08/13/04
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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
Status of the Science and Engineering Workforce
http://www.researchcaucus.org/schedule/04July15/default.asp
Items presented at a Congressional Luncheon Briefing, July 15, 2004.
AIP Reviews: Commission's Recommendations on Ocean Science
http://www.aip.org/fyi/2004/091.html
AIP Reviews: Blueprint for Ocean Policy
http://www.aip.org/fyi/2004/090.html
Ocean Commission Report & Supporting Documents
http://www.oceancommission.gov/
“The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy has released a preliminary version of what its
Chairman, Admiral James Watkins, referred to as ‘a blueprint for a coordinated, comprehensive
national ocean policy for the 21st century.’ The commission views improved funding, coordination,
and infrastructure for ocean and coastal science as a vital aspect of the policy. Four chapters of the
commission's report are devoted to ‘Science-based Decisions: Advancing Our Understanding of the
Oceans.’ ”
U.S. House Report: Access to Biomedical Research Information
http://www.arl.org/sparc/taxpayer/NIH_access_report.pdf (pdf)
House of Commons Report
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmsctech.htm
Less than a week after a Congressional committee in the United States
called for open access to government-funded research, Britain's
Science and Technology Committee has issued a report with a similar
recommendation. Like the U.S. report, the British report does not
require open access but strongly encourages scholarly publications to
be either posted on public Web sites or published in “author-pays”
journals, in which authors pay a fee to have their research published,
thereby eliminating fees for subscription. The report also calls on the
government to subsidize author-pays fees for scholars and encourages
academics to retain copyright over their published works, rather than
signing copyright over to the journals that publish them, which
typically happens today. The British Office of Science and Technology
may issue new regulations based on the report this fall. Meanwhile,
Reed Elsevier, the largest publisher of scientific journals, last month
announced that authors of its publications would be allowed to post
copies of their work on institutional Web sites. A spokesperson for
Reed Elsevier said the publisher welcomed the report, though it
believes “some of the concerns expressed in the report about government
policy on scientific publishing to be overstated.”
Chronicle of Higher Education, 20 July 2004 (http://chronicle.com/prm/daily/2004/07/2004072002n.htm)
(sub. req'd) (From Edupage)
Disaster Research in the Social Sciences
http://dels.nas.edu/dr/DRSSWorkshopAgenda.html
Disaster research in the social sciences is the topic of a two-day
workshop being held by a committee of the National Academies' Division
on Earth and Life Studies. The workshop begins at 1 p.m. EDT Monday,
Aug. 23 in Room 101 of the National Academies' Keck Center, 500 Fifth
St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Admission is free and open to the public,
but registration is required.
Establishing a New National Cord Blood Stem Bank
http://www.iom.edu/event.asp?id=21117
Establishing a new National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank program is the
topic a two-day meeting being held by the Institute of Medicine's Board
on Health Sciences Policy. Participants will discuss ethical and legal
considerations, patient support and how best to collect and preserve
blood stem cells. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday, Aug. 18
at the National Academies' Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center, 100 Academy
Drive, Irvine, Calif. Admission is free and open to the public, but
registration is required.
Future Directions in Signaling Systems
http://www7.national-academies.org/keck/Vanderbilt_Presentations.html
Audio and slide presentations from the three-day conference on future
directions in signaling systems are now online. The event, co-sponsored
by Vanderbilt University and the National Academies' Keck Futures
Initiative, was held June 16-18, 2004 in Nashville, Tenn. The meeting
identified a set of methods and ideas and traced future directions for
this emerging field.
Murder at the Museum
http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/events/upcomingevent.jsp?id=43
Take on the role of a crime scene investigator in Murder at the Museum,
an interactive public program at the Marian Koshland Science Museum,
Sixth and E Streets N.W., Washington, D.C. The three-hour event begins
at 7 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 20. Registration is required.
Genomics & Public Health in the 21st Century
http://www.iom.edu/event.asp?id=21464
Genomics and public health in the 21st century is the topic of a two-day
conference being held by the Institute of Medicine. The meeting begins
at 9 a.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 7 in the National Academy of Sciences
Building auditorium, 2100 C St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Admission is
free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century
http://www.iom.edu/event.asp?id=21301
“Global Environmental Health in the 21st Century” is the topic of a
two-day meeting by the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on
Environmental Health Sciences, Research and Medicine. The event begins
on Wednesday, Oct. 13 in the National Academy of Sciences Building
auditorium, 2100 C St. N.W., Washington, D.C. Admission is free and
open to the public, but registration is required.
Engaging the Public in Clinical Research
http://www.iom.edu/event.asp?id=21499
Engaging the public in clinical research is the topic of a daylong
meeting being held by the Institute of Medicine's Clinical Research
Roundtable. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, Sept. 2 in Room
100 of the National Academies' Keck Center, 500 Fifth St. N.W.,
Washington, D.C. Admission is free and open to the public, but
registration is required.
Vaccine Safety Datalink Data Sharing Program
http://www.national-academies.org/
**Live Webcast**
The design and implementation of the new Vaccine Safety Datalink Data
Sharing Program is the topic of daylong Institute of Medicine meeting.
The meeting will review the program to assess its compliance with
current standards of data sharing in the scientific community. The
event begins at 10:30 a.m. EDT Monday, Aug. 23 in Room 100 of the
National Academies' Keck Center, 500 Fifth St. N.W., Washington, D.C.
Admission is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Participate by listening to a live audio webcast (requires free
RealPlayer) and submitting questions using an e-mail form, both
accessible on the National-Academies.org home page during the event.
Please go to the
National Academies Webcast Page
for additional information.
Roberto Rigobon “Institutions, Geography and Growth”
http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/212/
In this lively and provocative presentation, Roberto Rigobon explains global economics in a
manner that demonstrates why he has been named Sloan's “Teacher of the Year” multiple
times.
This presentation connects topics of democracy, malaria, distance from the equator, and bad luck to explain a wide range of global economic realities.
Academic Research and Development Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2002: Detailed Statistical Tables.
NSF, 2004.
http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf04330/
Federal Obligations for Research to Universities and Colleges by Agency and Detailed Field of Science and Engineering: Fiscal Years 1973-2003.
NSF, 2004.
http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04332
Federal Obligations for Research by Agency and Detailed Field of Science and Engineering: Fiscal Years 1970-2003.
NSF, 2004.
http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04335
Federal Advisory Committees: Additional Guidance Could Help Agencies Better Ensure Independence and Balance.
GAO, 2004.
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04328.pdf
More Than One-Fifth of All Individuals Employed in Science and Engineering Occupations Have Less Than a Bachelor's Degree Education.
NSF, 2004. (Data Brief)
http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04333
Federal Plan for High-End Computing.
NITRD, 2004.
http://www.hpcc.gov/pubs/2004_hecrtf/20040702_hecrtf.pdf
NSTA Position Statement on Science Teacher Preparation.
NSTA, 2004.
http://www.nsta.org/main/pdfs/PositionStatement_TeacherPrep.pdf
Karen L. Palmer and Dallas Burtraw.
Electricity, Renewables, and Climate Change: Searching for a Cost-Effective Policy.
Resources for the Future, 2004.
http://www.rff.org/rff/Documents/RFF-RPT-Renewables.pdf
The Multiplier Effect.
National Foundation for American Policy, 2004.
http://www.nfap.net/researchactivities/studies/TheMultiplierEffectNFAP.pdf
Phil Devin.
When Computers go to School: How Kent School Implements Information Technology to Enrich Teaching and Learning.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/TR/TR126/
Physics and Astronomy Senior Report: Class of 2001.
AIP, 2004.
http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/sr01.pdf
Brent Fulton, Sergej Mahnovski.
Estimating the Benefits of the GridWise Initiative: Phase 1 Report.
RAND, 2004.
http://www.rand.org/publications/TR/TR160/
Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope: Letter Report.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11051.html
Lessons Learned from Workshop on Novel Approaches to Carbon Management: Letter Report.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11047.html
(NAS Colloquium) Mapping Knowledge Domains.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11048.html
Retooling Manufacturing: Bridging Design, Materials, and Production.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11049.html
Transmission Pipelines and Land Use: A Risk-Informed Approach – Special Report 281.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11046.html
Biographical Memoirs V.84.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10992.html
Eleventh Interim Report of the Subcommittee on Acute Exposure Guideline Levels.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11055.html
Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods: Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10977.html
IB10041 – Renewable Energy: Tax Credit, Budget, and Electricity Production Issues.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/03Aug/IB10041.pdf
RL30369 – Fuel Ethanol: Background and Public Policy Issues.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/03Aug/RL30369.pdf
IB10117 – Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2004.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/03Aug/IB10117.pdf
IB96026 – Population Assistance and Family Planning Programs: Issues for Congress.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/03Aug/IB96026.pdf
IB10088 – Federal Research and Development: Budgeting and Priority-Setting Issues, 108th Congress.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/03Aug/IB10088.pdf
RL30856 – Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Online News and Information Sources.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSReports/03Aug/RL30856.pdf
IB10114 – Brownfields and Superfund Issues in the 108th Congress.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/03Aug/IB10114.pdf
IB10072 – Endangered Species: Difficult Choices.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/04Jun/IB10072.pdf
IB94036 – The Role of Risk Analysis and Risk Management in Environmental Protection.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/04Jul/IB94036.pdf
IB10116 – Energy Policy: The Continuing Debate and Omnibus Energy Legislation.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/04Jun/IB10116.pdf
RL30120 – Marine Mammal Protection Act: Reauthorization Issues.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.cnie.org/nle/crsreports/04Jun/RL30120.pdf
IB10111 – Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Controversies for the 108th Congress.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/04Jun/IB10111.pdf
IB10020 – Energy Efficiency: Budget, Oil Conservation, and Electricity Conservation Issues.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/04Jul/IB10020.pdf
RL32420 – Mercury in the Environment: Sources and Health Risks.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/04Jun/RL32420.pdf
IB10115 – Environmental Protection Issues in the 108th Congress.
CRS, 2004.
http://www.ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/04Jun/IB10115.pdf
Direct and Indirect Human Contributions to Terrestrial Carbon Fluxes: A Workshop Summary.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11037.html
Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10884.html
Maintaining High Scientific Quality at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11009.html
Naval Forces' Defense Capabilities Against Chemical and Biological Warfare Threats.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11034.html
Proceedings from the Workshop on Science-Based Assessment: Accelerating Product Development of Combination Medical Devices.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11035.html
Strengthening Peer Review in Federal Agencies that Support Education Research.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11042.html
Summary of the Sensing and Positioning Technology Workshop of the Committee on Nanotechnology for the Intelligence Community: Interim Report.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11032.html
Terrorism: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Improving Responses: U.S. - Russian Workshop Proceedings.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10968.html
TRB Conference Proceedings 30: Marine Salvage Capabilities: Responding to Terrorist Attacks in U.S. Ports – Actions to Improve Readiness.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11044.html
Improving the Use of the “Best Scientific Information Available” Standard in Fisheries Management.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11045.html
Review of USAF-Supported Astronomical Research: Letter Report.
NPA, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11052.html
Transmission Pipelines and Land Use: A Risk-Informed Approach – Special Report 281.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11046.html
Saving Lives, Buying Time: Economics of Malaria Drugs in an Age of Resistance.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11017.html
Review of the Army's Technical Guides on Assessing and Managing Chemical Hazards to Deployed Personnel.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10974.html
Indicators for Waterborne Pathogens.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11010.html
Monitoring Metabolic Status: Predicting Decrements in Physiological and Cognitive Performance.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10981.html
The Hydrogen Economy: Opportunities, Costs, Barriers, and R&D Needs.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10922.html
Naval Forces' Defense Capabilities Against Chemical and Biological Warfare Threats.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11034.html
Preparing Chemists and Chemical Engineers for a Globally Oriented Workforce: A Workshop Report to the Chemical Sciences Roundtable.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11059.html
Managing the Columbia River: Instream Flows, Water Withdrawals, and Salmon Survival.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10962.html
California Agricultural Research Priorities: Pierce's Disease.
NAP, 2004.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11060.html
BMJ Website Free No Longer
http://www.resourceshelf.com/2004/07/paying-for-bmjcom.html
“Almost 10 years after it began, the BMJ's experiment of allowing free access to everything
on its website will come to an end”. (From the Resource Shelf)
New Journal: Genes to Cells
http://www.genestocellsonline.org/
Blackwell Publishing is pleased to announce that the full text of Genes to Cells
is also now available online. Genes to Cells provides an international forum for
the publication of papers describing important aspects of molecular and cellular biology and
aims to present conceptual advances in the relevant fields. Particular emphasis is placed on
work geared toward understanding the basic molecular mechanisms underlying fundamental
biological events and processes.
The international team of editors and associate editors represents a huge range of interests. Consequently, Genes to Cells welcomes high quality original research and review papers across the whole of the biological sciences – from protein structure to gene rearrangement and from cell fate determination to neural development.
Genes to Cells Online contains the full content of each issue of the journal, including all figures and tables, starting with the January 2004 issue (Volume 9, Issue 1). The full text is searchable by keyword, and the cited references include hyperlinks to Medline, and the online full text of many other frequently-cited journals. Hyperlinks to CrossRef will be added. PDF files and abstracts are available back to the January 1996 issue (Volume 1, Issue 1).
Access to the full text of articles is available by institutional license, which comes with all institutional subscriptions, by individual subscription available to print subscribers or society members, and by Pay Per View. All other access is freely available. In addition, all back issues of Genes to Cells are provided for free six months after publication.
Colleagues,
Additional journals working with Stanford University's HighWire Press
have begun to participate in the “Free Back Issues” program; and
some publications have changed their Free Back Issue policies.
The Free Back Issues program now has about 200 journals participating (22 of these are entirely free), making over 734,000 full-text articles free to the community; two-thirds of all online full-text articles produced by publishers working with HighWire Press are now free; about 10,000 articles are made free each month. These publishers comprise the largest archive of free full-text articles in the sciences.
The new participating publishers and publications:
Changes in publications' free back issue policies:
The Free Back Issues program now makes available the largest archive of free full-text articles in the life sciences. Approximately 5-10,000 additional articles are made free every month. The list of journals with free issues, free sites, and free trial periods – and the timing of the release of each free issue – can be found at Highwire: Free Online Full-Text Articles (http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/freeart.dtl)
NOVA: Origins [Macromedia Flash Reader]
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/
At NOVA's Origins website, users can “journey back to the beginning of
everything: the universe, Earth, and life itself.” The web site offers a
series of interactive modules where visitors can decide if life exists on
other planets in the Milky Way, view where scientists are making large
discoveries of life's origins, and much more. Users can find fascinating
articles addressing life on Mars, the necessity of water for life, and the
role galaxies play in our existence. Educators should soon be able to find a
Teacher's Guide for the PBS television program airing in September. [RME] (From
the Scout Report)
Lost at Sea: The Search for Longitude
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/longitude/
“This site is a companion to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
NOVA program that tells the story of how British clockmaker John
Harrison solved the problem of calculating longitude and thus
’discovered the key to navigating on the open seas.‘ The site
provides a program transcript, information about secrets of
ancient navigation and the current Global Positioning System
(GPS), and thoughts from scientists about recent scientific
challenges. Also includes a teacher's guide.” (From Librarian's Index to the
Internet)
Journey Through the Galaxy
http://home.cwru.edu/~sjr16/advanced/index.html
This website, supported by Case Western University, “explores our solar
system, stars, extra-solar planets, the theories about the past and future
of the universe, and human exploration of space.” The valuable materials are
provided in two varieties: a regular version designed for grade school
students and an advanced version intended for college students. The easily
navigable website is first divided into five main topics and subsequently
separated into a series of subtopics. For instance, under the Solar System
link users can find five tabs containing data and tutorials on the sun,
planets, asteroids, comets, and the edge of the solar system. With numerous
helpful diagrams and images throughout the website, astronomy students are
sure to benefit from this website. This site is also reviewed in the August
6, 2004 _NSDL Physical Sciences Report_. [RME](From the Scout Report)
MEMORY WORKOUT
http://www.exploratorium.edu/memory/dont_forget/index.html
Explore the workings of the human mind! Find simple and fascinating exercises in memorization
and recall at the Exploratorium's Memory Web site. Once you've tested your memory, check out
the other activities and information, including sections on our earliest recollections,
remembering faces, and connections between memory and art.
Raising Silk Worms
http://www.aurorasilk.com/raisesilk/index.shtml
Clear, brief instructions on how to raise silk worms and process the fiber without sacrificing
the moths. Raising silk worms is a fun and easy biology activity for elementary kids.
The World Awakes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/radio/dawn_chorus/
Heck, I didn't even know there was an International Dawn Chorus Day until I examined this website.
The BBC brings you dawn sounds from the UK and elsewhere, along with advice on recording bird
songs, dawn stories, and more!
The Crick Papers
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/genome/geneticsandsociety/hg13f012.html
“Selections from the papers of biologist Francis Crick, whose
‘discovery of the structure of DNA with James Watson in 1953 is
widely recognized as one of the defining and enabling moments in
the history of human achievement.’ Includes images of papers on
the DNA double helix, DNA replication, and related topics. Also
includes a biography and timeline. From the Wellcome Trust, a
London-based charity.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
DNA From the Beginning
http://dnaftb.org/
“ ‘An animated primer on the basics of DNA, genes, and heredity.’
Includes images, animations of Mendelian and other principles,
video interviews, problems to solve, biographies, and related
links. Searchable.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Putting DNA to Work (Koshland Science Museum)
http://www.koshlandsciencemuseum.org/teachers/searchactivities.jsp
Fifty years ago scientists first described the structure of DNA. Today
humans have put DNA to work in a wide variety of applications. This
exhibit explores a few of those applications including Inherited
Diseases, DNA/Criminal Justice, Improving Crops, and Infectious Disease.
In the following sections, learn more about the basics of where DNA is
found, how similar DNA is between humans and other species and how
traits are inherited from one generation to the next. Teaching
Activities include standards-based activities and fieldtrip guides that
can be used without a physical visit. There is even an activity search
tool. (From Blue Web'N)
Mar-Eco
http://www.mar-eco.no/
Information about the international research project to “enhance
our understanding of occurrence, distribution and ecology of
animals and animal communities along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
between Iceland and the Azores.” The site features information for
the public, students, and scientists. In addition to news and
reports about the project, find photo galleries, video clips, and
backgrounders on topics in biology, physics, oceanography,
geology, and technology. Searchable. A project of the Census of
Marine Life. (From the Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Gene Stories
http://www.bbc.co.uk/genes/
This entertaining and informative website from the BBC links together a number of BBC and other
websites that have an impact on genetics. Find out if dinosaurs can be cloned, how a genetic
study traced the ancestry of Britain's Caribbean community, or be a DNA detective.
BBC: Scientists Given Cloning Go-Ahead
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3554474.stm
Scotsman.com: Go-Ahead for Researchers to Clone Human Embryos
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3326684
New Scientist Special Report: Cloning and Stem Cells
http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/cloning/
New York Times: Britain Grants License to Make Human Embryos for Stem Cells
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/12/science/12clone.html
NPR: Stem Cell Obstacle Solved, But to Limited Effect
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3840067
Financial Times.com: Bright Hope at Embryonic Stage
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/e0d867c2-ebfb-11d8-82f7-00000e2511c8.html
Britain blows ahead of the scientific pack this week by allowing its
scientists to clone and research embryos and the stem cells which are
derived from them. The tiny pinhead sized cluster of cells comprising an
embryo is emerging as a giant ethical, religious, and scientific concern and
may even be the deciding factor in a presidential race across the Atlantic.
Yet, while U.S. scientists remain bogged down by restrictions pertaining to
stem cell research, Bratain follows the lead of a 2003 vote by the European
Parliament by supporting this research. This In the News highlights several
news pieces from this past week. [JPM] (From the Scout Report)
MindSwap [pdf]
http://www.mindswap.org/
MindSwap is the website for a research group within the University of
Maryland Information and Network Dynamics Laboratory (MIND LAB). They claim
to be “the first site on the Semantic web.” They explain that they are first
because: a) their website builds on an older website that used a toolkit
based on a web ontology language called SHOE, developed at the University of
Maryland; b) they hope you will start here for all your semantic web needs,
since this site “harnesses many Web technologies (HTML, XHTML, XML, PHP,
CSS, etc.) and couples them with Semantic Web languages (RDF, RDFS,
DAML+OIL, OWL)” as well as other tools; and, c) it is the first “Owl-
compliant” website to date. From this website, visitors can learn more about
the Semantic Web and projects of MindSwap. Various papers, photos, demos and
downloads are available. Links from many of the pages will let you either
let you see the Semantic Web markup or take you to pages describing how the
pages are created and the tools that were used. It's a great way to learn
about “many of the ways Semantic Web technology can be used to provide new
capabilities on the Web.” [VF] (From the Scout Report)
Try This
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/trythis.html
Experiment with fun science activities you can do yourself! Visit our Web site's Try This
section to build a homemade volcano, use spaghetti to understand physics, and much more.
All activities were created and tested by scientists and teachers and use common, easy-to-find
materials. Plus there's lots of fascinating information about biology, psychology, and chemistry.
Browse the site and get your hands around science!
NCREL: Pathways to School Improvement
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/
Mathematics & Science Critical Issues
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/ma0cont.htm
The Pathways website, developed by the North Central Regional Educational
Laboratory, “synthesizes research, policy, and best practices on issues
critical to educators engaged in school improvement.” The main aspect of
this website is their Critical Issue section, which synthesizes research on
an issue in education. The issues, which are chosen annually in consultation
with experts in the field, are grouped into the following categories:
Assessment, At-Risk Students, Family and Community, Instruction, Leadership,
Literacy, Mathematics and Science, Policy, Professional Development, and
Technology in Education. Each Critical Issue includes an overview of the
issue, sets goals to address the issue, discusses action options,
implementation pitfalls, different points of view, and provides illustrative
cases, additional resources and contact information. Some examples of
Critical Issues in mathematics include: Ensuring Equity and Excellence in
Mathematics and Locating, Using, and Integrating Internet-Based Mathematics
Materials. Examples of Critical Issues in technology in education include:
Technology Leadership: Enhancing Positive Educational Change, and Using
Technology to Support Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students' Learning
Experiences. [VF] (From the Scout Report)
ENC classroom calendar
http://www.enc.org/features/calendar/
Grade(s): Pre-K - 12
Synopsis: Not to toot our own horn – well, okay, maybe just a little toot – but ENC's own
Classroom Calendar is a timely assortment of math and science entries that contain background
information, teaching suggestions, and carefully chosen annotated links to related resources
and activities. Using a 12-month calendar format, Classroom Calendar features each entry on
an appropriate date – for example, an entry on Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius appears on August
24, which is the date that Mount Vesuvius began its famous eruption in A.D. 79. Categories of
entries include inventions, biographies, reading lists, math, and science. Classroom Calendar
is designed to help teachers enrich and supplement their lessons. (From ENC)
Transportation Futuristics
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/news_events/exhibits/futuristics/
“Through annotated image galleries, this site ‘examines some of the
efforts to address transportation needs in ways that didn't quite
get off the ground literally or figuratively.’ Featured topics
include vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, the
hover-car (or ground effect machine), intelligent transportation
systems, monorail, personal rapid transit, pneumatic
transportation, and more. From the Harmer E. Davis Transportation
Library, University of California, Berkeley.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Serafina
http://syseng.anu.edu.au/Projects/Serafina/
“Details about the Australian National University project that
‘explores the potentials of multiple, small, fully autonomous, but
organized submersibles.’ Includes images, technical details, and
publications about the tiny underwater vehicles. The ‘Test Run’
section features videos of the Serafina in action.” (From Librarian's
Index to the Internet)
Ansari X Prize
http://www.ansarixprize.org/
This “is a $10 Million Dollar prize to the first team that: Launches a piloted,
privately-funded spaceship, able to carry 3 people to 100 kilometers (62.5 miles); Returns
safely to Earth; Repeats the launch with the same ship within two weeks.” The site
provides a history of the prize, news about progress of vehicles, information about an
anticipated September 2004 launch, image galleries, and information about rocket science.
This site may not display well in all browsers. (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Science U: Geometry Center [java, vrml]
http://www.scienceu.com/geometry/
Science UTM offers online articles and activities “for people who like
science.” Science U and the web-design and development company that owns and
operates the website, Geometry Technologies, were formed as a result of the
closure of The Geometry Center at the University of Minnesota. One of the
conditions of that grant, which funded The Geometry Center and ended in
1998, was that the Center would find a way to keep their materials available
to the public. In anticipation of the day when the Geometry Center goes
offline, they are slowly migrating materials to this website. The Geometry
Center section at Science U offers lessons on solids using interactive
models, geometry tiling activities, an interactive fractal generator, and
many other puzzles, articles and activities. Visitors can search their
resources using an online query form or by browsing the topic index, subject
listing or content listing. The content listing gives you an idea of the
different types of resources available, such as articles, facts and figures,
classroom materials, online simulations, hands-on-projects, or software. The
Science U also offers other sections on astronomy, graphic arts, and a
library with various online and print resources on science. [VF] (From the Scout Report)
MetEd: Meteorology Education & Training
http://meted.ucar.edu/
“This site provides ‘education and training resources to benefit
the operational forecaster community, university atmospheric
scientists and students, and anyone interested in learning more
deeply about meteorology and weather forecasting topics.’ It
features learning modules on coastal weather, hurricanes,
hydrology, and other weather topics. The ‘K-12 and the Public’
section contains introductory information. Searchable. From the
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.” (From Librarian's Index
to the Internet)
Red Sprites and Blue Jets
http://elf.gi.alaska.edu/
“This site is primarily a description of the University of Alaska
research ‘into middle and upper atmospheric optical and electrical
phenomena.’ It provides a description and images of red sprites
and blue jets (‘upper atmospheric optical phenomena associated
with thunderstorms that have only recently been documented using
low light level television technology’), a bibliography, and links
to related information. From a professor of physics at the
University of Alaska Southeast.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Ship-sinking monster waves revealed by ESA satellites
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMOKQL26WD_Protecting_0.html
Freak Waves
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/freakwave.shtml
Savage Seas: The Power of Waves
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageseas/neptune-article.html
Ocean World: Waves
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/waves/index.html
Wave Links
http://www.fluidmech.net/msc/f_linkw.htm
Rogue waves have long been a legend, and the ESA recently confirmed the reality. Not only does
this phenomena exist, but it is apparently relatively common. The BBC website provides a variety
of information and even a screen saver your can download. The Savage Seas site has information
on various kinds of waves, and a wave simulator to let you create your own wave. OceanWorld has
easy to understand information about ocean waves. The Fluid Mechanics site provides links to a
number of wave related websites.
Earth Science World
http://www.earthscienceworld.org/
On this site “find Earth [weather] data from around the world,
images from the Earth Science World Image Bank, geoscience books,
and information on careers in the geosciences.” The image bank
features a searchable and browsable collection of hundreds of
photos of volcanoes, minerals, structures, and more. Also provides
information about Earth Science Week, which takes place annually
in October. Website of the American Geological Institute. (From Librarian's
Index to the Internet)
Cool Cosmos (California Institute of Technology)
http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/index.html
“The ‘Cool Cosmos’ portal involves students in science with
multi-disciplinary educational materials. Communicating the world of
infrared astronomy to the public is the main topic of the ‘Cool Cosmos’
portal but certainly not its only goal. In the past few years the ‘Cool
Cosmos’ team has created a wide variety of educational products that
explain the infrared as well as the multi-wavelength universe. These
include: websites that explain Infrared Astronomy, its timeline, as well
as the many benefits and uses of Infrared. There are award-winning web
activities where students perform a version of the experiment in which
infrared light was discovered. There are web tutorials about
multi-wavelength astronomy and a multi-wavelength gallery that shows
celestial objects observed in different wavelengths. The Ritter
experiment is a simple classroom activity similar to the experiment
Ritter first discovered the ultraviolet light. The ‘Heat & Temperature’
website introduces the concepts of heat and temperature, heat transfer
and detection. Use the
Site Map (http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/sitemap.html)
to get a full list of what's on the site. There is a Flash
version and an HTML version. Cool Cosmos in also available in Spanish.”
(From Blue Web'N)
The Lewis Carroll Scrapbook Collection
http://international.loc.gov/intldl/carrollhtml/
“This site presents ‘an original scrapbook that was kept by Charles
Lutwidge Dodgson. Better known as Lewis Carroll, the Victorian-era
children's author of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' …
Dodgson was a lecturer in mathematics at the University of Oxford
[England]. The scrapbook contains approximately 130 items,
including newspaper clippings, photographs, and a limited number
of manuscript materials.’ The site also includes an essay,
portrait gallery, and timeline. Searchable and browsable. From the
Library of Congress.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Strange Matter
http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/
“Discover the secrets of everyday stuff!” A fun look at materials
science (what things are made of), featuring games, experiments,
videos, and more. Includes a downloadable teacher's guide.
“Developed by the Ontario Science Centre and presented by the
Materials Research Society with the support of the National
Science Foundation.” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
The Newton Project
http://www.newtonproject.ic.ac.uk/
The Newton Project, hosted by the Imperial College London, has taken on the
amazing task of making available (in print and electronic format) all of
Newton's texts, both “scientific” and “non-scientific.” The Project
currently highlights some of his lesser-known private writings on theology
and alchemy, as well as papers relevant to his three decades of service at
the Royal Mint. Although the project is still underway and searching for
more funding, there are already a good deal of manuscripts online. The
Featured Text includes a brief description, history, and excerpts from the
manuscript. The more adventurous will enjoy browsing the manuscripts
themselves, some of which can be viewed as images of the original documents.
Each entry includes a header with some background information and an option
to view the transcript in different formats. Another section provides a
brief account of Newton's lifework and his archives. One aim of The Newton
Project is “to be one of the most extensive and technologically
sophisticated online resources for the study of any one individual, using
both XML encoded texts and database technology” and they are off to a great
start. [VF] (From the Scout Report)
Perseids, from NightSky
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/040806_perseid_guide.html
Perseids, from the British Astronomical Association
http://www.britastro.org/news/items/2004014.html
The peak is over, but there are still stragglers out there until August 20, so if you can
get away from clouds and street lights, turn your eyes to the heavens for the annual show!
WordCount
http://www.wordcount.org/
“This artistic language experiment looks at how we use words and how often we use them.
Presenting ‘the 86,800 most frequently used English words, ranked in order of
commonality,’ the site talks the talk. To use it, simply type a word, and the site
returns its rank in English usage. But where do they get the information? The site uses data
from the British National Corpus(r), a collection of more than 100 million words representing
a cross-section of English usage. The number one ranked word is just that, but it comes as a
mild surprise that ‘conquistador’ brings up the rear. Another cool feature of
this experiment is that the size of each word is relative to the words before and after it,
giving a visual representation of how much we use it. Trust us – this site is 2,778.”
(From Yahoo's Picks of the Week)
Alexandria Archaeology Museum [pdf]
http://oha.ci.alexandria.va.us/archaeology/
The Alexandria Archaeology Museum created this website to promote its work
with students, volunteers, citizens, and developers “to study and manage
archaeological resources important to the community's past and to share this
knowledge with both a local and world-wide audience.” Subsequent to learning
about the Museum's many endeavors to further its cause, users can find
intriguing descriptions and view pictures of many of its important
collections such as the prehistoric stone tools and artifacts from a 19th
century doctor's office. In the Research link, visitors can read artifact
stories, bibliographies, oral histories, and materials on the history of the
city of Alexandria, Virginia. Students and educators can discover the
Museum's many educational activities and adventures. [RME] (From the Scout Report)
Canadian Economy Online
http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/english/economy/index.cfm
It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Captain Economy! That's right, at this
very comprehensive site devoted to Canada's economy, visitors can ask the
little green guy with the cape and dollar sign on his chest for help. In
fact, his first feat is to address just what an economy is anyway. The site
offers all sorts of statistics about all of the great economic indicators
like inflation rate, unemployment rate, exchange rate, etc. Visitors to the
site can click on one of the subpages devoted to explaining economic topics
such as Key Indicators, Economic Concepts, and Key Economic Events. [JPM]
(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.)
NUMBER OF COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS FALLS
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-08-08-computer-science_x.htm
Despite the improving outlook for the high-tech sector of the economy,
enrollment in most computer science programs at U.S. institutions
continues to decline, causing some to worry about the possibility of a
high-tech workforce shortage in coming years. Schools such as San Jose
State University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Ohio State
University have seen lower computer science enrollments, and according
to the Computing Research Association, enrollment is down by 23 percent
in the United States and Canada. Peter Lee of Carnegie Mellon pointed
out, however, that far fewer applications were received this year
versus last for his institution's computer science program but that
they were generally from more qualified applicants. No longer are
students applying, said Lee, because they are simply lured by the
prospect of high-paying jobs and stock options. Others noted that
enrollments in graduate computer science programs, which remain strong,
may soon begin to suffer due to increased restrictions on foreign
students, who represent 43 percent of students in graduate computer
science programs in the United States and Canada.
USA Today, 8 August 2004 via Edupage.
U.K. PROHIBITS SMILING FACES ON PASSPORTS
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/06/passport_scanners/
The U.K. Home Office ruled that all new passport photos must show an
unsmiling face with closed mouth because open mouths can confuse facial
recognition systems. The new guidelines require good contrast between
the face and background; the full face looking straight at the camera;
no shadows; and a neutral facial expression. The rules will apply
immediately to new and replacement passports.
The Register, 6 August 2004 via Edupage.
ISO APPROVES 3D CONTENT RUN-TIME STANDARD
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3392311
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has given
approval to X3D, a file format developed by the Web3D Consortium for
sending 3D communication across networks and between applications. X3D
is an open-source, XML-based standard that supports several file format
encodings and programming languages. According to Tony Parisi, cochair
of Web3D's X3D Working Group, “Now developers, solutions providers,
and customers alike can rest assured that their investments in
real-time 3D content and applications will be preserved.” X3D is an
extension of VRML 97, an earlier standard, and is backward-compatible
with Classic VRML Encoding.
Internet News, 9 August 2004 via Edupage.
STUDY ADVISES BETTER SYSTEM PERFORMANCE DATA
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2004/0809/web-erm-08-09-04.asp
A study conducted for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) urges the
implementation of performance measures to assess how the agencies
manage electronic records. Federal agencies depend on electronic
records management systems for such activities as meeting regulatory
compliance, responding to Freedom of Information Act requests, and
managing grants, but agencies have varying methods for managing
electronic resources. The report recommends nearly a dozen ways for
officials at federal agencies to assess their management of electronic
records, including urging OMB and NARA to pursue standardized methods
of collecting and managing records. Some of the performance metrics
suggested by the report can be handled automatically, whereas others
require manual data collection and auditing.
Federal Computer Week, 9 August 2004 via Edupage.
SAKAI PROJECT RELEASES VERSION 1.0 AND SOURCE CODE
http://chronicle.com/free/2004/07/2004071502n.htm
The Sakai Project, an effort spearheaded by four higher education
institutions to offer an alternative to commercial course management
software, this week will release Version 1.0 of its open-source
application, as well as the source code. The Sakai Project was launched
less than a year ago with funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,
the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the four institutions
leading the project – University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Indiana
University at Bloomington, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and
Stanford University. Commercial products, from companies such as
Blackboard and WebCT, have drawn fire for their rising costs and the
difficulty of customizing the applications for specific campuses. As an
open-source application, the Sakai Project aims to address both issues,
though all involved concede that open-source projects are far from
free, requiring substantial time to install and maintain. Three of the
founding institutions have pledged to begin using the application by
fall of 2005, and one will begin this fall. Leaders of the project have
launched the Sakai Educational Partners Program, which currently
includes 44 members who pay $10,000 per year to have early access to
the software and can participate in its development prior to releases.
Developers hope that the project can become self-sustaining within
three years.
Chronicle of Higher Education, 15 July 2004 via Edupage
IBM TO BUILD NEW SUPERCOMPUTER FOR U.S. MILITARY
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16518-2004Jul26.html
The U.S. Department of Defense chose IBM to build the U.S. military's
fastest supercomputer, slated to be the fourth fastest in the world.
The supercomputer is intended to produce short-term weather forecasts
for Navy fleets at sea. According to the Pentagon, the supercomputer
will permit military scientists to model atmospheric and ocean dynamics
for the entire surface of the earth. Other research projects will
include design of airplanes and submarines through analysis of aircraft
wing construction material at a molecular level and the flow of water
around submarine hulls.
Washington Post, 27 July 2004 (registration req'd)(via Edupage).
================================================
Items from the ACM Washington Update Vol. 8.7 (July 30, 2004)
================================================
[1] USACM VOICES RESERVATIONS ABOUT INDUCE ACT (S. 2560)
In advance of this month's hearing on the Inducing Infringement of
Copyrights Act of 2004 (S. 2560), USACM sent a letter to Senate
Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch expressing reservations about
the legislation and offering to provide input on its development. In
the letter, USACM cautions that the legislation's flawed approach of
restricting technology rather than focusing on individual acts of
infringement could have serious unintended consequences which could
undermine continued innovations in software and digital computing and
introduce new liabilities for technology developers. The letter is
available at
http://www.acm.org/usacm/induce_letter.pdf,
while more information about the hearing is available at
http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearing.cfm?id=1276.
USACM ENDORSES CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ON IT R&D
USACM, along with the Computing Research Association (CRA), endorsed
the testimony of ACM Fellow Edward Lazowska before the House
Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy,
Intergovernmental Relations, and the Census. The subcommittee held a
hearing on July 7th regarding the federal government's IT research and
development investments. Lazowska's testimony echoed USACM's
long-standing committment toward highlighting the crucial role federal
investment in IT R&D plays in fostering innovation and encouraging the
development of new experts in computing and related disciplines. A
brief summary of the hearing is available from CRA's government
affairs weblog at
http://www.cra.org/govaffairs/blog/archives/000110.html.
For more information, see the article at
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0704/070704td2.htm
and the committee's web page on the hearing at
http://reform.house.gov/TIPRC/Hearings/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=1187
or
http://tinyurl.com/67zna.
FY2005 BUDGET.
The Coalition on National Science
Funding (CNSF) recently issued a letter criticizing the draft FY 2005
VA, HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill that cuts next
year's National Science Foundation budget by 2 percent. Through CRA,
USACM is a member of CNSF. The CNSF statement is available from their
website at
http://www.cnsfweb.org/StatementOnVA-HUDMarkup.7-22-04.pdf.
==================================
From NSTA Express
==================================
“Children of Immigrants Among Highest Achievers in Science and Math Competitions
Foreign-born high school students make up 50 percent of the 2004 U. S. Math Olympiad top scorers,
38 percent of the U. S. Physics Team, and 25 percent of the Intel Science Talent Search finalists,
according to the National Foundation for American Policy report, The Multiplier Effect. Education
Week reported on the study in its July 28 edition and quoted NSTA Executive Director Gerry Wheeler,
who brought attention to a lack of focus in the nation's science curriculum. To read the Education
Week story, go to
http://www.edweek.com/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=43Immig.h23.
To download the report, The Multiplier Effect, go to
http://www.nfap.net/.”
(From NSTA Express).
====================================
From AAAS Science & Technology in Congress Newsletter
====================================
Effort to Maintain US Super-Computing Edge
http://www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/stc/stc04/hpc0407.shtml
A flurry of activities over the last few months in both the executive
and legislative branches of government has highlighted the critical
national importance of high performance computing (HPCs).
R&D Agencies Prepare for Cuts in FY 2006
http://www.aaas.org/spp/cstc/stc/stc04/randd0407.shtml
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) notified federal agencies
that if President Bush wins reelection, next year's fiscal year (FY)
2006 budget request would cut spending for nearly all domestic programs
as projected in February's FY 2005 budget, and that agencies should
prepare to make cuts for most domestic programs when they prepare their
initial FY 2006 proposals.
Robots Get Bookish in Libraries
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3897583.stm
“Article about a group of robotics researchers at the University
Jaume I in Spain who are working on creating service robots for
libraries. The group suggests that one potential application would
be for a robot to ‘fetch the book and, as directed by the web
user, turn to the correct pages and scan the text and images.’
Also includes links to related stories and sites. From the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).” (From Librarian's Index to the Internet)
Notable Words: S&T Policy Quotations from 2003
http://www.aip.org/fyi/2004/002.html
These quotations speak for themselves.
The Seven-Person Conference Bicycle
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/78743.asp?catid=20&promo=inthenews
I don't normally showcase products in this newsletter, but, hey, this one is too good not to
share. Imagine the possibilities … your next staff meeting … a fleet of these for the
next conference on global warming … shooting down the “carpool only” lane …
can't you just picture you and your colleagues working, schmoozing and exercising all at the
same time? Fit this baby up with wireless collaboration tools, and what more could you want?
All items from the Scout Report are copyright Susan Calcari, 1994-2004. 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.