6/29/01
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This newsletter is available to the public at the following locations:
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Education Guardian: Research
http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/research
The Guardian brings you the results of their bibliometric impact study, pinpointing top research
institutions. Tables and related articles are presented for:
'Bibliometrics is an area of analysis concerned with journal articles and calculates performance measures based on the number of publications and the amount of times they are then cited by later publications. Citations are a good measure of esteem and value, but are only a guide and a partial measure of research performance. However, they have the key advantage of being a global currency and providing comparable information across a long time period. Data on the funding of research and on research activity usually cannot do this.
This analysis covers four key research nations: Canada, Germany, the UK and United States. In the ISI databases these four countries are the top producers by volume of output. Japan, France, Australia and Spain have also demonstrated major research activity.'
'Each table identifies the institutions with the greatest research impact over the period 1994-1998 (five years). This is not the most up-to-date information, but citations take time to accumulate and this more distant look allows some perspective. These tables will be updated...'
National Science Digital Library
http://www.nsdl.org/
“The National Science Foundation is funding the construction of a National Science Digital
Library, where users will be able to browse quality resources from libraries around the country.”
“The Site for Science is one of the models for the library, an example of what the final product may look like. Possible features of the NSDL include library tours, collection tours, and tools for teachers and students to personalize their own library portals.”
The library will launch in the fall of 2002. (From Wired News) (Thanks to G Price)
Vivisimo is an interesting new entry to the meta search engine world. What is new about Vivisimo is the way it displays the search results.
To begin with, in order to do a search you must choose the type of “collection” you want to search from a drop down menu. You can search web search engines, news features, tech features, etc. Structure your search using “standard” search syntax. Unlike some meta engines, Vivisimo will choose to run your searches only on the search engines that support the syntax you have chosen. For instance, if you use the boolean “near” your search will be run on Alta Vista, but not Google.
Once you have your search results, you will notice that Vivisimo automatically sorts them into categories. The developers claim that what separates Vivisimo from other document clustering search engines is their “new approach [that] emphasized the knowledge that human users hope to find” rather than concentrating on the document clustering algorithm. Well, sometimes it works very well, sometimes not quite so well.
There are some additional interesting features, although I found their use of FAQs instead of an organized help screen to be a rather roundabout way of learning about Vivisimo.
Development of Vivisimo was partially financed by the National Science Foundation.
If you use a general search engine, you can waste a lot of time looking for images on the WWW. As you know, search engines can't read graphics. Fortunately, there are a host of specialized search engines that just look for graphics -- and these make this task a breeze.
Like most general search engines, each of these specialized search engines has different features, works differently, and potentially looks at a different part of the WWW, so be sure that if you don't find what you are looking at right away, switch to a different engine and see if you have better luck.
Also remember that since the search engines don't read graphics, they have to depend on graphic file names and accompanying text to make a guess at the content of an image. Searching for “Baltimore Oriole” may bring up an image of a lovely orange and black bird, it may also bring up a baseball player, or it may bring up a graphic file that has “Baltimore Oriole“ written as attractive text, rather than what you might think of as being a standard image. You can tell the difference, but the search engine may not be able to do so. For this same reason, be sure to carefully check the webpage source of the image. The image may not be at all what it appears to be. For instance, a search for “Brace Beemer” brought up a picture of the Lone Ranger, Tonto, and another character. None of the actors in the imate was, in fact, Brace Beemer, but accompaning text mentioned Brace Beemer as being one of the radio actors who played the Lone Ranger.
Also be aware that just because an image is on the WWW, doesn't mean you are free to use it for any purpose. Images may be (and probably are) copyrighted, and therefore subject to the same restrictions as any other copyrighted document.
Also be aware that image searching can bring up “adult only” images even if the filter is turned on. (Many engines will have a filter switch you can turn on or off. Many will automatically default to “on”). These filters can't see the images any more than the search engine itself can, they are hardly fool proof.
The newest entry into the specialized image search engines is, you guessed it, Google. Like Google's general search engine, it is huge compared to most of the other image search engines. Also, like Google's general search engine, it is not as full featured as some of the competition, but its sheer size and ease of use make it a winner none the less. You can use any of the syntax features on the image search engine that you use on the regular search engine. For instance, you can use the “site:” command to search for specific images on a specific website, or search for a particular file type of image (filetype:jpg ). A bit clumsy, but you can do it. Additionally, Google tries to elimimate duplicates, uses its sophisticated algorithm to float the “best” images to the top of your results list, and filters out icons, buttons, and banner ads.
Another great image search engine is Alta Vista. The terrific strength of Alta Vista is its flexibility in allowing you to use complicated search syntax (click on the “Advanced Image Search” button for full usability of advanced search features). Alta Vista also makes it easy to search for those buttons and banners if that is what you are after, and to make other common choices such as color or black and white. Additionally, Alta Vista offers a separate video search engine.
Other major players include:
Don't scorn a search engine just because it is small. It may still be the best engine for your particular search!
Remember, too, that there are also “specialized specialized” search engines! If you are only interested in art images, there are image search engines made just for this purpose. If you are looking for webcams in Antarctica, yes, indeed, there is a search engine that only looks for webcams. There is even a search engine that only looks for images taken through microscopes. For lists of these engines, go to Kevin Elliott's great webpage at About.com.
But if all of these specialized search engines fail, you can always revert to a general search engine. You will have to slog through a lot of webpages unless your search is very specific, but sometimes it is the only choice you have.
Development
http://dev.biologists.org/
Journal of Cell Science
http://jcs.biologists.org/
Journal of Experimental Biology
http://jeb.biologists.org/
The Company of Biologists, Ltd. is pleased to announce that the full text of:
are now available online.
Development is a primary research journal that provides an insight into mechanisms of plant and animal development, covering all aspects from molecular and cellular to tissue levels. It aims to act as a forum for all research that offers a genuine insight into developmental mechanisms. Development is published twice monthly (24 issues/year). The online edition contains the full content of each issue beginning with June 2001 (Volume 128, Issues 11 and 12). PDF files are available beginning with May 1992 (Volume 115, Issue 1). Abstracts are available beginning with January 1987 (Volume 99, Issue 1). ISSN 0950-1991.
Journal of Cell Science covers the complete range of topics in cell biology and is also of key interest to developmental biologists, molecular biologists and geneticists. Each issue includes research articles, as well as review articles commissioned from experts in particular fields, brief syntheses of important areas and topical comment. Journal of Cell Science is published twice monthly (24 issues/year). The online edition contains the full content of each issue beginning with June 2001 (Volume 114, Issue 11). PDF files are available beginning with October 1992 (Volume 103, Issue 2). Abstracts are available beginning with January 1975 (Volume 17, Issue 1), and Tables of Contents are online beginning with March 1966 (Volume 1, Issue 1). ISSN 0021-9533.
Journal of Experimental Biology is the leading journal in comparative animal physiology. It publishes papers on the form and function of living organisms at all levels of biological organisation, from the molecular and subcellular to the integrated whole animal. Authors and readers reflect a broad interdisciplinary group of scientists who study molecular, cellular and organismal physiology in an evolutionarily and environmentally based context. Journal of Experimental Biology is published twice monthly (24 issues/year). The online edition contains the full content of each issue beginning with June 2001 (Volume 204, Issue 11). PDF files are available beginning with November 1992 (Volume 172, Issue 1). Abstracts are available beginning with February 1975 (Volume 62, Issue 1), and Tables of Contents are online beginning with June 1965 (Volume 42, Issue 3). ISSN 0022-0949.
Access to the full text of articles for the current year is available by institutional license or by individual subscription. Online-only or online plus print subscriptions are available. Issues prior to the current year are freely available, as is access to non-article contents.
“Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions”
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10139.html?onpi_newsdoc06062001
This new report from the National Academies' National Research Council was produced in response
to a request from the Bush administration. Written by a distinguished committee, the report
attempts to summarize our current understanding of global climate change and examine what the
future may hold for the 21st century and the extent to which warming may be attributable to
human activity. Among other things, the report argues for a great deal more systematic research
to address current uncertainties in climate-change science. Users may read the full text of the
report in Open Book format at the National Academy Press site.
[MD] (From the Scout Report)
“Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions”
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10139.html?onpi_newsdoc06062001
This new report from the National Academies' National Research Council was produced in response
to a request from the Bush administration. Written by a distinguished committee, the report
attempts to summarize our current understanding of global climate change and examine what the
future may hold for the 21st century and the extent to which warming may be attributable to
human activity. Among other things, the report argues for a great deal more systematic research
to address current uncertainties in climate-change science. Users may read the full text of the
report in Open Book format at the National Academy Press site.
[MD] (From the Scout Report)
Challenger Accident
http://www.fas.org/spp/51L.html
On January 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger exploded on takeoff, causing the death of its
seven crew members, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. This site from the Federation of
American Scientists discusses the causes and consequences of this tragedy watched by millions.
- cl (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Scout Report for Science & Engineering
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sci-eng/2001/se-010606.html
A biweekly publication that “offers a selective collection of Internet resources covering
topics in the sciences, and related fields such as math and engineering, that have been chosen
by librarians and content specialists in the given field of study.” (From the Scout Report)
Integrity in Science Project
http://www.cspinet.org/integrity/
The Integrity in Science project of the Center for Science in the Public Interest “seeks
to safeguard science and the public welfare from the corruptive effects of industrys
influence.” Featured is the database Scientists' and Non-Profits' Ties to Industry. It
documents links between scientists, non-profits, academic institutions, health and professional
organizations -- and corporate support. Also provides information on organizations, legislation,
and other resources addressing possible conflict of interest issues between science and industry.
- br (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
European Initiative for Biotechnology Education
http://www.eibe.org/home.html
Home to 20 unique and comprehensive lesson units, this site is an excellent resource for
students, teachers or the curious. Developed by more than 40 experts from 17 European
countries, the lessons were generated to promote understanding and facilitate discussion
about biotechnology for secondary school students. The lessons cover just about every
imaginable topic pertaining to biotechnology including human genetics, transgenic plants
and animals, and fermentation. The format of each varies and can include role-playing
games, forensic puzzles, reading, and practical activities. The practical activities
range from making paper models of DNA helixes to actually working with DNA in the
laboratory. Concepts and suggested activities are often accompanied by helpful
illustrations. Realistic, practical ethical questions are posed. Available in PDF format,
each lesson is easily downloadable and available in as many as eight languages. For those
in or out of the classroom, this site is well worth the visit.
HME (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Forest Conservation Portal
http://forests.org/
Subtitled Vast Rainforest, Forest and Biodiversity Conservation News & Information,
this searchable site is dedicated to “ending deforestation, preserving old-growth
forests, conserving all forests, maintaining climatic systems and commencing the age of
ecological restoration.” Archives contains “over 12,000 forest conservation
news articles from last six years” for various parts of the world archived to 1996
or earlier, depending on the location. There are related links arranged by topic and
“interactive maps of the world's forests, eco-regions & protected areas.”
Forest Conservation News may be e-mailed for free. The 2000 Annual Report is available
(PDF) and more. - dl (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Genomics Glossary
http://www.genomicglossaries.com/
Because genomics is an interdisciplinary science that unites biology, chemistry, physics,
and mathematics, its language is diverse and includes terms not always found in
dictionaries. This site from Cambridge Healthtech Institute of Massachusetts was designed
to help scientists keep on top of this complex language. Loads of terms in categories such
as basic genetics, functional and structural genomics, informatics, and genomic-related
technology are defined here. Users can access the glossary terms either through a short
index of major subject headings or by a longer alphabetically-arranged subject list. The
Genomics Glossary deserves bonus points for including links to related resources in the
text of its definitions. For example, within the definition of “polymerase chain
reaction” are links to sites at Yale Medical School and the National Library of
Medicine. In addition, links to pages on nomenclature, a bibliography of Web and print
resources, and a FAQ page are available at this fantastic Website.
[HCS] (From the Scout Report)
Conservation and Environmental Maps
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/cnsvhome.html
American Memory, the Library of Congress' “gateway to rich primary source materials
relating to the history and culture of the United States,” offers this gem of a site
on exploration and land use in the US. These historic and recent maps will be of great
interest to ecologists, as they show “changes in the landscape, including natural
and man-made features, recreational and wilderness areas, geology, topography, wetland area,
vegetation, and wildlife.” The site may be searched by keyword or browsed by Subject
Index, Creator Index, Geographic Location Index, or Title Index. [LXP] (From the Scout Report)
Genomic Revolution
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/genomics/
In June of last year, scientists announced they had mapped the human genome, the blueprint
for human life, a discovery that offers limitless potential for scientists. In the Our
Genetic Identity section of the site, we learned that we share 99.9% of our genes with
each other, 98% of our genes with chimpanzees, and 90% with mice. This genomic revolution
raises many questions about how to use this new-found knowledge, and this site provides
an insightful look at the billions of pairs of A's and T's, and G's and C's that are the
fundamentals of life. (From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
Sea Turtles All The Way Down
http://www.seaturtle.org/links/
Behold the humble sea turtle. Well, not that humble; he's got his own domain name and link
list. You GO, sea turtle! Anyway,
http://www.seaturtle.org/links/
contains almost 600 links related to the sea turtle, with categories including action items,
cartoons, farming, jobs (for humans, not turtles), and tags and tagging. Annotation is rather
slight, but the links gathered have a definite conservation slant . . . there's a lot of
material here. If you're very interested in turtles, go to the top of the domain and check
out news, books, an upcoming symposium, and the turtle cam. (From Research Buzz)
Top 500 Supercomputers
http://www.top500.org/
This site, brought to you by the University of Mannheim and the University of Kentucky, is
updated every six months. The best Linpack benchmark performance achieved is used as a
performance measure in ranking the computers. (Thanks to G Price.)
Solar Buzz
http://www.solarbuzz.com/SiteMap.htm
“The mission of Solarbuzz Inc. is to be a premier source of Solar Energy information
on the Internet . . . We strive to be a positive force for those working in the solar
industry today, to broaden the profile of the Solar Energy Industry to outside interests
and to help display the commercial potential the Industry has over the next few years.”
A nice portal site.
CADDET Energy Efficiency [.pdf]
http://www.caddet.org/
The Centre for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies (CADDET)
is a cooperative, international project that aims to “enhance the exchange of
information on new, cost-effective, energy-saving technologies that have been demonstrated
in applications in industry, buildings, transport, utilities, and agriculture.” the
CADDET Website features a newsletter highlighting specific projects and information on
general energy matters and legislation, .pdf versions of technical reports, links to
software and online tools (for agriculture, building, energy distribution, heat storage,
and more), along with an easily searchable database of CADDET publications. The
publications in particular make this site useful for researchers in energy technology: a
vast array of project descriptions and data, workshop reports, in-depth listings of
organizations, and contacts are among the many resources provided.
[HCS] (From the Scout Report)
Superconductivity for Electric Systems
http://www.eren.doe.gov/superconductivity/
This website from the US Dept. of Energy includes brief explanations and history of
superconductivity, a number of publications and educational materials (in pdf format),
a superconductivity database of technical literature, and curriculum guides complete
with superconductivity quizzes.
Freshwater and Marine Image Bank
http://content.lib.washington.edu/fish/index.html
“The Freshwater and Marine Image Bank is an ongoing digital collection of images
related to freshwater and marine topics, in all their diversity. It includes images of
fish, shellfish, and marine mammals, pictures of fish hatcheries and dams and vessels,
materials related to polar exploration, regional and traditional fisheries, and
limnological (freshwater) subjects. Its scope is global . . . The more than 1600 images
were taken from a variety of publications issued between 1735 and 1924.” The
photographs fall into the following categories: Commercial Fisheries; Expositions; Dams;
Marine Mammals; Vessels; Traditional Fisheries; Fish Species. (From Infomine)
The Science of Volcanic Lakes
http://lawr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gpast/lakes.html
A page “devoted to disseminating information on the science of volcanic lakes. It
contains information on how volcanic lakes work and details about many specific lakes.
The newest addition to the site is a large bibliographic database of published materials
on volcanic lakes.”
EarthWaves
http://www.earthwaves.org/
“EarthWaves is a web site dedicated to the subject of our planet, and the many
changes encompassing it. You'll find topics here ranging from earthquakes to the ozone
layer.” An on-line forum for discussing and prediction earth movement and many
links to eartquake related sites.
Heisenberg/Uncertainty Principle
http://www.aip.org/history/heisenberg/
The founder of quantum mechanics, Werner Heisenberg is perhaps most famous to the general
audience for his Uncertainty Principle. It basically states that it is not possible to
simultaneously measure a particle's speed and location. This simple observation has had a
profound impact on the way scientists look at the world, especially in regard to particle
physics and cosmology. This web site, hosted by American Institue of Physics (AIP), is
built up as a clickable biography of Heisenberg, walking you through his life step by step.
Throughout this biography is scattered a number of quotes, which add spice to the
presentation, and which give you insight into how Heisenberg thought about things, as well
as showing what his contemporaries said and wrote. Give this web site some time, and you
will get a good grip on the historical setting which fostered this revolutionary mind.
TG (From New Scientist Planet Science)
Amazing Space Web-Based Activities
http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
Set up by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI) in Baltimore, U.S.A. -- which is
responsible for the operation of the remarkable Hubble Space Telescope -- this stimulating
website is bursting with information and images of everything cosmological and astronomical.
The site is aimed squarely at the elementary level and is structured around a number of
fully interactive on-line lessons covering topics such as Galaxies, Solar Systems, Comets,
Black Holes and much more. Each lesson combines spectacular photographs taken by the Hubble
Space Telescope with many high-quality graphics, videos and animations, designed to enhance
student understanding and interest. Teachers can customize their own lessons using the
astonishing quantity of information on offer, including topic overviews, scientific
explanations and even lesson plans. All of this is supported with an exceptional number of
images and icons that can be used in lessons and for overhead transparencies. Creative
activities are provided as for example in the Astronaut Challenge where you can plan a
mission to service the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. All of the activities are backed up
by video clip, games and yet more images from space. Using pictures taken by the Hubble
Space Telescope, pupils are encouraged to learn about 'representative sampling' by
estimation the number of similar objects in the universe (Astronomers estimate that 50-100
billion objects exist in the entire universe). This ambitious site is certainly worth
investigating, especially if you are a teacher. However, because of its graphic-heavy
nature, those with poor internet access should be prepared for long download waiting times.
TA (From New Scientist Planet Science)
1. “Newly Discovered Mars Meteorite”
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/06/15/mars.meteorite/
2. Mars Media Release from Natural History Museum, Bern [.pdf]
http://www.nmbe.ch/abtew/mars/marspress2.html
3. “Martian Meteorite May Contain Water”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1387000/1387399.stm
4. Mars Meteorites
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/snc/index.html
5. “Search for Past Life on Mars: Possible Relic Biogenic Activity in Martian Meteorite ALH84001”
http://www-curator.jsc.nasa.gov/curator/antmet/marsmets/SearchForLife/SearchForLife.htm
6. Mars Express
http://sci.esa.int/marsexpress/
7. Planetary Exploration by the Russian Space Research Institute
http://arc.iki.rssi.ru/pe.html
8. The Planet Mars
http://www.marsnews.com/focus/mars/
9. Meteorite Central
http://www.meteoritecentral.com/
A fist-sized meteorite with a mineralogy and isotopic signature suggesting Martian
origin has been discovered by Swiss researchers in the Sayh al Uhaymir region of desert
in Oman. On June 15, scientists at the University of Bern announced their finding of
the Martian meteorite, named Sayh al Uhaymir 094 and one of only eighteen known on
Earth. Only recently have scientists been combing the deserts for Martian meteorites;
previously they were collected mainly from the Antarctic. Finding these rare rocks from
Mars is an exciting and inexpensive way to collect data, including information on
possible water or life, from the Red Planet. This week's In the News takes a look at
the Oman discovery and Martian meteorites in general.
The first site (1) is a news article from CNN Online's Space section with a color photo of the meteorite and a link to a feature section about exploring Mars. The second (2) is a page from the Natural History Museum of Bern, Switzerland that is chock full of color images of Sayh al Uhaymir 094 and gives a link to an informative, thirteen-page press dossier in English (.pdf). Another recent Martian meteorite news item is the announcement by French scientists that a meteorite found in the Sahara Desert last December may contain groundwater from Mars. The BBC News online has a nice article about this Mars rock, known as a nakhlite because of its distinct hydrogen isotope composition (3). Those who wish to read more technical reports on Martian meteorite mineralogy and scientific applications should consult the next two sites. NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab has a special page devoted to meteorites from Mars (4) with regular updates on discoveries including listings that give the date and geographic location of discovery, rock classification and mineralogy, finder's name, and where the specimen is kept. Color photos accompany the text. Space scientists at Johnson Research Center, Houston, have posted a research page (5) about Martian Meteorite ALH84001, which was collected in Antarctica and contains carbonates possibly derived from living organisms. Details on the physical and chemical composition of ALH84001 along with graphs of mass spectrometry results, thin sections, microprobe maps, and electron microscope (TEM and SEM) images are available here.
Readers interested in learning about non-US-sponsored research on Mars should check out sites 6 and 7. Mars Express (6), the Mars mapping and research division of the European Science Agency (ESA), is currently investigating Mars' tiny moon, Phobos. The Russian Space Research Institute (7) is involved in using electromagnetism to search for water on Mars, and also collaborated with British and American scientists on the Mars Climate Orbiter Project. Finally, the last two sites are for those who wish to learn more about Mars and meteorites in general. For a refresher course on the Red Planet, visit The Planet Mars site (8) from MarsNews.com. The Planet Mars features an overview of Mars' atmosphere, moons, and history of exploration, along with a sheet of quick facts and links to news stories and other Mars sites. To keep abreast of all meteorite discoveries, both Martian and non-Martian, bookmark Meteorite Central (9). This site presents breaking news, special research features, and a tutorial on how to tell if the strange rock you've found is actually a meteorite. [HCS] (From the Scout Report)
Molecular Universe
http://www.molecularuniverse.com/
This fantastic resource for college-level students of chemistry provides abundant
images and explanatory text on molecules and molecular systems. The site's main
provider is Richard Catlow, Director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory at the
Royal Institution of Great Britain. Molecular Universe presents a collection of
lessons, arranged into categories such as Building in Three Dimensions, Boundaries
and Barriers, and The Molecules of Life. The sleek color illustrations demonstrate
everything from diamond structure to a DNA molecule. Highlights of the site include
a detailed look at protein folding, how molecules taste, and molecules and computers.
Both students and professors should journey to the Molecular Universe.
[HCS] (From the Scout Report)
Mars Explorer for the Armchair Astronaut and PDS Map-a-Planet
http://pdsimage.wr.usgs.gov/PDS/public/mapmaker/mapmkr.htm
This new feature from NASA's Planetary Data Archives allows users to create custom maps of
Mars and other planets. Red Planet enthusiasts will enjoy using the clickable map of Mars,
based on images collected by NASA's Viking missions. Once a geographic feature (Terra
Sirenum, Syrtis Major, Olympus Mons, etc.) is chosen from the map, the program takes the
user to a custom view which can then be zoomed, panned, and displayed as either a
sinusoidal, mercator, or simple cylindrical map. Users can also specify image size and
color mode. Aside from this really neat Mars mapping tool, this Website has a link to
“Map-a-Planet,” that features custom photo maps (also from the Viking
spacecraft) of Venus, Mars, the moon, and Jupiter's Callisto. For each of these, a custom
map can be made in one of several modes: “easy” (a clickable map),
“intermediate,” or “advanced” (user specifies gridline frequency,
resolution, center longitude, stretch, projection type). All images are in .jpeg format.
Who says you have to spend millions to visit space? [HCS] (From the Scout Report)
2001: destination space
http://www.thetech.org/2001ds/
The Tech, an innovative technology museum in San Jose, California, offers a double-edged
tribute to Stanley Kubrick's monolithic science-fiction film. Showcasing the intersection
of science and art, the museum's physical exhibit has been translated into four main parts:
Fact and Fiction -- showing the advances that “2001: A Space Odyssey” anticipated
and which have come to pass; The Art of Robert McCall -- paintings by and an interview with
the renowned illustrator; Visionary Voices -- Q & A with scholars whose work was affected
by Kubrick's film; and finally, Learning Resources -- challenges for students and links to an
astronomical amount of information on “2001” and our future in space.
(From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
The Calving of Icebergs A-43 and A-44, Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica
http://www.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca/ccrs/tekrd/rd/apps/em/cchange/glaciers/calv00_e.html
The Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRC) recently posted this page containing geocoded
RADARSAT and ScanSAR images documenting the calving of icebergs A-43 and A-44 from the
Ronne Ice Shelf in May 2000. A 425 KB QuickTime movie shows the calving event, although
somewhat jerkily. Fracture lines and crevasses are indicated on still images (.jpeg)
accompanied by descriptive text. [HCS] (From the Scout Report)
Labor Art
http://beta.laborarts.org/
Labor Arts claims to be a work in progress, which is appropriate considering the site's
focus -- an examination of the “cultural and artistic history of working people.”
Presenting images of demonstrations, strikes, and laborers at work, the site uses
photography and drawings to dig into the lives of America's union workers. Ordinary People,
Extraordinary Lives looks at 100 years of labor in New York City, offering an amazing glimpse
into the culture of solidarity. The site features permanent collections and also rotates
exhibits, so check back and learn about our nation's labor movement from a different
perspective. (From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
Consumer Financial Literacy
http://www.frbatlanta.org/consumer/personal_finance/index.html
This website was developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's community relations
program in order to teach personal finance to middle-school students. However, the
information and activities it provides (like practice budgets and retirement calculators)
can be useful to people of all ages. [Thanks to Blue Web'n Update]
Born in Slavery Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/
More than 2,300 first-hand accounts of lives in slavery were compiled by the Federal Writers'
Project and are now available on this website. Also included are 500 black and white
photographs of the narrators and other former slaves. Sponsored in part by the Manuscript and
Prints and Photographs Divisions of the Library of Congress. [Thanks to Blue Web'n Update]
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.)
SUPERCOMPUTER TAPS THE MYSTERIES OF THE EARTH'S CRUST
Researchers at Princeton University, led by assistant geosciences professor Peter Bunge,
are using a huge parallel supercomputer to compute how the Earth's internal mechanics
work. Supplied with four gigaflops of processing power and special 3D software developed
at Los Alamos National Laboratories, the team hopes to develop models that will one day
predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The convection simulation software will help
the team to translate earlier 2D work into a more realistic 3D model. Previously,
scientists did not have the computing power necessary to perform those computations.
(Computerworld, 8 June 2001 via Edupage)
THIS LIBRARY'S “BORN DIGITAL”
The National Science Foundation, with help from computer scientists and librarians from
Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Missouri, among other
institutions, is working to develop an online library of science information. The
National Science Digital Library will serve as a portal to various digital collections
on engineering, technology, mathematics, and other branches of science. The library,
which should debut next year, may feature tours of collections, tours of libraries, and
applications that allow educators and students to design personal library portals.
(Wired News, 18 June 2001 via Edupage)
INTERNET2 PLANS AN ELECTRONIC DIRECTORY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
The Internet2 consortium is planning an online directory of faculty, staff, and students
at higher education institutions. Consortium leaders said the project could be ready as
soon as this summer and would be available to any user, not only those whose institutions
offer high-speed networks. Such a directory would facilitate academic communication and
collaboration through a host of technologies, including e-mail, instant messaging,
teleconferencing, and the emerging technology known as tele-immersion. The project faces
obstacles concerning privacy issues and standardization of data. Sun Microsystems has
pledged to support the project with hardware and software, and member institutions will
provide tech support.
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 20 June 2001 via Edupage)
NEW IBM SUPERCOMPUTER TO TAKE ON POWER CRISIS
Researchers at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) plan to
use a new supercomputer in testing virtual combustion engines, looking for improvements
in fuel economy. They also plan to use the computer to study the California power grid,
looking for ways to alleviate some of the state's energy woes. The computer, an IBM SP,
is the most powerful unclassified machine of its kind in the world, capable of processing
3.8 trillion calculations each second. Over 2,000 scientists spread throughout the
country will be able to participate in 150 different projects using the supercomputer,
claimed Bill Kramer, the NERSC's head of high performance computing.
(NewsFactor Network, 21 June 2001 via Edupage)
LEARNING TO SWIM IN THE RISING TIDE OF SCIENTIFIC DATA
Today's researchers are compiling and analyzing an ever-increasing amount of digitized
scientific data. Central databases of scientific knowledge allow researchers to approach
questions from a comprehensive viewpoint. This has led to the integration of computer
science and other core science fields, such as biology, said Stephen D. Prince of the
University of Maryland, College Park. Systems biology, for example, focuses on
translating biological functions into mathematical equations so that scientists can gain
perspective on how their specific focus relates to the whole system. Several universities,
including the University of California at San Diego, are now offering degrees in the
field of bioinformatics, which concentrates on the interrelation of scientific research
and computer data systems.
(Chronicle of Higher Education, 29 June 2001 via Edupage)
COMPUTER GAINS DRIVEN BY CONSUMER PRODUCTS
Supercomputers no longer represent the leading edge of computing innovations. A recent
study ranking the top 500 supercomputers in the world found that even the fastest
supercomputer -- ASCI White at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory -- is composed of thousands of processors that individually are far less
powerful than current PC chips. IBM, maker of the four ASCI computers designed to manage
the nation's nuclear arsenal, is working on a new chip design that it expects to pervade
all aspects of computing, from mobile devices to servers. The Cell Project is focused on a
biological design that would bring network processors together on a chip. Due out in the
consumer market by 2004, IBM says speeds for the new design will begin at 4 GHz and lead
to a simple PC offering a teraflop of processing power.
(New York Times, 21 June 2001 via Edupage)
WEBCAM OF FLOWERING RARE PLANT ATTRACTS A HUGE AUDIENCE
The University of Wisconsin at Madison garnered a record number of visitors to its Webcam
site earlier this month, as plant enthusiasts worldwide tuned in to watch the rare flowering
of an unusual plant. On June 8, the peak day of the flower's blooming, the Webcam site's
server logged 30 million requests. Traffic was so heavy on the site that the university had
to earmark one of its biggest servers to handle it. The Webcam site provided images of the
blooming of the corpse flower, which has a height of eight feet and gives off an odor that
botanists describe as resembling rotting flesh. In the past 60 years, only 15 such bloomings
have been noted in the United States.
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 14 June 2001 via Edupage)
ROBOTICS STUDY GROWING ON CAMPUSES
The falling costs of robotics research and teaching have allowed more colleges and
universities to enter the study of artificial intelligence and robot design. In addition to
improvements in computing power, schools can provide students with affordable kits from the
toy company Lego for building rudimentary robots. As a result, schools such as George Mason
University and the University of Maryland, College Park, are joining MIT and Carnegie
Mellon University in robotics research and learning. The University of Maryland hosts the
Space Systems Laboratory, which will take part in a Space Shuttle mission next year. At
George Mason, researchers are involved in softbots and innovations that could have
commercial use, such as providing refrigerators with the intelligence to know when a family
is out of milk and giving it the ability to order another carton from the local supermarket.
(Potomac Tech Journal, 11 June 2001 via Edupage)
TIED UP IN KNOTS
Discussions under way among representatives from 50 countries involve formal negotiations
for the Hague Convention on Jurisdiction and Foreign Judgments. The treaty would legitimize
rulings in cross-border disputes over patents, intellectual property, libel, and defamation.
Delegates will determine whose laws apply when transactions take place over the Internet, as
they seek to establish a system for enforcing a country's legal judgments against private
parties in other nations. If these negotiations are approved, it could mean that a U.S.
citizen who posts something on the Internet could be sued in a country where free speech is
not protected. The delegates could run into some difficulty, considering the wide range of
views among countries and among interest groups within each country. The parties hope to
hammer out their differences so that the treaty will be ready when they meet again in early
2002.
(Economist, 9 June 2001 via Edupage)
BERKELEY DEVELOPING WORLDWIDE STORAGE SYSTEM
University of California at Berkeley researchers are developing a storage system, called
OceanStore, that will store data on Internet servers around the world. The system, invented
by John Kubiatowicz, works by taking documents or other data and breaking them into numerous
parts, with each part then stored on a different Internet server. Each fragment of the same
document contains a globally unique identification tag that will enable the system to
retrieve the whole document. The retrieval system is designed to leave behind a data trail
each time it retrieves a specific document so that successive searches for that document
will take less time. Kubiatowicz says OceanStore will be especially useful in preventing a
catastrophic loss of data because not every fragment of a document will be needed to
retrieve the complete document. Several companies, including Nortel and IBM, have shown
interest in OceanStore and have given $500,000 in initial funding.
(Computerworld, 4 June 2001 via Edupage)
MIT TO OPEN A VERSION OF ITS MEDIA LAB IN INDIA
MIT, the Indian government, and the private sector are cooperating to finance Media Lab
Asia, where researchers will work on advanced technology with the aim of helping the rural
poor. Media Lab Asia is an outgrowth of MIT's own Media Lab, which has launched numerous
technologies, such as wearable computers and digital video. As with the original Media Lab,
Media Lab Asia will receive the bulk of its funding from private-sector firms; Microsoft
and Hewlett-Packard are among the companies that have already said they might support the
project, claim sources in India's Ministry of Information Technology. India's government
recently announced it would provide $14 million for the lab. Project officials say the lab
will work to bring Internet connectivity to poor rural areas, where the digital divide
could even further cut off the population from those in power. The lab will also address
the question of how technology can improve everyday work.
(Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 7 June 2001 via Edupage)
CORPORATE OFFICIALS URGE FEDS TO FUND MORE IT RESEARCH
Tech industry officials told the House Science Committee's Subcommittee on Research that
government investment in tech research must grow. The government will invest $1.76 billion
in tech research this year, and President Bush has recommended an increase of only one
percent for 2002. This is not nearly enough to promote long-term tech research, argued 3Com
Chair Eric Benhamou. Benhamou explained that drawing on their own resources, most companies
can only afford to invest in short-term, product-development research, which does not lead
to large-scale innovations such as the Internet. Nasdaq Stock Market vice chair Alfred
Berkeley told the committee that companies will not invest in long-term research because it
poses too great a risk to their bottom line. Anita Jones, a professor of engineering at the
University of Virginia and vice chair of the National Science Board, said a lack of
government investment will affect the quality of research done at the nation's universities.
(Computerworld Online, 27 June 2001 via Edupage)
The Secret Garden - Albert Richards
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~agrxray/
Inner Visions - Steven N. Meyers
http://www.xray-art.com/
What can be said except that these are beautiful! (Thanks to Netsurfer Science).
Kids Surviving in the Wilderness
http://www.equipped.com/kidprimr.htm
Summer is here, a time when kids are likely to go hiking and camping and possibly get lost.
This excellent, simple primer lists a few basics about what to do if that happens, and a few
easy things to carry to prepare for the eventuality. This is something every kid (and every
parent) should read.
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.