Win a research trip, and Space tourism.

  1. MORE ELECTRONIC JOURNALS AT YOUR DESKTOP

    The NSF Library has added more than 200 new journal titles available full text at your desktop this year. Some are current issues, some are archives. For a complete list, check:

    http://www.inside.nsf.gov/sis/sisnew/alpha.htm

    A few of the new titles include:

    • American Economic Review Vols. 1-86, 1911-1996
    • Annals of Mathematics 1884-1994
    • American Political Science Review Vols. 1-90, 1906-1996
    • Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics Vols. 1-25, 1970-1994
    • Applied Statistics Vols. 1-44, 1952-1995
    • Contemporary Sociology Vols. 1-23, 1972-1994
    • Demography Vols. 1-31, 1964-1994
    • Ecology Vols. 1-77, 1920-1996
    • Journal of Economic Perspectives Vols. 1-10, 1987-1996
    • Mathematics of Computation Vols. 1-63, 1943-1994
    • Philosophical Transactions (RSL): Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences Vols. 293-329, 1980-1989
    • Philosophical Transactions (RSL): Biological Sciences Vols. 288-326, 1980-1989
    • Proceedings (RSL): Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences Vols. 369-426, 1980-1989
    • Proceedings (RSL): Biological Sciences Vols. 206-235, 1980-1989
    • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Vols. 77-92, 1980-present
    • Science Vols.207-246, 1980-1989
    • SIAM Review Vols. 1-36, 1959-1994
    • Sociology of Education Vols. 1-67, 1927-1994

    You will also find links to contents alerting services. Check back often, the selection is growing fast!

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  2. HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET

    Chris Sherman, the web search guru from About.Com, has created brief individual guides for common websearch tasks. I have learned a lot of what I know about searching the web from this fellow! Guides available include:

    • Find Dictionaries for any Language or Specialized Definitions
    • How to Do Reverse Phone Number Lookups
    • Look up a Person’s Email Address
    • Find Public Records Online
    • How to Find Driving Directions Online
    • How to Find Maps on the Web
    • How to Get Free Web Page Translations

    And more!

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  3. NEW WORKSHOP! FINDING REVIEWERS!

    You have exhausted the resources in the NSF Reviewer database and still haven’t found the panelists or the information about them that you need. What do you do next?

    The NSF Library is pleased to present a new workshop on resources available to help you find reviewers and contact information for reviewers. We will take a quick look at databases, directories, search engines, and more so that you know what kinds of resources are available and how to use them. We will talk about “plans of attack”, “quick and dirty” hints, search strategies and more. We will also go over a brief case study to show you a practical application of these hints and tips.

    When you finish this workshop you will know how to plan your research, what types of tools are available and what kind of information you can find in them. You will be able to find possible reviewers even in subject fields with which you are unfamiliar.

    All this in under two hours …

    Bring your questions to discuss and your successful strategies to share. If you can, please send me any examples or specific challenges ahead of time so I can be prepared to discuss them during the workshop. Sometimes the real toughies take a little thought and a little time …

    March 29, 9:30 - 11:00, Rm. 325.09 (Sorry, this session is filled)
    March 30, 2:30 - 4:00, Rm 325.09
    March 31, 9:30 - 11:00, Rm 325.09
    Instructor: Stephanie Bianchi

    Sign up for one session only! Open to program officers and support staff. No cost. Space is limited. Sign up by sending an e-mail to library@nsf.gov. If there is sufficient interest, additional sessions will be scheduled in the coming months.

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  4. NEW E-JOURNALS

    HighWire Press Announces Free Access to over 130,000 Articles
    Free Online Full-text Articles
    Press Release
    HighWire Press
    In yet another major step forward in the provision of free scholarship online, Stanford University’s HighWire Press (last reviewed in the February 16, 2000 _Scout Report_) has announced that publishers of the science, technology, and medicine Journals it hosts now provide free online access to the full text of more than 137,000 articles. This makes HighWire “the second-largest free full-text science archive in the world — and the largest in the life sciences — with three entirely free Journals, 51 Journals offering free back issues and 32 offering free trial access.” Please note that the availability of back issues and length of the free trial period vary widely by journal. Users can consult the site for a list of participating Journals, the back issues they offer, and the ending date of the free trial period. Click on the journal’s name to access the articles. As an additional service to users who subscribe (as individuals or through their institution), some Journals offer “toll-free linking” of articles, which allows users to access the full text of related articles from other Journals whether or not they subscribe to those Journals. [MD] (From the Scout Report)

    Physical Review Special Topics — Accelerators and Beams [.pdf, .ps]
    Current and past issues of this free American Physical Society peer-reviewed, electronic journal are available here. The journal is published on an article-by-article basis, and new articles are added to the latest issue. March titles in Physical Review Special Topics — Accelerators and Beams include “Coherent off-axis undulato radiation from short electron bunches.” [KR] (From the Scout Report)

    J-STAGE [.pdf]
    Developed by the Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST), J-STAGE (The Japan Science and Technology Aggregator, Electronic) is a recently launched electronic journal center that publishes and disseminates Japanese electronic scientific journals. At present, the site hosts four journals (one of which is Japanese only), but expects to add over a hundred in the near future. The three available English-language journals include the Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, the Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, and SHIGEN-TO-SOZAI, a journal of the Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan. The full-text articles are available free of charge with searchable back issues also available. [KR] (From the Scout Report)

    Tetrahedron Letters
    Until 30th June 2000 you can access Tetrahedron Letters absolutely free. Free registration to Chem Web required.

    Authors! After this limited period is over, if you submit a paper to Tetrahedron Letters, and it’s accepted, you get an additional three months free! You can submit your papers via TetSubmit, a new electronic submission system for papers. http://organic.chemweb.com/home/home.exe

    Chemical Health and Safety (CHS)
    Published by Elsevier Science, this is the official publication of the American Chemical Society Division of Chemical Health and Safety. CHS focuses on news, information and ideas relating to issues and advances in chemical health and safety. The journal is available FREE until the end of April 2000! Free registration to ChemWeb required.

    Journal of Applied Geophysics
    The Journal of Applied Geophysics is the continuation of the journal Geoexploration, founded in 1965 by the Geoexploration Publishing Group in Stockholm, originally for mining geophysics. The new title is designed to reflect the widening scope of the applications of geophysics. To meet modern needs, the Journal of Applied Geophysics places particular emphasis on environmental, geotechnical, engineering and hydrological aspects, while at the same time welcoming papers in traditional subjects such as mining and petroleum geophysics. Petrophysics in its widest sense including soil and rock-mechanical properties is another aspect that is covered by the Journal of Applied Geophysics.

    Access to the full text of this journal is temporarily free. In the course of the next few months, access will be limited to users that are affiliated to a library that subscribes to the print edition of the journal.

    IEEE Spectrum
    IEEE Spectrum Online will be available free to the general public for a special six-week trial from 1 March through 12 April 2000. Spectrum is the organization-wide magazine of the IEEE.

    The new Spectrum Online delivers content beyond what is available in print. New features, exclusive to the online version include:

    • Daily Science and Technology News provided by Reuters, the international news service. News is archived for 30 days.
    • Weekly Web Sights, reports on new, compelling websites of special interest to the science and technology
    • Weekly Newslog identifies and summarizes key science and technology events for the prior week.

    The full text of each Spectrum issue is available online to IEEE members on the first of every month at http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/. The site will continue to provide an archive of Spectrum issues from 1996 forward, indexes of issues from 1990 forward, and a dedicated Spectrum search engine. After 12 April the general public will have access to a subset of the content.

    American Journal of Roentgenology
    The American Roentgen Ray Society is pleased to announce that the full text of the journal “American Journal of Roentgenology, AJR” is now available online.

    Initially called The American X-Ray Journal, the first radiological journal in America was published in 1897, and soon became known as The American Journal of Roentgenology, AJR. The monthly AJR, with a worldwide circulation of more than 25,000, is a highly respected peer-reviewed journal publishing original contributions to the advancement of medical diagnosis and treatment.

    During the year 2000, all users of the internet will have free access to the full content of the journal online.

    Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
    The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is a psychology journal that publishes experimental research about applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance. The Journal is published quarterly by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB).

    Some full-text articles from the current issue and previous issues can be downloaded in PDF format without a subscription. Abstracts for an entire issue can be viewed for the current and previous two issues. To view earlier abstracts users can perform keyword searches.

    Journal of African Earth Sciences
    To find out about all aspects of geological investigations, especially the search for natural resources, on the African continent and its once surrounding Gondwana fragments, the Journal of African Earth Sciences is your prime source of information. This international interdisciplinary journal publishes high quality, peer-reviewed scientific papers on the regional geology of the African cratons and the structure of the surrounding mobile belts; economic geology of mineral deposits, applied geophysics and geochemistry; as well as critical analyses of sedimentary basins in the search for fossil fuels and water.

    In addition, the Journal of African Earth Sciences regularly presents short articles as “Communications” announcing new research discoveries in Africa, special Gondwana Research issues, which include a Gondwana Newsdesk, Business and Scientific Proceedings of African IGCP projects, and an African conference calendar. The journal is closely affiliated with the Geological Society of Africa and publishes the GSA Newsletter in each volume.

    The Journal of African Earth Sciences recently launched the “Geology of Africa” series of country by country review articles written by acknowledged experts, bringing together the latest earth science information for academic, applied geological and mining institutions.

    Access to the full text of this journal is temporarily free. In the course of the next few months, access will be limited to users that are affiliated to a library that subscribes to the print edition of the journal.

    Jounal of American Indian Education
    The Journal of American Indian Education (JAIE) is a journal, which publishes papers specifically related to the education of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). While the focus of the Journal is on basic applied research, manuscripts that are expository in nature and present an explicative or interpretive perspective are considered for publication as well. JAIE is particularly interested in publishing manuscripts that express the viewpoint of AI/AN and research that is intiated, conducted, and interpreted by natives.

    JAIE was founded in 1961, and has been published continuously since. It is published three times yearly in Fall, Winter and Spring by the Center for Indian Education of the College of Education at Arizona State University. The journal has not published a new issue since Fall 1998. Abstracts can be viewed for issues from 1961-1998.

    Math.com Newsletter
    Free monthly newsletter for students, teachers, parents, and everyone looking for solutions to their math problems. Math.com offers free homework help, free math lessons, math puzzles, tutoring solutions and home and classroom math resources.

    Every month the Math.com newsletter contains news and special offers for math products and services. From elementary and everyday math to algebra and beyond.

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  5. TIP OF THE WEEK — KEYWORD SEARCHING ON PARS

    You all know how to use the PARS database and probably use it all the time. But not everyone is aware that it can be searched by “keyword”. Even more importantly, relatively few people realize how important it is to input keywords.

    Suppose you are filling out a panel and you decide you would like to find a qualified female entomologist to invite. Is such a person in the PARS system already? If so, can you locate her?

    The answer is … maybe.

    The first thing to know is how to structure the search. Since the PARS system was not set up primarily as a vehicle for keyword searching, the method for doing so is not transparent. This is how you do it:

    1. You cannot do this from the “Reviewers” module. You must be in the “Proposal” module.
    2. Open up any proposal. It doesn’t matter which one, but it is preferable, of course, to choose a proposal on which you are currently working.
    3. Click on “Reviews”.
    4. Make sure the drop down menu on the left upper side of the screen is set to “Assign”.
    5. Make sure the “Search” type is set to “Attribute”.
    6. Go down to an empty reviewer box and click on the magnifying glass icon next to it.
    7. This brings up a search screen which allows you to enter either keywords or their associated codes. If you enter a keyword or code which is viable, you will be presented with a list of reviewers in the PARS system to whom that “attribute” has been assigned.

    Any database is only as good as its input, however.

    Who controls the assigning of these attributes?

    You, the program officers, do.

    Does the system work for you?

    Only if you and your colleagues have been diligent in assigning attributes. Alas, too often this has not happened.

    What should be done?

    I would suggest that each Directorate adopt an “attribute thesaurus”. This should contain standardized terms that would describe the reviewers and research interests of your directorate. You don’t necessarily need to construct a thesaurus, there are many of them already in existence, although you may want to either modify an existing thesaurus or construct your own. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and it need not exclude “free form” terms. After all, the language changes constantly and you need some flexibility. You could use something as simple as a good index to a basic textbook in your field, and additionally allow POs to input more specific terms as needed. But some level of standardization frees everyone from the drudgery of constantly coming up with all possible synonyms for a given concept. The English language is exceedingly rich …

    The attribute lists that currently exist belong to the divisions. A PARS user can get a report of all attributes used in their division, and you can, if you wish, limit it to program, to make it even more specific. These reports are available on the Tools menu. Click “Reports”, navigate to the “Reviewer” folder, and look for the “Reviewer Attribute” report and/or the “Attribute by Reviewer” report. These existing attribute lists could be easily cleaned up and serve as a thesaurus, or the beginnings of a thesaurus, for each division. This would be very little work.

    Once thesauri have been adopted, POs should be strongly encouraged to input attributes to any reviewer they add to the database, or to add to the attribute list of existing records as appropriate.

    You have the power, among you, to create a database that would be a tool custom tailored to meet your needs! What a concept! This would take almost no extra effort on your part, but think of the impact on your efficiency! Your life would be easier, your work would go faster … It’s up to you and your colleagues.

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  6. INTERESTING WEBSITES AND OTHER NEWS FROM THE INTERNET

    Copyright Resources Online
    The Yale University Library has created Copyright Resources Online, a rich resource filled with links relating to copyright issues. This index is divided into two sections: University Copyright Resources and Non-University Intellectual Property Resources. The two sections are first shown only as alphabetical lists of Websites that serve as sources of information; however, further down the page, each Website is thoroughly annotated including, where applicable, hyperlinked, annotated lists of on-site working papers, guides, and other materials. [EM] (From the Scout Report)

    Finding Preprints and Technical Reports on the WWW
    Another web site for preprints is the Virtual Technical Reports Center, updated weekly. It lists full-text reprints, preprints, eprints and technical reports from around the world, by institution. This is a very extensive list of links, arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the institution. Some metasites are listed by subject categories, as well as by institution. Since it is primarily a links site, it is not searchable for individual reports or report content, but if you know who published the report, it is a terrific resource.

    Sci-Tech Daily Review
    “It can be hard to find intelligent, informed science and technology coverage, so we treasure those writers and publications who make the effort to help keep us informed. Settle back and read the thought-provoking coverage of scitech issues with SciTech Daily Review.” Another of the host of excellent sites featuring science and technology news stories, this one offers a wide variety of choices, not only in content, but in types of material. Besides “Features and Background”, it includes “Books and Media”, and “Analysis and Opinion” in separate columns. Also has a long listing of related links. Alas, I do not find a search engine on the site … The site does include advertising, but it is clearly indicated.

    Learn To With Search IQ
    This site offers a search engine directory, meta-search engines sorted by “IQ” (Ixquick wins), tutorials, link guides, etc. This site looks like it aggregates more than it generates original content, but when done well, like it is here, that’s an important function. (From ResearchBuzz)

    The Spire Project Provides a Clearinghouse of Searching
    The Spire Project has a bunch of search forms and information on searching. On a single page you’ll get explanations and forms for search engines, meta-search engines, categorized links, collections of site reviews, and more. An excellent introduction for a beginner or a refresher course for a more advanced searcher who’s wondering if there are any tricks they missed. (From ResearchBuzz)

    Open Content Encyclopedia Project Launched
    The open content license movement marches on with the launch of Nupedia. What this is right now, mostly, is an infrastructure. The Nupedia editor-in-chief has said that they “intend to supply the structure and editorial mechanisms in which an international body of scholars can build the greatest and most widely-distributed encyclopedia in history.“ Even though there isn’t too much here at the moment, it’s still worth a look. On Nupedia’s home page there’s a search box. Enter a keyword in the search box — I tried Picasso. Even if Nupedia doesn’t have an article (and at this writing they don’t) they’ll do a meta-search of other encyclopedias and present you with entry links to other encyclopedias and even a list of relevant magazine articles. It’ll be interesting to see how this evolves. (From ResearchBuzz)

    Field-Tested Learning Assessment Guide (FLAG)
    In today’s educational system, most science and engineering graduate students enter teaching careers with little or no teaching experience, and then are buried with so many competing responsibilities that their teaching skills take many years to improve. At the same time, incoming college students bring years of accumulated learning experiences (and attitudes) to their learning expectations. This Website offers classroom-tested methods for assessing the learning environment in college classrooms — the first step to better teaching AND learning. Provided by the National Institute for Science Education at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the FLAG Website is intended for college and university instructors in the sciences, mathematics, engineering, and technology (SMET) disciplines. The Guide offers up-to-date assessment tools “for instructors who have an interest in sharing and implementing new approaches to evaluating student learning, attitudes and performance.” Four main sections encompass the site’s main objectives and resources. For an explanation of why assessment is useful and necessary, see Getting Started. Setting course goals and matching those goals with Classroom Assessment Techniques (CAT)s are described in the subsequent sections; discipline-specific assessment techniques are contained in Searchable Tools; and the Resources section provides additional materials on assessment. This Website offers excellent and much-needed material, and will be useful to any educators (new or seasoned) who wish to improve their class learning levels. [LXP] (From the Scout Report)

    Radio Scout
    If you are a fan of PRI, you will appreciate Radio Scout, a search engine which just searches for broadcasts of programs aired on public radio. Search by any keyword, by date, or by the name of your favorite program. There is even an e-mail alert service to let you know when programs on your chosen topics will be broadcast! There are a lot of great science shows on PRI! If you have the proper plug-ins, you can listen to these broadcasts online.

    quoteland.com
    Quotations by Topic, Literary Quotations, Humorous Quotations, Random Quotations, How to Identify a Quote, Discussion Groups [“Who Said It?” and “I Need A Quote!”], a FAQ, and Internet Resources. There is also a Reference Library, with a short list of audio samples from historical speeches; TV commercials; TV and movie scripts; and music. Searchable. — de (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet) NOTE: Only a handful of quotes on topics such as science, technology, etc.)

    Super Ciencia
    This attractive site, available in both English and Spanish, covers current news stories of “popular” science, excerpted from sources such as Scientific American, and original articles explaining science in easily understandable language and illustrations. Well worth a visit!

    Biological Sciences

    NMITA: Neogene Marine Biota of Tropical America
    Hosted by the Department of Geoscience, University of Iowa, and funded by the National Science Foundation, NMITA is an online biotic database “containing images and data for taxa used in analyses of Tropical American biodiversity over the past 25 million years.” The Website offers Taxonomic Lists (with links to images and data for individual taxa), Morphologic Characters (currently for Zooxanthellate Corals and Elasmobranchs and Teleosteans), Identification Keys (currently for Zooxanthellate Corals), Occurrences in the Dominican Republic, and Instructional Aids. Images and data are provided for the following individual taxa: Bivalves, Gastropods, Bryozoans, Azooxanthellate Corals, Zooxanthellate Corals, Benthic Forams, Ostracodes, and Elasmobranchs and Teleosteans. Although Panama data will eventually be included, the site currently highlights data from the Dominican Republic. [LXP] (From the Scout Report)

    Minax Tarantulas
    My mother used to have a “pet” tarantula. Well, not a pet, exactly. It moved onto our patio, and she protected it as well as could be. This site, in English and Swedish, is well worth visiting if you share an interest in these furry creatures. A gorgeous picture gallery of species from around the world is accompanied with text on biology, species, spiderfun, care of your pet tarantula and more. The grey on black text is a tad difficult to read, although visually appropriate to the topic. (Thanks to Yahoo Picks of the Week)

    Living Links
    “What you hear are the high-pitched, hooting calls of adult male bonobos …” The research mission of the Living Links Project is to:

    • Broaden the basis of human social psychology by clarifying shared principles of Hominoid social psychology
    • Ground human neuroanatomical and cognitive research in evolutionary theory
    • Assist the reconstruction of human social evolution through studies of primate socioecology and adaptation in the field
    • Help develop a Chimpanzee Genome Project complementary to the existing Human Genome Project (so as to define the human species genetically at the molecular level
    • To do all of the above by means of noninvasive research

    Complete with sound clips, photos and more. To navigate this site go to the “Information” screen and click on the subject of interest.

    Geosciences

    The Climate of 2000 — US and Global Climate Perspectives
    This website by NOAA contains ongoing information about the current year’s climates. Sections include:

    • Global Surface Temperature
    • Anomalies
    • Monthly Reports
    • Special Reports
    • Climate Variations Bulletin
    • Climatic Extremes, Weather
    • Events
    • Climate of 1999 (Reports)

    Geomorphology from Space
    Geomorphology from Space is an out of print 1986 NASA publication edited by Nicholas M. Short, Sr. and Robert W. Blair, Jr. designed for use by the remote sensing science and educational communities to study landforms and landscapes. The core of this book is a gallery of space imagery consisting of 237 plates, each treating a geographic region where a particular landform theme is exemplified. Commentary, photographs, locator maps, and sometimes a geologic map accompany each plate.

    Polar Programs

    Photos of Greenland
    Each month, Narsaq photo puts up five gorgeous photos by press photographer John Rasmussen. They include everything from sled dogs to Inuit children, and they are all breathtakingly lovely.

    Mathematical and Physical Sciences

    Uses of Java Applets in Mathematics Education by C. P. Mawata — University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
    Although this site is essentially a brief, single paper, it is an excellent example of how very simple Java applets can be used to enhance and interest students. The applets used as examples show the wide range of ways that applets can be used and discusses the educational underpinnings of the use of the applets, covering such aspects as ways of designing the applets to provide feedback, provide picture proofs, use “stop action”, etc. Links to sources of applets are also given.

    Landolt-Bornstein Millennium Campaign [.pdf]
    From LINK, the digital library of the scientific publishing house Springer-Verlag, researchers around the world can now obtain free access for the year 2000 to Landolt-Bornstein volumes published before 1990. These 129 subvolumes of Landolt-Bornstein, “the largest chemistry, physics, and technology data collection,” consist of basic research data for elementary particles, nuclei and atoms, molecules and radicals, condensed matter, physical chemistry, biophysics, geophysics, and astrophysics and astronomy. The information has also been integrated into the LINK search engine to make finding specific data easier. To obtain access to this outstanding resource, users are required to complete a registration form to receive a personal access code. Note, to open files after obtaining a password, click on the desired file in the table of contents, and then click on the link _here_ at the bottom of the page that pops up.

    Origins: Galaxies, stars, planets… and life —
    For the next two decades, NASA’s Origins Program will search for answers: How did the first galaxies form? How do stars and planetary systems form? Are there any planets outside our solar system that are capable of sustaining life? How did life originate on Earth? Is there life (however primitive or evolved) outside our solar system? Sections describe the science and technology of the program; Education Outreach includes research opportunities, online tutorials, and a series of simplified explanations of the program’s scientific objectives. The Library includes press releases; media articles; related links; technical reports and papers; and speeches and presentations. - rs (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)

    Nicholas Copernicus’ The Autograph: De revolutionibus — About 1520-1541
    This is one thing for which the Internet must surely have been invented — making the treasures of the world available to a wide audience without risk of continually damaging them. “The Autograph De revolutionibus preserved in the Jagiellonian Library is a result of work of the great scholar, intermediate between a rough copy and a fair copy. It had remained in Copernicus’ hands until his death (24 May 1543).” You may never hold this volume in your hands, but you can see images of each of its fabulous, soft brown pages on the Net!

    The Particle Adventure
    This site “introduces the theory of fundamental particles and forces, called the Standard Model.” Related links; charts and diagrams of the standard model; and a basic introduction to particle physics are also included. Also available in Spanish, French, Polish, and Slovene. From the Particle Data Group of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. - dl (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)

    Arithmetic in Other Number Systems

    Here are several interesting webpages describing how arithmetic was done prior to the development of Arabic numerals.

    Now, this stuff is challenging!

    Glossary of Plasma Physics
    From the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s FusEdWeb: Fusion Energy Educational Web Site, this glossary of plasma physics “seeks to provide plain-language definitions of over 3600 frequently used technical terms in Plasma Physics (all areas) and Fusion Energy Research.” The glossary is intended to help facilitate discussion “between experts and non-experts, and even between experts in different subfields.” Users may search, submit new terms for review by editors, or browse alphabetically for terms in fields including scientific vocabulary, names of research facilities, experimental machines and devices used, names of researchers, key mathematical symbols, and acronyms. Over a thousand of these terms are fully defined on-site, and references are provided for looking up most of the remaining terms. [KR] (From the Scout Report)

    Engineering

    The Transportation Research Board’s Millennium Papers [.pdf]
    Affiliated with the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) “mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation by stimulating and conducting research, facilitating the dissemination of information, and encouraging the implementation of research results.” Drawing on contributions from thousands of engineers and transportation researchers, these specially selected Millennium Papers are intended give an up-to-date representation of the kind of research currently conducted at the TRB (which is also responsible for the TRIS Database discussed in the January 21, 2000 _Scout Report_). The numerous papers supplied here (full-text, .pdf) may be selected by title, author, or committee. Examples of a few titles include “Asphalt Technology,” “Engineering Geology,” and “Transportation in the New Millennium.” This site holds an interesting and varied collection of papers for engineers and transportation researchers. [KR] (From the Scout Report)

    Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences

    The Archaeology Data Service Digital Library. Click on “The Library”.
    Already on the shelves you will find:

    • the first 22 volumes in the Council for British Archaeology’s Research Report series, held in PDF format, including such important titles as “The Iron Age in the Irish Sea Province” edited by Charles Thomas, Philip Rahtz’s “Excavations at St Mary’s Church Deerhurst”, Richard Reece’s edited volume on “Burial in the Roman World”, and many, many more. These volumes have been out of print for years although many are still key books on reading lists. Now they are available to all on-line.
    • the first 15 volumes in the CBA’s Occasional Papers series, again as PDF files. This series includes seminal titles in the history of British Archaeology, such as The Erosion of History.

    Both series have been digitised by HEDS as part of the JISC’s fast-track digitisation programme. All volumes up to 1996 have been scanned in their entirety, including illustrations and microfiche, and are going to be made available by the CBA in stages, in association with the ADS. More details of the Research Report series can be found at the CBA web site.

    • Also in the ADS Library you will find a comprehensive index to archaeological electronic journals, plus an on-line report on excavations in Cyprus, publications about NERC’s Ancient Biomolecules Initiatives and, in the bibliographies section, old favourites including the British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography.

    If you are publishing digitally then please consider lodging an archive copy with the ADS. To offer a digital publication, email info@ads.ahds.ac.uk

    Orinoco Online
    Proyecto Orinoco is “dedicated to preserving the legacy of the indigenous societies of the Venezuelan Amazon.” Put together by Fundacion Cisneros, a philanthropic organization focused on Latin America, the site includes a collection of over 350 ethnographic objects from the diverse region. View highlights by culture (Hiwi, Hoti, Tsase, and others) or by object (blowpipes, masks, musical instruments, and more). It’s a fascinating trip through a land precariously balanced between ancient, natural wilderness and modern development. Don’t miss it. (From Yahoo’s Picks of the Week)

    The Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire
    Online version of a 1993 book that documents the plight of endangered peoples in the area formerly known as the Soviet Union. Most of the groups number less than 30,000, less than 70% speak their native language, and they do not have a central settlement. Eighty-five groups are described with information on their habitat, self-designation, population, anthropology, religion, ethnological development, and history. There is also an introduction which provides the context in which the “russification” of different ethnic groups occurred, a classification of peoples by language groups, an index of peoples, tribes, dialects, and languages, and a guestbook for comments. — sws (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)

    SOSIG New Look
    Social Science Search Engine
    US Mirror
    The Web’s premiere Social Science gateway has gotten even better, with a new interface and several other features that help users find quality social science research and education resources, hand-picked and described by librarians and subject specialists. The heart of SOSIG remains its excellent Internet catalog, which includes thousands of online resources, browseable or searchable by subject area. Within each section, resources are organized by subcategory and listed by type. Each section supplies information on its editor and a link to an extremely useful Subject Guide to conducting online research in that field. Visitors can find additional, uncataloged resources, using the Social Science Search Engine, which indexes a database of over 50,000 Social Science Webpages. SOSIG also helps users stay current, not only with their constantly updated list of new additions, but also with a new My Account feature. Integrated with SOSIG’s Grapevine (reviewed in the April 7, 1998 _Scout Report for Social Sciences_), My Account lets users customize SOSIG and register for a free weekly email notification of new resources in their area of interest. Note: At time of publication, Scout’s US mirror of SOSIG does not yet reflect these changes. [MD] (From the Scout Report)

    America’s Demography in the New Century: Aging Baby Boomers and New Immigrants as Major Players (Milken Institute) (pdf)

    • Analyzes migration and immigration patterns, 1990-1999 for states and metropolitan areas
    • New metropolitan areas serving as magnets for both baby boomers and immigrants
    • Focus on future marketing opportunities
    • Written by William Frey and Ross DeVol; released March 8, 2000
    • PDF format; approximately 1.1 MB

    Resources For Methods In Evaluation And Social Research
    This Website offers a substantial annotated listing of “resources for methods in evaluation and social research.” The focus is on “how-to” do evaluation research and the methods used: surveys, focus groups, sampling, interviews, and other methods. Most of these links are to resources that can be read over the Web. A few, like the GAO (Government Accounting Office) books, are for resources that can be sent away for, in this case, books that are free for US residents. The materials, which are clearly organized by the table of contents, have been compiled by Gene Shackman, a research scientist in the Analysis and Evaluation Unit at the New York State Department of Health. [DC] (From the Scout Report)

    Images Of Women In Ancient Art
    Subtitled “Issues of Interpretation and Identity,” this Website, designed for an honors course at Sweet Briar College, explores the archaeological remnants of female representation in ancient art. Written primarily by the professor, Chris Witcombe, the site boasts images and commentary on women in prehistory, Ancient Egypt, the Aegean, Palestine, Greece, and “Barbarian Women.” A special section goes into detailed analysis of the famous, apparently obese, stone figure, “Venus of Willendorf,” sometimes taken to be a fertility figure. The site also features a “Women in Prehistory” bibliography, discussion topics and questions, and a fairly extensive directory of related sites, indexed by the specific artifacts discussed on the Website. The writing style is informative and casual, making this site an enjoyable means to reexamine some “ancient” stereotypes. [DC] (From the Scout Report)

    Smithsonian: Kiowa Drawings
    The Smithsonian and the National Anthropological Archives offer online a substantial collection of the vividly colored drawings of the Kiowa Indians. This collection includes hundreds of images of Kiowa art from the nineteenth century on buffalo hide and more recent work on paper. The works are fascinating, particularly because of the thematic emphasis in these drawing on the interaction (often compelled) between the Kiowa — a tribe of the Southern Plains — and white Americans. Included here are drawings of anthropological field notes by the Kiowa for the Smithsonian’s Bureau of American Ethnology, scenes of the Kiowa in captivity at an army garrison, and a copy of one of the Kiowan calendars, which were complex in their charting of the cycles of Kiowan life. [DC] (From the Scout Report)

    Psychology Resources
    “Because the internet is so largely organized around commercial and entertainment material, the academic researcher may encounter inherent challenges in conducting quality research. A great many sites and documents of interest to students and researchers exist on the internet that are not easily found through the more accessible search vehicles. This site contains general instruction and many links to assist the psychology researcher.” This is a bit different from most portal sites, in that it is not only a portal for academic research in psychology, with all the attendant links arranged in subject order, but also a guide to doing academic research on the WWW, with extensive inforamation about various search engines, structuring you search, etc. Also an extensive list of portals to psychology Journals on the Internet.

    New Economy Index
    The New Economy Index is a series of indicators that are “gathered from existing public and private data, to illustrate fundamental structural changes in the US economy, to show what those changes mean in the lives of working Americans, and to measure the nation’s progress in several key foundation areas for future economic growth.” The data in this excellent resource are divided into three sections. What’s New About the New Economy includes thirteen indications that show the uniqueness and structure of the new technology-based and innovation-based economy. The second section considers the ways in which the New Economy will affect the lives of American workers. Finally, the third section, Foundations for Future Growth, projects the future growth of technology in the US. The site also includes information about the data sources, endnotes, and several side articles. Although the New Economy Index was created in 1998, the information is still valid and useful. [EM] (From the Scout Report)

    “Internet And Society: A Preliminary Report” [.pdf]
    Press Release
    Preliminary Report
    The Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society released on February 17th a 43-page study of the social consequences of the Internet. The study, based on surveys of 4,113 adults in 2,689 households, reaches several provocative conclusions. Among them: up to 25 percent of the “respondents who use the Internet regularly (more than 5 hours a week) feel that it has reduced their time with friends and family,” and roughly the same percentage of people find that the Internet has helped increase the amount of time they spend working at home without cutting back on their hours at the office. The study has drawn fire from journalists and Internet advocates who see the data as subjective and the report’s projections about the negative impact of future Internet use on social relations as unfounded. [DC] (From the Scout Report)

    Guide to Math and Science Reform
    This site from the The Annenberg/CPB Projects is a “searchable database with concise information on projects, researchers and organizations devoted to reforming K-12 science and mathematics education.” Established in 1991 with a grant from The Annenberg Foundation to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Project funds media and communications-based educational reform efforts. These projects educate and support groups of adults who have a hand in changing the way math and science are taught, including families, teachers, teacher educators, administrators, and policymakers. The description of each project or resource includes such information as funding level, status, and contact information as well as a brief description. Also included on the site are feature articles and a listing of conferences.

    Technology and the New University
    “Online Education to be Free” — _Washington Post_
    “Billionaire Plans Online University” — _New York Times_
    “The Soul of a New University” — _New York Times_
    “A For-Profit Subsidiary Will Market Cornell’s Distance Programs” — The Chronicle of Higher Education
    The Partnership in Global Learning (PGL)
    Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration
    Instructional Technology Connections — University of Colorado at Denver
    Distance Education Online Symposium (DEOS)
    This week, Washington-area billionaire Michael Saylor announced his plans to launch an online university providing “Ivy league-quality” education to anyone for free via the Internet. Saylor has promised to spend at least $100 million to get his university off the ground. According to the _Washington Post_, however, this money will apparently not be used to pay lecturers. Says Saylor, “People line up and fight to get on the Charlie Rose show … I think they’ll fight to get in the studio.” Saylor breaks no new ground in using technology to bolster distance education. In fact, another group of investors including Michael Milken has promised up to $100 million to establish a for-profit, online university. Already established universities such as Cornell and Temple are partnering with for-profits to develop and market their online education programs. And Stanford, Yale, and Princeton are investigating a partnership to collaborate on a distance education program. Saylor’s vision of a free university is, however, thus far unique and captures some of the on-going debates in the imbrication of technology, big business, and education. While some laud increased access to education and learning resources, others wonder how the influence of big business will color educational programs, and still others are sceptical that classrooms with taped teachers, such as Saylor’s, will be effective.

    The _Washington Post_ was first to break the news of Saylor’s plans. Here and at the _New York Times_ (free registration required) users can read some of the details of the proposed university and relevant quotes from Saylor. Also at the _Times_, Arthur Levine’s op-ed piece, published just days before Saylor’s announcement, addresses with eerie foreshadowing, some of the opportunities and dangers of technology’s influence on education. _The Chronicle of Higher Education_ reports on Cornell’s recent decision “to create a for-profit subsidiary to create and market its distance-learning programs.” On March 9, Lucent Technologies announced its new collaborative effort, the Partnership of Global Learning (PGL). Together with Bell Labs, the University of Florida, and universities in Brazil and Mexico, Lucent aims through PGL “to produce distributed learning on a global scale.” For articles covering the many facets of distance education, readers should turn to the _Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration_, where the most recent issue focuses on topics such as assessment measures, designing collaborative international courses, and students’s perceptions of distance learning, among other topics. The University of Colorado at Denver’s Instructional Technology Connections offers a wealth of links to online resources from theories about instructional technologies to virtual learning communities themselves. Educators involved or interested in distance education may want to subscribe to _DEOSNEWS_ or join the accompanying mailing list DEOS-L, both established by the American Center for the Study of Distance Education and available from their Distance Education Online Symposium site. More resources on distance learning can be found in Signpost, the _Scout Report_’s database. These include TeleCampus, California Virtual University, and the InterversityEducation and Technology Mailing List--. [TK] (From the Scout Report)

    Signpost
    TeleCampus
    California Virtual University
    Interversity — Education and Technology Mailing List

    LivingInternet.com
    This site describes the Internet’s history, how it works, how to use it (including advanced use), security issues, and related information. Sections are: Internet; World Wide Web; Usenet Newsgroups; Electronic Mail; Mailing Lists, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), and Multi-User Dimensions (MUD). The best way to get an idea of the extensive amount of information available here is to click on the Section Index in the top frame after selecting a section from the left frame. The References section provides citations, with links, to additional online resources. — es (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet)

    Edupage

    The following items are from Edupage. To subscribe to Edupage: send mail to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: subscribe edupage Anonymous (if your name is Anonymous; otherwise, substitute your own name). To unsubscribe send a message to: listproc@educom.unc.edu with the message: unsubscribe edupage. (If you have subscription problems, send mail to: manager@educom.unc.edu.)

    IN SOME STATES, GOVERNORS ARE TOLD, DISTANCE LEARNING IS TOO REGULATED
    Distance learning advocates last week told governors at the National Governors’ Association that some state regulations are slowing the growth of online education. Washington State University President Samuel H. Smith says some schools are finding it difficult to roll out online degrees and Web-based courses when they have to deal with the bureaucracy of state regulation agencies. “It’s easier for me to offer a distance-education program in one of your states than in mine,” Smith said to the governors. Some governors expressed concern that private businesses could provide distance education in their states, whereas state schools must first prove to state agencies that they need online courses. Gov. Michael O. Leavitt (R-Utah), chairman of the governor’s association, asked whether standard regulations should be created for distance education in all states. Smith responded by asking the states not to impose any regulations.
    (Chronicle of Higher Education, 10 March 2000 via Edupage)

    WITH GREATER RELIANCE ON COMPUTERS COMES BIGGER QUESTIONS
    Speakers at the fifth annual conference of the Consortium for School Networking, held Feb. 22 through Feb. 24, presented differing views on the impact technology is having upon the quality of education in America. Some feel an assessment of the effectiveness of technology at this stage is premature, while others claim using computers is a financially sound and effective method of teaching elementary school children basic skills. Still others argue that students in the more affluent districts will benefit more from technology than will those in the poorer districts. The lack of reliable scientific support for the assertion that educational technology is beneficial has caused many school administrators and boards to scale back their institution’s IT budget and even delay efforts to install or upgrade equipment and systems. The consortium is therefore seeking to convince school personnel to adopt a more accurate method of assessing the value of technology undertakings that incorporates educational outcomes into the formula used to determine potential returns of IT investments. The consortium also intends to address the bandwidth shortage problem that an increasing number of school networks are encountering.
    (Education Week, 1 March 2000 via Edupage)

    A VIRTUAL REVOLUTION IN TEACHING
    Educators are struggling to find their place in an increasingly online world. Internet-based education programs, which are attracting growing numbers of supporters, offer convenience and relieve overcrowding in classrooms. Hoping to attract everyone from teenagers getting an early start on their college careers to older workers balancing education with jobs and families, many schools are beginning to offer online courses. One in three U.S. colleges now offer an accredited degree online, more than twice the rate last year. Yet the flurry of activity in online education has raised many issues, such as whether prestigious universities will maintain their elite reputations — and offer the same challenging coursework — as they join the hordes of schools mass-marketing their courses online. Similarly, critics are debating whether an online degree will have the same value as its traditional counterpart. Furthermore, many public universities are partnering with Internet startups to market their courses, raising a debate over the ethical implications of mixing education with business. Universities say that they are still trying to find the right system for offering online education, including prices and enrollment limits.
    (Los Angeles Times, 3 March 2000 via Edupage)

    DIGITAL DIVIDE
    While more middle-class families are buying computers to provide their children with access to the Internet and to improve their computer skills, a variety of groups are stepping in to prevent poorer families from being left behind. The most recent findings of the Education Department indicate that two-thirds of classrooms are now wired, according to Linda Roberts, senior adviser on technology to the secretary of education. Meanwhile, the most recent data from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shows that 90 percent of all libraries are now wired. However, many families realize that they need better access to computers as teachers demand more word-processed and Internet-researched papers, particularly when there are only a limited number of community terminals and limited library hours. Although the private sector has been active in putting computers in schools and in community centers, few programs have sought to get more computers in the homes of the have-nots. However, the Clinton administration’s “ClickStart” initiative, announced last month, is one such program. The program would use $50 million to help poor families purchase stripped-down computers and Internet access at low prices.
    (Washington Times, 14 March 2000 via Edupage)

    COLLEGES ARE ON AN I.T. SPENDING SPREE
    U.S. colleges have budgeted $1.2 billion to upgrade academic hardware this year, a 28 percent increase over last year, says a report from Dun & Bradstreet. Public universities will spend more than twice as much on hardware as private institutions, primarily because of their large enrollments. Large institutions are expected to reduce software budgets by an average of 29 percent, the report says. Altogether this academic year, schools will spend $2.7 billion on computer and network hardware and software for academic and administrative support. The report also reveals a surprisingly increase in the number of schools that provide distance education. This year 72 percent of respondents say they are offering a distance-education program, up from 48 percent last year. In addition, 34 percent of colleges surveyed now provide an accredited distance-learning degree program, compared with 15 percent last year. Thirty-eight percent of schools now provide Internet connections in dormitories, up from 28 percent last year.
    (Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 17 March 2000 via Edupage)

    WEB OFFERS FEW RICHES FOR POOR
    Although low-income and immigrant groups in America are increasingly gaining access to the Internet, little online content is geared to their needs, according to a report released yesterday by the nonprofit Children’s Partnership. At least 50 million Americans are underserved by the Internet because it lacks information about jobs, housing, and education for these groups. Out of 1,000 Web sites, the study found only 6 percent containing information that people living at or below the poverty line said would interest them. Low-income Americans expressed an interest in local information about jobs and housing as well as multilingual content. Although 32 million Americans speak primarily a language other than English, about 87 percent of Web pages are in English. In addition, most online content is in text and graphics rather than sound and video, which are easier to understand although they require more bandwidth. The sites that provide accessible and practical information for low-income and non-English-speaking users belong mostly to community organizations, schools, and businesses rather than to the government, the study shows.
    (Los Angeles Times, 16 March 2000 via Edupage)

    WESTERN GOVERNORS WILL FORM TECH COUNCIL
    The Western Governors’ Association is working to form a technology council aimed at building partnerships among state governments, universities, and high-tech companies. At the conference, SGI’s Phil Engelhardt said many companies would be willing to help governors better understand technology issues that have an impact on education and other areas of public policy. Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer noted that companies tend to locate themselves in heavily populated areas “where the greatest return is.” Several governors supported Geringer’s suggestion that the council address how to bring high-tech jobs to rural states. This year the technology council plans to consider several issues, including privacy and information security, ethics, work force development, protection of intellectual property, and trade in the global marketplace.
    (Government Computer News, February 2000 via Edupage)

    ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
    Despite strong anti-discrimination laws and a good job market, only a quarter of 54 million disabled adults in the United States have jobs. Many companies, foreseeing an exploding market for the disabled in conjunction with aging baby boomers, one-third of whom will have a disability at some point in their lives, are developing new assistive technology. Such technology enables the disabled to better see computer screens, hear telephone calls, talk when lacking speech, or use a word processor without typing. These technologies are not simply a boon to the developers and the users, but to employers as well, as they find fresh talent among a group of people who would otherwise not be working or by allowing valuable senior employees to remain vital members of the workforce.
    (Business Week, 20 March 2000 via Edupage)

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  7. INTER ALIA

    The Cartoon Bank
    This is a division of New Yorker magazine containing over 85,000 cartoons in its archive; it also houses The New Yorker Collection: every cartoon ever published in the New Yorker. Over 5,500 cartoons are available to be searched. They may be licensed for use; original cartoon art may be purchased; cartoons not published in the New Yorker may be colored or modified, with approval of the artist. The Cartoon Bank’s database may be searched by subject or artist; online registration is required. You must allow cookies for this page to load. — ha (From Librarian’s Index to the Internet) NOTE: You must register to use this site (free registration) and the cartoons are copyrighted. But, just for fun, do a search on something like “scientists”. New Yorker cartoons are classics!

    Name The Research Vessel!
    Win a chance to go on a research cruise with the Mote Marine Laboratory crew!

    Now there is a contest worth entering …

    Honeymoon on Mars? Sabbatical on a Space Station?
    Oh, yes, the days of space tourism are almost here. All it takes is … money. Well, maybe that’s not all it takes, but you don’t have to be an astronaut, either. There is a budding industry out there, and the Space Future web page will keep you apprised of its development!

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