4/24/01
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NOTE: Due to planned staff shortages, the next edition of the newsletter will not be published until the end of May.
We recently had the rare pleasure of hearing the creator of the IG-Nobel Prizes and the Annals of Improbable Research (AIR), MARC ABRAHAMS, delivering “How Curious & Creative Humor Can Improve Science & Engineering Literacy”. Mr. Abrahams is an unforgettable speaker.
But don't despair! You can visit the Ig-Nobel site to view a video of highlights of past years' presentation events. Point your browser at: http://www.improbable.com/ig/ig-top.html
Nominate your friends and colleagues for an Ig-Nobel prize! Nominate yourself!
AIR is always looking for more material. If you find examples of:
Pass them on for the next edition of AIR.
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http://www.nature.com/nature/debates/e%2Daccess
“The communication of research results impacts on everyone involved in science. Today,
Nature launches an online debate on the most crucial and talked-about aspect of scientific
publishing -- the impact of the Web on the publishing of the results of original research.
This has, since the emergence of the Internet, filled volumes in the reports of conference
proceedings and reams of individual articles. Many of the often arcane and complex socio-economic
and technical issues involved are well-trodden paths for a narrow circle of specialists, and
excellent in-depth coverage of the issue is regularly provided by specialists outlets such as the
D-Lib Forum and the Journal of Electronic Publishing. The main aim of this forum is to bring some
of the substance of this Brownian motion of Internet issues to a broader grassroots audience and
debate the implications for the future dissemination of scientific information.”
Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Nature.
At this site you will find articles representing a variety of points of view, and a chance to join the debate with your own feedback.
You can order free print copies of many of the major reports from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, carried out in 1996, from the US Dept. of Education. Other reports, including has the individual state science reports for all participating states, are available as printable documents on the WWW.
These reports are available at:
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
Medieval Technology Pages
http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/technology.html
The Medieval Technology Pages, created and maintained by New York University chemistry professor
Paul M Gans, “attempt[s] to provide accurate, referenced information on technological
innovation and related subjects in western Europe during the Middle Ages.” This
fascinating Website offers insight into the history of technology with short lessons about
inventions from stirrups to arabic numbers. Each brief entry includes basic information about
the invention as well as links to reference sources. The site also contains a timeline of
technological innovations from 500 to 1600 AD. An interesting and well produced Website, the
Medieval Technology Pages is a truly engaging stop on the Information Superhighway. [EM]
Chemical Industry Archives -- EWG [.pdf]
http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/
Trade Secrets [.pdf, RealPlayer]
http://www.pbs.org/tradesecrets/
This week, PBS aired a disturbing two-hour special hosted by Bill Moyers that explores the
history of the chemical revolution of the past 50 years and how companies have long sought
to withhold information from the public and their employees about the safety of many
substances. The program draws on a large collection of previously secret industry documents
unearthed during a ten-year lawsuit by the family of a man who died from a rare brain cancer
after working at a vinyl-chloride plant. The family's lawyer eventually charged all
vinyl-chloride-producing companies with conspiracy, and the discovery process brought to
light hundreds of thousands of pages of documents which reveal a closely planned and
well-executed campaign to limit regulation of toxic chemicals and the liability of
manufacturers and to withhold important health information from all parties. A large
selection of these internal documents, over 37,000 pages, is now available for the first
time at the Chemical Industry Archives, created by the Environmental Working Group. The site
offers several essays on the archive and the industry, including a selection of some
egregious examples of companies hiding or denying known health risks of their products. The
archive itself may be searched by keyword with several modifiers. The documents are
presented in .pdf format. This site is sure to become an extremely important resource for
health activists, journalists, and the concerned public. The companion site to the PBS
program offers an overview of the film, interview transcripts, selected documents in HTML
and .pdf formats, chemical worker profiles and videos, and a section on the 84 chemicals
detected in Bill Moyers's blood and urine. Visitors will also find features on industry
secrecy, regulation, money, and politics, as well as right-to-know efforts and what people
can do to help protect themselves. These are enhanced by interactive features, documents,
and links to related resources. If you only have time to visit two sites this week, they
must be the Chemical Industry Archives and Trade Secrets. [MD]
Innovative Lives
http://www.si.edu/lemelson/centerpieces/ilives/
The Lemelson Center's Innovative Lives series inspires young people to explore the
interdisciplinary world of invention. By interacting with American inventors and
entrepreneurs, middle-school students learn firsthand about history, technology, and
science. They develop an appreciation for problem-solving skills -- including their
own -- and can see themselves as future inventors.
Innovative Lives counters commonly held stereotypes about inventors by featuring speakers with diverse backgrounds. All presenters have made major contributions to society and are positive role models. Programs include hands-on activities that encourage students to see, hear, and touch, and enhance their understanding of the processes of invention.
A Romantic Natural History
http://www.dickinson.edu/%7Enicholsa/Romnat/romnat1.htm
Created by Ashton Nichols, Professor of English at Dickinson College, this interesting site
should appeal to users in both the history of science and literature. Basically, the site
explores connections between literary works and natural history in the century before
Darwin's _Origin of the Species_. At the site, visitors will first find several essays by
Ashton, some short case studies, and a timeline. The site also hosts two collections of
short biographies of prominent natural historians, literary figures, and illustrators from
the period. A bibliography is also provided. All of the site's content is thoroughly
hyperlinked and generously illustrated, and links to related sites are provided throughout.
[MD]
Brain Connection
http://www.brainconnection.com/
Using accessible language, this site provides information about current research into the brain
and how it learns and develops. While aimed at the educational community, anyone interested in
the brain will find the columns, interviews, and news items informative. Also included are image
galleries, optical illusions, brain teasers, and Web broadcasts of a weekly public radio program,
“The Infinite Mind.” - sbb (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Access Excellence: The Mystery Spot
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/mspot/
Great online and offline activities that allow you and your students to solve mysteries using
science. Find out what happened to the local frog population, explore Arctica, or use a microscope
to solve a mystery. These fourteen activities are designed to show science in a whole new light.
(From Blue Web'N)
The Short Run
http://www.theshortrun.com/main.html
The Short Run, an economics news and information site, was named for the economic principle that
the economy operates in logical time, which means that time can run both forward and backward.
The site features news, reviews, and articles on current economic issues including Bush's tax plan
and the minimum wage. The site also offers the latest economic indicators and stock information.
Be sure to check out the Studies section, which includes a collection of economic studies from the
research economists at the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank. The Short Run is an information-rich
site that breathes new life into the study of economics; it will be a welcome bookmark for all
Web-savvy economists. [EM](From the Scout Report)
UMUC-Bell Atlantic Virtual Resource Site for Teaching with Technology
http://www.umuc.edu/virtualteaching/
A collaborative project of the Center for the Virtual University and the Center for Teaching and
Learning at the University of Maryland University College, this site aims to help teachers develop
good practice in adopting technology in their courses. The site consists of two modules. The first
focuses on using Web-based technologies to design online courses and links to over 40 examples of
Web-enabled assignments from a variety of disciplines. Each is briefly described, with notes on
the Web-based technologies employed. The second module concerns delivery in online courses,
offering six interviews (video, audio, and transcript) “on significant dimensions of online
teaching, with particular emphasis on managing interaction.” Each interview includes a
collection of related (annotated) links. This site should be useful to those studying teaching and
technology as well as those who would like to make better use of the Internet and related
technologies in their classroom. [MD] (From the Scout Report)
Population Ecology
http://www.ento.vt.edu/~sharov/popechome/
Population Ecology Sites offering content on or interaction with university research can be hit
and miss. This site on population ecology is a hit, mainly because it offers a fine example of a
content driven science site. The design of the site is quite dated and you might even describe
it as distinctly 1980's, however, what it offers the enthusiast or student more than makes up for
this. With so many science sites offering style over content, Virginia Tech's department of
entomology provide good old-fashioned comprehensive resources. With links to Ecology models and
modelling software, online course information and good connections with other universities, it
represents a fairly good portal site. One downside of the dated design is that it is perhaps too
simple, consisting of two main pages of listed links. The site would benefit from fragmentation
and perhaps a higher graphic content. DM (From New Scientist Planet Science)
The Bacteriophage Ecology Group: Home of Phage Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
http://www.phage.org/beg_splash.htm
“The Bacteriophage Ecology Group exists as a means of organizing the bacteriophage ecology
community, fostering communication, identifying others with complementary interests, and, in
general, empowering the science of bacteriophage ecology. The Bacteriophage Ecology
Group performs a number of services to the bacteriophage ecology community including:
Defining the field of bacteriophage ecology as well as maintaining a:
Becoming Human
http://www.becominghuman.org/
This site from the Institute for Human Origins is “an interactive documentary experience
that tells the story of our origins. Journey through four million years of human evolution
with your guide, Donald Johanson.”
This attractive website includes news stories, a “Resources” section with glossary, weblinks, and media references, as well as the documentary, which is informative and visually splendid. A Learning Center is promised for this summer, as well. Highly recommended!
Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network
http://www.fas.org/man/index.html
“A privately-funded, non-profit organization ‘engaged in analysis and advocacy
on science, technology, and public policy for global security’. The federation provides
extensive information on US military operations, aircraft, Navy ships, land warfare systems,
missiles, smart weapons, dumb bombs, aircraft and naval equipment, and a directory of defense
contractors. In addition, it provides analysis of significant issues, such as NATO expansion,
and an extensive collection of Congressional material, such as budgets and GAO and CRS reports.
The site also provides extensive information on military aircraft, ships, land warfare, and
missile technologies in the ‘Rest of the World (ROW)’.”
(From the University of Colorado Library What's New webpage)
Celebrating the Evolution of Flight
http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=5
In celebration of the approaching (December 17, 2003) 100th anniversary of flight, this site
presents an easy-to-navigate but detailed timeline of the history of flight from pre-1700s to
the 2000s. A photo gallery commemorates the momentous events and notable people in the history
of flight. One section is devoted to helicopter history, and there are great links to other
aviation and space sites. Created by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(AIAA). - beb (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Wave Power, Wave Energy
http://www.wavegen.co.uk/
The waves pounding on the shores of the small Scottish island of Islay provide the power to
supply electricity to 400 households. If only 0.01% of the power of the sea was harnessed to
produce energy, it could supply five times the energy needs of all mankind. Wavegen, a
Scottish company, is attempting to harness that power and has has installed the world's first
power station that generates electricity from wave power on a commercial basis. The Wavegen
site makes fascinating reading with complete explanations about Wavegen's system to harness
the force of waves to produce electricity, many different and complimentary uses of the
technology and discussions about future projects and projected generating facilities. No one
with even the slightest interest in alternative energy will want to pass this site by.
WTS (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Office of Transportation Technologies
http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/
Are you looking for a new car that will not pollute? The OTT will help you find one which
matches all your needs. Their search engine will locate models from many brands, based on
criteria like vehicle and fuel type (Electric? Methanol? Gas? They got it). The OTT has
more pressing issues, though. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
(www.doe.gov) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the agency's primary task
is to help reduce pollution from fossil fuel by aiding the transportation industry with
research and inventive technology. Their web site is a treasure trove for alternative fuel
enthusiasts, and is loaded with papers, information, statistics and technology
presentations. TG (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Natural Hazard Statistics
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml
“The U.S. Natural Hazard Statistics provide statistical information on fatalities,
injuries and damages caused by weather related hazards. These statistics are compiled by
the Office of Meteorology and the National Climatic Data Center from information contained
in Storm Data, a report comprising data from NWS forecast offices in the 50 states, Puerto
Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.” Reports on lightning, tornado, hurricane, heat,
flood, cold, winter storm, and wind.
Alaska Volcano Observatory
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/
For scientist and enthusiasts alike, this site provides mountains of information on volcanism
in Alaska. An excellent volcano atlas returns information, photos and bibliographic references
on a simple click and a key word search enables you to delve deeper into the numerous hazards,
bi-monthly and open file reports. Detailed stratigraphic sections and chemical data can be
accessed through AVO's volcanic seismology and geology databases. A clear site map coupled
with some stunning photos make this site a must for volcano hounds.
NJF (From New Scientist Planet Science)
EarthRef
http://earthref.org/PACER/index.html
The enormous Earthref.org is an umbrella site for sources of reference data and models for a
range of earth science subdisciplines. With funding from various public foundations and
institutions, this project supports the development and publication of physical and chemical
reference models known as REM, GERM, and PACER; provides Web space for databases and modeling
tools; and organizes workshops and special sessions at national and international meetings.
Geochemical Earth Reference Model, or GERM, contains summary data on the geochemistry of
petroleum reservoirs. Soon a feature by which users can contribute data to GERM will be
available. PACER, sponsored by the Quest for Truth Foundation, the NSF, and the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, supports software and modeling projects such as ArArCalc (an
interactive interface to data reduction in 40Ar/39Ar geochronology) and TnT2000 (geochemical
evolution models for the Earth using the Terra Nova Toolbox). A bathymetric seamount catalog
based on the SeaBeam2000 cruises in the West and Equatorial Pacific Ocean is also available
through PACER. Finally, Reference Earth Model (REM), still under construction, will bring
together the work of many people and disciplines to “provide the geophysical community
with a model (or a set of models -- various versions in one and three dimensions) that fits a
great variety of geophysical constraints. The spherical average of the model should
eventually replace the current PREM (Preliminary Reference Earth Model) that was created in
1981.” The REM Webpage serves as the headquarters for the collection and distribution
of data, models, and computer codes. A wealth of information exists at Earthref.org, so
navigation can be tricky, but overall, the site will be a boon to geophysicists and others
involved in earth system modeling. [HCS] (From the Scout Report)
The Mandelbrot Monk
http://www.raygirvan.co.uk/apoth/udo.htm
Do you know Udo of Aachen? Not exactly a household name, this Benedictine monk toiled
as a copyist and theological essayist between 1200-1270 AD, and wrote a poem called
Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi, which evolved into the famous O Fortuna of the choral work,
Carmina Burana. But this would only have made him the O Fortuna Monk. A modern day
mathematician noted the unusual depiction of the Bethlehem star in a nativity scene
illuminated by Udo. It looked amazingly like the Mandelbrot set. How a thirteenth
century monk came to arrive at this feat, previously thought to be possible only
through repeated calculations on modern day computers, is the story at this site, and
a riveting one it is. Further, Udo embedded his probability theory research and value
of pi exercises into works thought previously to be mere theological writings.
Threatened with excommunication for his heretical views, Udo reluctantly put away his
numbers. But not before leaving these marvels of his genius for us to find, seven
centuries later. AD (From New Scientist Planet Science)
AMS Featured Reviews
http://www.ams.org/msnhtml/featured-reviews/
The American Mathematical Society's MathSciNet now presents Featured
Reviews from _Mathematical Reviews_ online. “Since its founding in
1940, _Mathematical Reviews_ (_MR_) has aimed to serve researchers
and scholars in the mathematical sciences by providing timely
information on articles and books that contain new contributions to
mathematical research,” state the editors. The purpose of the
Featured Reviews page is to assist researchers in accessing the most
outstanding reviews without having to wade through the thousands of
reviews that are posted to _MR_ online each month. The editors state
that the Featured Reviews “...will cover some of the very best papers
published in mathematics, identified by the _MR_ editors with the
advice of distinguished outside mathematicians as being especially
important in one or more of the areas covered by _MR_. The reviewers
for these papers are asked to set the paper in context, perhaps with
some historical background, state the main results of the paper,
outline (in not too technical a fashion) the main new ideas in the
paper and include their evaluation of the paper.” Each four- to
six-paragraph-long review, available in HTML, .dvi, .ps, or .pdf
format, gives the reviewer's name and the full article citation,
hyperlinked when possible. This should prove to be a valuable Web
resource for academic mathematicians. [HCS](From the Scout Report)
Mars Academy
http://www.marsacademy.com/
Not for Martians - Mars Academy is strictly for humankind. This excellent educational resource
is packed full of essential information on the red planet and
how we might go about getting there. Many of the pages
are clearly aimed at teachers rather than their charges,
giving the first small step for classroom discussions or
priming the fuel tanks of experiment and research. The site
is detailed enough to use graphs and formula to describe
how centrifugal force might be used to create artificial
gallery -- but nonetheless well directed towards the general
reader. Other pages, like “Astronaut Quiz” or “Interactive
Mission Design Page” will present genuine challenges for
pupils aged twelve to sixteen. Will they conquer the final
frontier with an minimum score of 80%? What is the payload
of an Ion drive mars trip? Mars academy helps you work,
rest and play. ARB (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Solar Max
http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/istp/outreach/solarmax/
Information about the solar maximum of 2000, the latest one in the Sun's regular
eleven-year cycles of activity. There are explanations and pictures of the cycle
generally and of particular phenomena. There is also information about Missions that
are examining solar activity. The Classroom contains lessons plans and activities for
educators. There are many related links throughout the site.
- dl (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Heat Transfer Textbook
http://web.mit.edu/lienhard/www/ahtt.html
Recently mounted on an MIT server and made available to all,
free of any charge, on the Internet: A Heat Transfer Textbook,
3rd ed., by John Lienhard IV and John Lienhard V. (The first two
paper editions were widely used and went into multiple printings.)
Other books have been mounted on the web, but this one is unique in several features. It is a completely typeset and illustrated book (set in Lucida type), almost 700 pages in length. It is in pdf format and may be downloaded and used on anyone's machine. In this format, it occupies only 6.6 MB.
This effort, underwritten by the Dell STAR Program, the Keck Foundation at MIT, and the M.D. Anderson Chair at the University of Houston, is experimental and has thus far received an overwhelming response, worldwide. Since such books cost students well over $100, the response from poorer countries has been extremely gratifying to us.
We feel that this completely noncommercial venture represents a sufficiently radical departure from traditional publishing as to be of interest to this list.
John Lienhard IV, Prof. University of Houston
John Lienhard V, Prof. MIT
North Pole 2001
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northpole2001/
“Mike and Fiona Thornewill are currently walking to the North Pole -
and a world record by becoming the first husband and wife to
successfully reach both North and South Poles.
The expedition began in March and is raising money for two
charities, Macmillan Cancer Care and the National Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Multiyork is one of three main
corporate sponsors, click here for more information.
Follow the progress of the courageous Nottingham policeman and
his wife here!” The site contains pictures, descriptions of training, voice clips, daily updates, and more! (Thanks to Ben Hervey-Murray)
Polar Meteorology
http://www.weather.nps.navy.mil/~psguest/polarmet/
Would you like to
You can do this and more in the Polar Meteorology Web Module. This module is designed for anyone interested in the subject of polar meteorology. Some of the study questions within the module are geared toward upper-level undergraduate or graduate students majoring in meteorology, atmospheric science or related fields. However, anyone of high school age or older with some science background should find most of the module understandable. (Thanks to Peter Guest)
Aboriginal Canada Portal
http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/
A partnership effort between the Canadian government departments and
the Aboriginal community, this site is designed to serve as a portal
to Canadian Aboriginal Internet resources, contacts, information, and
government programs and services. From the site, visitors may access
homepages for national Aboriginal associations, governmental, and
other sites. The latter are organized by resource type (business,
learning, employment, health and social services, etc.) and further
divided between government sites and other sources of information. An
internal search engine and French and no-frames versions are also
provided. [MD](From the Scout Report)
On the Case
http://www.bized.ac.uk/case/index.htm
New from BizEd, On the Case helps students develop their business and
economics skills by applying theory to case studies pulled from the
_Financial Times_ Website. In the Website tour, Biz Ed suggests that
users pick a case study that interests them and work through the
variety of accompanying resources and worksheets. Economics case
studies look at international, markets, firms, and unemployment and
inflation, while business case studies include accounting and
finance, external influences, and business activities. [EM]
Internet Moving Images Archive
http://www.archive.org/movies/index.html
Approximately 750 short films (about 15-20 minutes) documenting American culture, mostly from
the 1940s and 1950s. Includes World War I and atomic fallout films. Download in .mpg format
(200-400 MB per film) and use with Windows Media Player.
(From University of Michigan Library What's New)
Worldviews: Maya Ceramics from the Palmer Collection
http://www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/Online%20Exhibits/Worldviews/WorldViewHome.htm
Virtual exhibit of the Palmer Collection from the Hudson Museum at the University of
Maine. Includes a clickable display of over forty pre-Columbian objects collected by
William P. Palmer III during the 1960s and early 1970s. It also has a map of where
the items were found and discussions related to Maya civilization, writing and
symbolism, and iconographer and epigrapher observations regarding the Maya beliefs
about the underworld, the cosmos, the natural world, and palace life.
- nbh (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
The George Ortiz Collection
http://www.georgeortiz.com/
This elegant image catalog documents the extraordinary treasures
of George Ortiz, a passionate connoisseur and collector of art from
ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and neighboring civilizations,
as well as sculpture from Africa, Pre-Columbian America, and the
Pacific. You'll need the Quicktime plug-in to zoom in and out or
rotate 3D images of selected works, such as an Egyptian ceramic
hippopotamus or dancing satyr, but most of the artifacts are viewable
with informative text in standard photo format -- whether winsome
Estrucan woman or eerily modern Micronesian deity. (From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
“Pay inequity still exists, largely for those older than 35” -- Atlanta Business Chronicle
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2001/04/02/focus4.html
On Tuesday, Equal Pay Day, the US Department of Labor released a
draft of a report finding women earn $0.76 for every $1 men make. The
report includes population data from 1979, 1989, and 1999; Equal
Opportunity reports analysis from 1975 to 1998; and a survey of
nearly 5,000 federal contractors about new employment opportunities.
After controlling for such elements as occupation, experience,
region, industry, and race, the study still found an overall wage gap
between men and women. Even when males and females work at the same
job, have the same race and experience, and work in the same industry
and region at firms of equal size, women still make, on average,
$0.89 for every dollar earned by men. However, a January 16, 2001
memo from the Office of Management and Budget reports that the data
in the report are flawed and “do little to improve our understanding
of the gender wage page. They have serious errors that could lead to
false conclusion.” The draft report was released by Sen. Tom Harkin
(D-Iowa) as evidence of the need for a bill he introduced which would
amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers to
provide equal pay in all jobs that are equal in terms of skill,
effort, responsibility, and working conditions.
ABCNews.com (1), the _Chicago Sun Times_ (2), and the _New York Times_ (3) all offer basic news and information about the results of the study, as well as some of the controversies over the data. This press release from Sen. Tom Harkin (4) touts his new legislation that would close the pay gap. This article from the _Salt Lake Tribune_ (5) provides some historical perspectives and trends about the lack of equal pay for women. Working Women Working Together (6) is a program from the AFL-CIO which offers information, news, and a forum for working women on issues of equality. Finally, the _Atlanta Business Chronicle_ (7) examines the career choices women make and how those choices affect their earning capabilities. [EM] (From the Scout Report)
Aid and Reform in Africa: Lessons from Ten Case Studies
http://www.worldbank.org/research/aid/africa/release/aid.htm
Released on March 28, this new World Bank report investigates the
impact of development aid on economic policy in ten African
countries. Among the findings is the discovery that in nations where
political leaders are not committed to reform, aid can actually
hinder development by insulating these countries from the need to
adopt reforms. The report also concludes that using “conditionality”
to force reforms has largely failed and that, by and large,
successful economic policies and reforms have been developed
domestically by committed political leaders rather than introduced
from the outside. Users may download the full text of this 696-page
report by chapter in .pdf format at the World Bank site. [MD] (From the Scout Report)
The Current Value of Old Money
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/current/howmuch.html
The Current Value of Old Money, created by Roy Davies, a science
librarian at the University of Exeter, provides annotated links to an
array of Websites that help answer the question “How much would a
specified amount of money at a certain period of time be worth
today?” The annotated links contain more than just simple
calculators, encompassing a rich variety of resources including data
tables, research papers, and electronic mailing list archives on the
question. The site also provides an informative bibliography of print
resources on the topic of inflation. [EM](From the Scout Report)
Timeline of Sociology
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/timeline.html
Compiled by Ed Stephan, a professor emeritus in sociology at Western
Washington University, this timeline features a listing of
significant events in the discipline of sociology from 1600 to 1995.
Many of the items link to pages devoted to the sociologists, texts,
or movements identified in the timeline. The timeline provides
hundreds of links, and new ones are continually added. A sociology
calendar on-site also provides a listing exclusively of the births
and deaths of the philosophers and sociologists featured in the
timeline. [DC](From the Scout Report)
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.)
NONPROFIT GROUPS AIM FOR TECH TRUST
Five large non-profit organizations recently released a study that details a plan for $18
billion to be set aside from proceeds brought in by government auctions of airwaves. Similar
in function to the National Science Foundation, the fund would offer funds to universities,
museums, and other public institutions so that they can make their services more accessible
through technology. The report shows that the U.S. tech infrastructure is not being fully
utilized to bring educational and civic information to society at large. One example of how
the funds could be applied is a Library of Congress effort to convert the early presidents'
manuscripts into digital format and then train teachers how to apply this material to the
classroom. The report was published by The Carnegie Corporation, The Knight Foundation, The
MacArthur Foundation, The Century Foundation, and The Open Society Institute.
(Associated Press, 5 April 2001)
AUDITING CLASSES AT M.I.T., ON THE WEB AND FREE
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has embarked on an ambitious plan to develop a Web
site for each of its 2,000 courses. The sites will offer material from the courses, including
syllabi, lecture notes, exams, and possibly videos of lectures, at no cost. The plan, called
OpenCourseWare, will cost $100 million and take 10 years to complete. OpenCourseWare differs
from other distance-learning programs in two significant respects: It is free, and it does not
offer credits toward a degree. The plan has the support of most members of the university's
faculty, and officials say there have been surprisingly few concerns as to who owns
intellectual property rights to the online material. Indeed, computer science and engineering
professor Hal Abelson notes that the initiative has much in common with the open source
software movement, as both are being driven by the desire to share information. MIT officials
say they do not believe that the plan will in any way devalue the university experience for
MIT students, as the classroom and lab experience, not the bare bones lecture notes and exams,
are what make an MIT degree so valuable.
(New York Times, 4 April 2001)
INTERNET2 WILL CONNECT ALL SCHOOLS IN WASHINGTON
The University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Information Services have
announced plans to bring Internet2, the high-speed, high-bandwidth network that currently
links some 200 universities and research institutions, to all of the state's community colleges
and schools. “In the long run, what this means for kids and teachers is that they can get
early access to new material and applications, and direct access to the next generation of
learning tools and simulations,” said Ron Johnson, vice president for computing and
communications at the University of Washington. Internet2, which operates about 1,000 times
faster than a standard connection, will let users access documents, images, and data from
institutions such as NASA and the Smithsonian Institution, among others.
(Seattle Times Online, 3 April 2001)
INCREASE IN CAMPUS SPENDING ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT spending at U.S. colleges and universities rose 13 percent this academic year, according to
a new report from Dun & Bradstreet. The report is based on data from 1,319 two- and
four-year institutions. Dun & Bradstreet sent survey forms to over 4,700 institutions but
reports that it had such a low rate of response from campuses with 25,000 or more students that
it removed such institutions from its final report. The report found that college IT spending
this year will total $3.3 billion, with academic expenditures totaling about $1.8 billion and
administrative expenditures totaling $1.4 billion. The report notes that if data on
“outside services” such as warranties and IT outsourcing are included, total IT
spending this academic year could reach almost $4.4 billion. Among the report's other findings,
IT spending at public institutions still more than doubles that of private institutions. Also,
5 percent of U.S. institutions now require students to purchase computers, up from 4 percent
last academic year. In addition, all institutions surveyed offer Internet access in their
libraries, and 70 percent provide distance-learning programs.
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 4 April 2001)
TAP THE POWER OF YOUR PC TO FIGHT CANCER
Intel's new Philanthropic Peer-to-Peer Program aims to tackle the largest scientific quandaries
hindering humankind. The first project, said Intel's Pat Gelsinger, is to help the National
Foundation for Cancer Research find drug compounds that can block cancer-causing proteins.
United Devices of Austin, Texas, will organize the distributed-computing network, which will use
the same technology used in designing the popular SETI@Home project to search for
extraterrestrial life. Intel officials hope that 6 million users will install the cancer-research
program on their computers, which would yield processing power equivalent to a 50-terraflop
supercomputer running continually. The 1.8 MB client download from the Intel site fetches a set
of computations to complete from the United Devices servers, runs them and then loads them back
up to United Devices when the computer is next connected to the Internet.
(PC World.com, 3 April 2001)
VIRTUAL REALITY ON THE WEB
Using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), an open standard tool for authoring 3D
environments, several Web sites now provide Web-based virtual-reality environments. One such site
is the Crystal Explorer from the University of Michigan, where students built and can examine
virtual crystals. Prospective neurosurgeons at the University of Manchester can access a
VRML-based site where they can practice various procedures. VRML also offers a new way for
scientists and others around the world to share their discoveries with others. Manchester
Metropolitan University archaeologists have made a virtual representation of the Tomb of Menna,
from the ancient city of Thebes, available online. In addition, the National History Museum has
placed VRML-based models of trilobite fossils on the Internet.
(PC AI, April 2001 via Edupage)
INTERNET, ACT II
The 128-bit Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is expected to replace the current 32-bit
IPv4 and provide enough IP addresses for every conceivable IP application, once it passes
testing by Internet2 users. Its widespread adoption will eventually pave the way for the
Next Generation Internet (NGI), which is “the networks, hardware, software, and
services that will make possible a new generation of applications over the Internet,”
said IBM's director of Internet technology and strategy, Mike Nelson. Reliability will be
vital to the NGI, since technologies such as voice over IP are expected to be widely used.
Chris Johnson of Cisco Systems' federal organizations notes that numerous federal agencies
are in the process of constructing voice over IP infrastructure. IBM expects the NGI to be
faster, more intelligent and secure, simpler, and more natural than the current Internet,
as well as ubiquitous and always on. Nelson predicts that the NGI will foster server
replication and reduce the distance that data travels, while IBM Research's Global
Technology Outlook expects data volume to increase from a petabyte to a zettabyte by 2010.
(Federal Computer Week Online, 23 April 2001 via Edupage)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ADOPTS $13.3 BILLION EDUCATION PLAN
The European Commission last month approved the “eLearning Action Plan,” a $13.3
billion project to assist IT-related education at universities across the continent. The plan
will benefit universities in both economically advantaged and disadvantaged areas, with the
former receiving funds for their computer-science departments and the latter receiving
support in building their IT infrastructure. Project officials expect the plan to create an
environment in which distance and time would no longer be obstacles to learning. Officials
say the project has four parts: infrastructure and equipment upgrades, teacher training,
content development, and network construction. Online content will focus on three areas:
language, arts and culture, and science and technology. Officials hope the project will give
European students a boost and allow the continent's IT-related economy to be more
competitive with that of the United States. The commission is considering a plan to provide
standard IT diplomas, which would provide a “driver's license” of sorts for the
digital age.
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 16 April 2001 via Edupage)
BUSH BUDGET SEEKS MODEST GAINS IN TECHNOLOGY-RESEARCH SPENDING
President Bush's budget for fiscal year 2002 represents a mixed bag for technology-research
funds at colleges and universities. In general, federal tech-research funds come from NASA,
the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Education. The tech-research budget at
NSF would increase five percent under Bush's proposal, as would that of NASA. However,
Education will have to rearrange funding for the Learning Anytime Anywhere Partnerships, a
distance-education program popular with many colleges and universities. The program, begun in
1999, by last year had grown into a $30 million fund for assisting colleges and universities
with developing distance-education programs. The partnerships program will not receive new
funding under Bush's budget, and funding for current projects will be re-routed through the
department's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), for which the Bush
proposal budgets $51.2 million. FIPSE director Kenneth Tolo said there will be money for
current projects as well as new ones. “We anticipate making new awards,” he said.
“The only question is, of course, what the appropriations will be.”
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 10 April 2001 via Edupage)
All items from the Scout Report are copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-2001. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the Scout Report provided the copyright notice and this paragraph is preserved on all copies. The InterNIC provides information about the Internet to the US research and education community under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation: NCR-9218742. The Government has certain rights in this material.
Blue Web'n is a searchable library of Blue-Ribbon Web sites categorized by grade level, content area, and type. Visit Blue Web'n online at http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this newsletter are those of the participants (authors), and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation.