01/08/03
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This newsletter is available to the public at the following locations:
http://library.stanford.edu/depts/swain/nsflibnews/
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/scitechnews/
http://avel.edu.au/scitech.html
Science.gov (http://www.science.gov/) has been launched as a gateway to information about science and technology from federal government organizations.
The site is set up like a searchable subject index. From the front page you can browse categories including Agriculture & Food, Math, Physics, & Chemistry, and Science Education. Choose a category and you'll be taken to a list of subcategories (only they're called “Narrower Topics” and an alphabetical list of sites. Annotation is good and includes the department where the site comes from (so that the description looks like this: “Database of USGS Biological Resources' research projects [Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)]”) Please, Science.Gov, space out the listings a little bit more so they're easier to read.
Searching is interesting. Use the keyword search at the top of the page and you'll get a list of over two dozen sites you can search for your keyword. You can search up to ten of the sites at a time. Searching all available Science.Gov documents is selected as default.
I don't know if they're using some other search tech, or if it's the smaller data set, but I like the search results I'm getting for this one much better than I liked the FirstGov results. The search engine took everything I threw at it and came up with consistently relevant results. Most documents are HTML; PDF documents are marked with a PDF icon.
You can view the results in one of two ways. You can click on the title of the page and get taken directly to it, or you can click several checkboxes, choose “List Marks” from the top of the page, and then choose “Display.” All the pages you chose will be listed at the same time in one long page. (From Research Buzz)
Could current publication practices in the life sciences inadvertently lead to disclosure of sensitive information, threatening national security? On Thursday, Jan. 9, the National Academies and the Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a public discussion between scientists and policy-makers on ways to strike a balance between scientific openness and national security needs. The discussion will include an overview of methods for controlling scientific information in the United States and current bioterrorist threats to the nation. Advance registration is required. http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/fc340309c47a1e43852567460067595e/2fe59b8e62c708bf85256c8d00788d23?OpenDocument
Reinventing Undergraduate Education: Three Years After the Boyer Report.
Reinvention Center at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, 2002.
http://www.sunysb.edu/pres/0210066-Boyer%20Report%20Final.pdf
Responsible Research: A Systems Approach to Protecting Research Participants.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10508.html?onpi_listserv010303
Implications of Emerging Micro and Nanotechnology.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10582.html?onpi_listserv010303
Government Industry Partnerships for Development of New Technologies.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10584.html?onpi_listserv122702
Frontiers in Agricultural Research: Food, Health, Environment, and Communities.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10585.html?onpi_listserv122702
Raising Public Awareness of Engineering.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10573.html?onpi_listserv120602
Countering Bioterrorism: The Role of Science and Technology.
NAP, 2002.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10536.html?onpi_listserv120602
Strategic Assessment and Development of Interorganizational Influence in the Absence of Hierarchical Authority.
Catherine H. Augustine, Dina G. Levy, Roger W. Benjamin, Tora K. Bikson, Glenn A. Daley, Susan M. Gates, Tessa Kaganoff, Joy S. Moini, RAND, 2003 (PDF).
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1561/
Presents, for organizations that seek to influence others without the benefit of hierarchical authority, a three-stage framework that will help them capitalize on the power-and-influence options available to them.
Research and Development, Richard Silberglitt, Lance Sherry, MR-1558-NREL, 2002 (PDF).
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1558/
Demonstrating a decisionmaking tool for computing the expected value of R&D programs when allocating resources among multiple programs.
Mathematical Proficiency for All Students: Toward a Strategic Research and Development Program in Mathematics Education.
RAND Mathematics Study Panel, Deborah Loewenberg Ball, Chair, MR-1643.0-OERI, 2002 (PDF).
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1643.0/
Proposes a long-term, strategic program of research and development in mathematics education.
Valerie L. Williams.
Merging University Students into K-12 Science Education Reform.
RAND, 2003.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1446/
Charles Wolf, Jr. Straddling Economics and Politics: Cross-Cutting Issues in Asia, the United States, and the Global Economy.
RAND, 2003.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1571/
Anne R. Pebley, Mary E. Vaiana.
In Our Backyard: How 3 L.A. Neighborhoods Affect Kids' Lives.
RAND, 2003.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1470/
Lloyd Dixon, Isaac Porche, Jonathan Kulick.
Driving Emissions to Zero: Are the Benefits of California's Zero Emission Vehicle Program Worth the Costs?.
RAND, 2003.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1578/
Mark A. Bernstein, Paul D. Holtberg, David Ortiz.
Implications and Policy Options of California's Reliance on Natural Gas.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1605/
Paul K. Davis, Brian Michael Jenkins.
Deterrence & Influence in Counterterrorism: A Component in the War on Al Qaeda.
RAND, 2003.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1619/
Visie Op De Toekomst Van Het Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek : Speerpunten Voor Beleid -- Hoofdrapport =
Vision Of The Future Of Scientific Research: Focal Points For Policy.
RAND, 2003.
http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1433.1/ [NOTE: When I tried this link it was broken]
Technology Assessment: Using Biometrics for Border Security.
GAO-03-174 GAO, November 14, 2002.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03174.pdf
SearchEnginez
http://searchenginez.com/
Get Search Engine forms With SearchEnginez
A nice collection of search engines complete with forms integrated into the site is available at SearchEnginez. The front page provides a drop-down menu of several different search categories at the top of the page, including search engines, news, and reference.
Choose a category and you'll get taken to a page of search forms, annotation, and search hints. There's also a “more resources” list at the bottom of the page in addition to the resources with annotation/forms.
Further down on the page you'll find links to pages of more specialty content forms, including currency converters, health, images, and, um, video game cheats. Along the left side of the page you'll find listings of new and updated resources. Some of these were to be expected (Amazon) and some not (Walhello.) (From Research Buzz)
“HotBot” Morphs into a Meta Search Engine
http://www.hotbot.com/
Remember HotBot? What I liked about this old search engine was the nice advanced
search screen, which made it easy to do some elegant searching of the web. Old HotBot
has pretty much been supplanted by newer search engines lately, however. If you can't
beat 'em, join 'em. HotBot has morphed and now has become a meta search engine. At
the HotBot advanced search screen, you can set up your search using the easy
walk-through menu choices, and then run the search on Google, Fast (aka Alltheweb),
Inktomi, or Teoma.
Unlike some other meta search engines, Hotbot does not search these other search engines simultaneously, nor does it weed out the duplicates. You have to run the search on one search engine at a time. However, you do not have to retype your search, just hit a different button to run it on a different search engine. So what is the advantage to using HotBot instead of going to these other search engines directly? The advantage is the user-friendly interface, which I have always admired in HotBot.
There are disadvantages as well, however. For example, the Google results brought back by HotBot do not have all the Google features (no “cached” button).
But for those who do not want to have to learn the intricacies of phrasing a search statement for each search engine, HotBot provides an easy yet elegant interface that is worth a look.
EEVL Internet Resource Booklets
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/publications/
EEVL has just published three new Internet resource guide booklets. The booklets
cover Internet resources for Engineering, Internet resources for Mathematics, and
Internet resources for Computing. The colourful A5 size sixteen-page booklets give
details of some (between 60 and 70) of the most useful Internet resources in their
respective subject areas, under topics such as Learning and Teaching, Reference
Material, Journals, Research, Societies and Institutions, Subject Gateways and Guides,
etc. All the sites included in the booklets have been selected by subject experts.
The booklets are excellent introductions to key resources in their subject areas, and
should be useful for students, staff and researchers at universities and colleges.
The booklets are available free to those at universities and colleges in the UK (up to
25 copies at no cost, and thereafter 50p per copy), and to others at 50p per copy, from
the address below. Printable pdf copies of the booklets can be downloaded from
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/publications/
EEVL is a UK-based not-for-profit free guide. It was created and is run by a team of information specialists from Heriot Watt University, with input from a number of other universities in the UK, including the University of Ulster, the University of Birmingham, and Cranfield University. EEVL is funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) through the Resource Discovery Network (RDN).
For further information please contact:
Roddy MacLeod
EEVL Manager
Heriot-Watt University Library
Edinburgh
0131 451 3576
r.a.macleod@hw.ac.uk
Infection Detection Protection
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/infection/index.html
A cute online magazine from the American Musum of Natural History.
Divided into sections: Meet the Microbes, a colorful definition of
viruses, bacteria, and protozoa; Bacteria in the Cafeteria, a simple
game to help children become aware of potential dangers; Infection, a
board game that lets you break thru the human defense system; How Lou
Got the Flu, explains how infectious diseases spread; Amazing Microbe
Hunters, another game that teaches about early innovators, and the Mixed
Up Microbe Mystery, which puts players into the position of
Epidemiologists -- disease detectives. They track down the causes behind
diseases and find ways to control them. Requires Macromedia Shockwave.
(From Blue Web'n)
Becoming Human
http://www.becominghuman.org/
Becoming human is the prize winning website of the Institute of Human Origins,
associated to the Arizona State University, USA. Written by a prestigious ensemble
of experts from the different fields of palaeontology, it accompanies us from the
first hominids discovered in Ethiopia, through four millions years of human
evolution, to our to our own species, explaining links, anatomy and culture along
the way. Before embarking on the site, you will need a macromedia flash layer 5,
high speed connection, loudspeakers and plenty of time. ‘Becominghuman’
is divided into three main sections: the documentaries, learning centre and news
and views, the last section is constantly and continually being updated. The
documentaries are commentated films. These are packed full of all sorts of related
information so, to get the most out of them, I suggest clicking on the
“help” button which will explain how the system works. This is because
the films are ‘interrupted’ every now and then by ‘learn more’
signals, which access to even more mini-films/commentaries/summaries - for example,
the ‘interpreting evidence’ inset goes deeper into geological phenomena
and how fossils were cemented, fossil pollens, measuring foot step strides etc., etc.
If ‘becominghuman’ is to be used as a work tool, then open up “related
resources” too, as this section offers an excellent glossary, bibliography and
web-index on line. The tool bar at the bottom of the documentaries also includes a
highly useful ‘hominid profile’ that summarises details of the age, diet,
habitat etc. of the twelve hominids we meet, with the possibility of examining the
most recent skulls in detail by rotation. The learning centre offers down-loadable
lessons and printable handouts on a variety of subjects. For those with a passion for
palaeoanthropology, this site is a must, to be book-marked and revisited again and
again. Apart from the outstanding content and excellent presentation, the text of
‘becominghuman’ is beautifully written, giving us a fine example of
scientific writing in itself, and is clearly and pleasantly spoken. Rating: 10+ out of
10 CCL (From New Scientist Current Picks)
The Antlion Pit: A Doodlebug Anthology
http://www.antlionpit.com/
A wide range of information about this insect including habitat, distribution,
classification, behavior, metamorphosis, reproduction, capturing them, and
zoological history. The site also discusses antlions in visual art, folklore,
literature, mythology, popular culture, and academia. The Doodlebug Oracle
answers randomly generated questions about the insect. There are also
suggestions for additional resources, including Web links. (From Librarian's
Index to the Internet) [Growing up in Arizona I was fascinated by these little
critters and their craters)]
Plants in Motion
http://sunflower.bio.indiana.edu/%7Erhangart/plantmotion/
“With few exceptions, plants grow and change on a time scale that is too
slow for us to observe in real time. Time-lapse photography is a simple
technique that allows us to see the movements of plants and clearly
demonstrates that plants are living and capable of some extraordinary things.”
This fun site has Quicktime videos and clear, short explanations of the various
ways that plants move. Its fascinating!
Florida's Springs: Protecting Nature's Gems
http://www.floridasprings.org/
This colorful site explores the various facets of Florida's springs and the
problems and challenges involved in trying to protect the springs from pollution
and degradation. It includes information on life in the springs and spring formation,
slide shows on an expedition documenting how water travels through the aquifer,
springs and downriver to the Gulf of Mexico, questions and answers to the expedition
team, and more.
Light Field Mapping
http://www.cs.unc.edu/Research/stc/publications/Chen_sig02.pdf
Light Field Mapping: Efficient Representation and Hardware Rendering of
Surface Light Fields [.pdf]
The Office of the Future (OOTF) is a project of the University of North Carolina Computer Science Department. It utilizes advanced tele-immersion and graphical displays to make long distance collaboration seem natural and comfortable. This publication, which appeared at a major conference in mid- 2002, is authored by researchers from Intel and the OOTF group. Focusing on computer graphics applications, the paper proposes a method of rendering complex light field data and reflectance properties of a three dimensional scene with combinations of image compression techniques and approximations. By dividing the large amount of data into small portions and processing them individually, the authors have devised an algorithm suitable for hardware accelerated graphics applications. This site is also reviewed in the December 20, 2002 _NSDL MET Report_. [CL] (From the Scout Report)
Compendium of Best Papers
http://www.usenix.org/publications/library/proceedings/best_papers.html
USENIX, also known as the Advanced Computing Systems Association, has
compiled a list of the best papers presented over the last twelve years at
its conferences and events. Anyone can download these outstanding technical
papers, which won an award for “Best Paper, Best Student Paper,” or Best
Presentation. The documents come from both industry and academia, and they
discuss theoretical topics and applied research. Over 60 conferences are
featured, and each has a specific focus, such as security, Java, and storage
technologies. It is especially interesting to note how the papers show the
evolution in computers over the last decade. [CL] (From the Scout Report)
Quantum Computing
http://www.qubit.org/
A nicely designed website from Oxford with a brief FAQ, links to organizations
around the world, a calendar of QC events, tutorials and more. (Also don't miss
Dabacon's site of QP humor.)
Ready! Set! Takeoff for Engineering
http://www.swe.org/takeoff/
Provided by the Society for Women Engineers (SWE), this site is a good
resource for high school students who want to learn about engineering as a
possible career choice. One of the most unique features on the site is the
collection of video interviews. Four professional engineers, including a
former NASA astronaut, respond to questions that are often asked by curious
students. The Career Corner section offers brief descriptions of eight of
the most common disciplines, providing glimpses into the everyday lives and
responsibilities of engineers. Several links to other information sources
are also given. [CL] (From the Scout Report)
NOVA: Sinking City of Venice
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/venice/
“Today's tourists often need wading boots to explore the architectural wonders of
Venice. Will they one day need scuba gear? NOVA covers the battle to keep the world's
most unusual city from drowning beneath the rising tides of the Adriatic Sea. The
lessons we learn about how to stop rising sea levels will prove essential for other
coastal cities around the world, from New York to Shanghai.” This companion to the
Nov. 19, 2002 TV program looks at various solutions to fighting the invasion of water to
the city and includes videos, images and animations.
Battelle: Technology Forecasts
http://www.battelle.org/forecasts/default.stm
Battelle Memorial Institute works with the government and industry to
develop new technologies and products. In the course of this work, Battelle
has compiled several technology forecasts that speculate about what will be
common in the years and decades to come. These predictions range from 2005
to 2020, and many of them are quite interesting. Concepts such as
nanomachines, “personalized public transportation,” and genetaceuticals are
defined, and their use in society is explained. Only time will tell if these
predictions are accurate, but they certainly drive the imagination. This
site is also reviewed in the December 6, 2002 _NSDL MET Report_. [CL] (From the Scout
Report)
Weathering the Weather: The Origins of Atmospheric Science
http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/weather/weather.htm
Annotated images of covers and selected pages from over fifty “early and
important works on meteorology,” dating from the 1500s through the 1800s.
Browsable by author. From the Mandeville Special Collections Library,
University of California, San Diego. (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Earth Like a Puzzle
http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/voyager/earth_puzzle/
Explores plate tectonics. Contains information on spreading centers, what happens
when plates collide, and the layers of the earth. Includes maps. From the Scripps
Institution of Oceanography (SIO), University of California, San Diego. (From
Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Earth Science World
http://www.earthscienceworld.org/
Earthscience world is a gateway to the earth sciences produced by the
American Geological Institute. The site gives updated news on various
geological related topics, accessible from the home page and under Earth
Data in the left hand box. This also provides statistical information on
natural resources and details of all recent seismological phenomena. The
site also provides an on-line satellite weather check and warning system,
but only for the U.S.A. Much of the site is dedicated to the imminent
Earth Science Week which will run from October 13-19, 2002 with an
invitation to educational institution to participate in the event.
“Activities” suggests a series of lessons with full instructions
for kids of junior school age, complete with computer interactions and
recipes for cakes celebrating geological specials (no, not rock ones).
For higher grades, “What on Earth” gives the sort of questions
and answers for older students covering topics such as the differences
between seismic waves and between cement and concrete. There is also a
careers section, where the FAQs give a comprehensive view of the current
situation regarding training and job prospects, at least for the U.S.A.
Although the site is undoubtedly useful especially for up to date
information on seismological activity and the weather, it is addressed
mostly to U.S.A. residents. User friendliness could be improved for
easier navigation from one section to another. (From New Scientist
Current Picks)
All About Snow
http://nsidc.org/snow/
A fun and interesting site about all aspects of snow, divided into sections:
Snow Q&A (Does snow change how sound waves travel?), Facts (Ten inches of
fresh snow with a density of 0.07 inches, seven percent water, is approximately
equal to a six-inch-layer of fiberglass insulation with an insulation R-value
of R-18), Glossary (firn: rounded, well-bonded snow that is older than one year),
Gallery (some fascinating historical images of legendary snow storms), and
Links.
Geometry From the Land of the Incas
http://agutie.homestead.com/
This noisy, colorful, and completely unusual site is an
eclectic mix of sound, science, and Incan history intended
to interest students in Euclidean geometry. Includes
geometry problems, quizzes, quotations, scientific
speculation, and more. (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Mathematician Trading Cards
http://www.mathcards.com/index.jsp
Why should baseball players get all the glory? At this website you can click on
the name of your favorite mathematician and view a “trading card” with
portrait and stats. Cool!
The Mississippian Moundbuilders and Their Artifacts
http://www.mississippian-artifacts.com/
This virtual museum was created by an enthusiast as “a
celebration of Mississippian art and culture” and displays a
variety of artifacts created by the agricultural society which
prospered in what is now the Southeastern U.S. from 900
to 1600 A.D. Researchers can read about and view dozens
of relics such as pottery, pipes, flint tools, beads, and
ornaments, all chosen for their “exceptional quality,
representative style and remarkable workmanship.”
(From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Realms of the Sacred in Daily Life: Early Written Records of Mesoamerica
http://www.lib.uci.edu/libraries/exhibits/meso/sacred.html
Annotated images of codices of the Mesoamerican region, created “prior to the
arrival of European explorers in the Western Hemisphere in the late 15th century.”
Includes examples of Pre-Columbian Aztec, Mayan, and Mixtec codices, the Borgia
Group, and Colonial codices. Also explores shared aspects of Mesoamerican culture,
including daily life, the role of sacrifice, and the ritual ball game. From the
University of California, Irvine. (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
The Human Nature Review
http://www.human-nature.com/
While attempting to cover one area of scholarly discipline in a Web site may
be a formidable task, the editors of the Human Nature Review are concerned
with any substantive scholarship or research dealing with human nature in
its entirety. As the Web site notes: “Our goal is to bring into
communication the variety of approaches to the understanding of human nature
which have a regrettable tendency to be less in touch with one another than
they might.” The site is edited by Dr. Ian Pitchford of the Creighton
University School of Medicine and Professor Robert M. Young. Prominent
features of the site include an online dictionary of mental health, a daily
review (sent as an email, if users so desire) of updates on ongoing
scholarship in the fields of psychology and psychotherapy, and a number of
complete online texts. Finally, the site also houses hundreds of book
reviews, contributed by scholars from a diverse set of fields, on works of
topical importance. [KMG] (From the Scout Report)
NOVA: Mystery of the First Americans
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/first/
The puzzling discovery of Kennewick Man, who looked surprisingly like actor
Patrick Stewart, has created controversy not over the origins of the continents
first inhabitants, but also over ownership of these important remains. This
website explores these issues as well as discussing the basic concept of race
and the methodology of carbon 14 dating. Companion to the TV program aired on
December 10, 2002.
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.)
PUBLISHERS EXPUNGE ARTICLES, UPSET RESEARCHERS
http://chronicle.com/free/v49/i18/18a02701.htm
Elsevier Science, the largest publisher of scientific journals, has
begun removing certain articles from its database. In place of the
articles, an online search now offers a note that simply says the
article has been removed “for legal reasons.” Other publishers have
taken steps to expunge particular articles, for reasons ranging from an
article's having been published previously elsewhere to inclusion of
political statements that the publishers deemed “inappropriate” for
publication in a particular journal. Many researchers object to the
practice, however, saying that altering the historical record of a
journal distorts efforts at scholarship and, in certain cases, can lead
to faulty research or even poor medical decisions. Mark S. Frankel of
the American Association for the Advancement of Science said, “There
should be a digital trail which allows these things to be seen,
observed, and studied.”
Chronicle of Higher Education, 10 January 2003 via Edupage
CIRCUITS GET SMALLER
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/20377.html
Researchers at the University of Toronto have created what could be the
smallest circuit ever built, capable, they say, of being closed by a
single electron. Al-Amin Dhirani, lead researcher for the project,
said, “Such a circuit could make possible a biosensor that is activated
by the reaction of just one molecule.” The device works by sending
electrons from a metal tip to an extremely small cantilever coated with
gold. An electron on the lever then pulls the lever to the tip, closing
the circuit. Some nanotechnology experts were skeptical of the new
device, saying the methods used to observe the nanoparticle circuits
are suspect. Others, however, defended the research as an important
step in opening doors for new applications in a potentially wide range
of fields of study.
NewsFactor Network, 6 January 2003 via Edupage
GRID COMPUTING: THE NEXT BIG THING?
http://chronicle.com/free/2002/11/2002112701t.htm
Many experts say that the next wave in computing, particularly for
university and research purposes, will be grid computing. Grids are
networks of computers, databases, and applications that combine to
offer users huge gains in computational speed and the amount of
resources available. Some experts suggest that grid computing will
fundamentally alter the way we use computers. Rick Herrmann of Intel
Corporation said that several countries, including China, are working
to develop the best possible infrastructure to support grid computing.
The best infrastructure, Herrmann said, will attract the brightest
talent. Ian Foster of the University of Chicago, however, warns that it
will take many years before the dream of grid computing is fully
realized.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 27 November 2002 via Edupage.
CHIP COULD RESTORE VISION
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2547491.stm
Researchers in the United States, including some at the University of
California, are developing a microchip that has the potential to
restore sight to some who have lost it. The chip is implanted in the
eye using a flexible silicon that stimulates undamaged retinal cells.
Those cells transmit impulses to the brain, allowing the eye to “see.”
Researchers have started work on what they call a second-generation
implant, with many more electrodes than the prototypes. The prototypes
have 16 electrodes, sufficient for patients to detect light. The
next-generation implant will have 1,000 electrodes, enough to discern
shapes. Successful tests have been conducted three times on dogs, and
those involved in the research said a human implant could be ready
within three years.
BBC, 7 December 2002 via Edupage.
ACADEMICS PUSH FOR FREE, ONLINE ACCESS TO JOURNALS
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/17/science/17JOUR.html
Since the advent of the Internet, many academics have complained about
the practice of charging for online access to scientific journals, as
is done by many high-profile publications, including Science and
Nature. Now, a $9 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore
Foundation will support a new organization that will publish two new
online journals, one on biology and the other on medicine, that will be
entirely free. The Public Library of Science will be led by Dr. Harold
E. Varmus, a Nobel laureate in medicine and president of the Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Varmus, one of the critics of charging
for online access to scientific articles, said, “The written record is
the lifeblood of science.” Dr. Donald Kennedy, the editor of Science,
defended the subscriptions, however, noting that the publication's
standards and costs are high. He said that the number of downloads of
articles relative to the subscription fee indicates that each article
is being accessed for just a few cents each.
New York Times, 17 December 2002 (registration req'd)via Edupage.
STUDY SHOWS HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR INTERNET
http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/693406p-5141654c.html
A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project indicates that
most Americans who are not users of the Internet have very high
expectations of the Internet. According to the study, 64 percent of
nonusers expect that useful information is available online in the
areas of health care, government, news, or shopping. For those who use
the Internet, 97 percent expect to find information in one of those
areas. Overall, many expectations are in fact met by experience when
using the Internet. Seventy percent of those in the study said that,
typically, they were able to find what they were looking for on the
Internet. In the study, satisfaction with news and shopping online
rated the highest, while finding information about government ranked
the lowest.
Associated Press, 30 December 2002 (registration req'd) via Edupage.
All items from the Scout Report are copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-2003. 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.