The Review of Particle Physics
http://pdg.lbl.gov/
The Particle Physics Group (PDG) is an "international collaboration that reviews particle physics and related areas of Astrophysics, and compiles/analyzes data on particle properties." The Web site features the 2002 publication, The Review of Particle Physics, which is described as "the most cited publication in particle physics during the last decade." Visitors have access to summary tables and conservation laws; reviews, tables, and plots; and particle listings, which list, average, evaluate, and reference various data used. Other features include a link to particle physics information and databases, archives of past reports, and other helpful resources. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
The Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database
http://www.pesticideinfo.org/
The Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database, maintained by the Pesticide Action Network of North America, provides up-to-date information for those working with or researching pesticides. The site lets users search by chemical name, chemical abstracts service (CAS) number, trade name, or US EPA product registration number to retrieve a selected pesticide's active ingredients, breakdown products, and other chemicals used in it. Also available is California specific pesticide information, toxicity and regulation information, nontoxic alternatives to pesticides, and more. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
The National Map [.pdf]
http://nationalmap.usgs.gov/
Described as The Nation's Topographic Map for the 21st Century, the National Map "will be a seamless, continuously maintained set of public domain geographic base information that will serve as a foundation for integrating, sharing, and using other data easily and consistently." The USGS site explains why such a program is needed -- including the agencies role; their vision for the project; its building, maintenance, and operation; access and use; and strategies for implementation. Two similar pilot projects from Texas and Delaware are offered as examples, and several fact sheets can be downloaded for review. The USGS welcomes any comments via email. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Chemical Registry System
http://www.epa.gov/crs/
The US Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) Chemical Registry System provides identification information on more than 70,000 chemicals. "The system provides a common basis for identifying chemicals listed in EPA regulations and data systems, and chemicals of interest from other sources, such as publications." Searches can be done by name, chemical abstracts service (CAS) number, or keyword/identifier. Results include ID information, listings of chemicals in regulations, and listings of agency programs, as well as sometimes providing molecular formula, molecular weight, and alternative identification information. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Suggestions to Authors of the Reports of the United States Geological Survey [.pdf]
http://www.nwrc.gov/lib/lib_sta.htm
The goal of the Suggestions to Authors Web site, prepared by the National Wetlands Research Center, is to "help writers present information as clearly as possible explaining punctuation rules, suggesting phrasing, and offering examples of citations styles and outlining report organization, table and graph design, and details of map design." The scientific style guide can be downloaded by chapter in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, offering scientists, students, and editors a terrific resource to aid in report writing. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Groundwater Database
http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/dnre/grndwtr/grdata.htm
Presented by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Victoria, Australia, the Groundwater Database provides data collected from over 130,000 boreholes from the area. The site contains four updated reports including bore locations, aquifers, bore chemistry, and bore composites, as well as an older bore owner report and an in-progress lithology report. Each can be downloaded as a ZIP file for review. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Water and Sanitation Program Publications and Videos
http://www.wsp.org/English/pubs/pubs.html
The Water and Sanitation Program is an international organization concerned with water and sanitation services for the poor. The Publication and Videos page contains links to materials related to water resources and undeveloped countries, organized by author, category, data, title, or region. Even though the site offers to send five of them to interested parties free of charge, reports and several videos can be accessed online. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Data Centres
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/gsc/data_e.html
The extensive Natural Resource Canada governmental Web site contains a wealth of information suited to researchers. One way to access this data is through the Geological Survey of Canada's Data Centres link, which provides a one-stop location for earth science information. Everything from geophysical, petrophysics, geomagnetism, earth impacts, mineral data, and much more can be found here. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
The Squier Group Education
http://squier.ucsd.edu/education/
The University of California San Diego Squier Group Web site (last mentioned in the November 10, 1999 Scout Report for Science & Engineering) contains several educational pages related to physical and general chemistry. Students can learn about air pollution, molecular dynamics, atomic orbitals, entropy, and more through various slides prepared on each topic. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Archeology Exhibits
http://emuseum.mankato.msus.edu/archaeology/index.shtml
From the Minnesota State University of Mankato's E-Museum comes the Archeology Exhibits site. Main headings include topics such as general archeology, artifacts, dating techniques, underwater archeology, and rock art; many other subtopics are found within each. The vast amount of educational material offered covers enough areas of archeology to give students from various grade levels something to enjoy. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Basic Geology Course for Primary and Secondary Teachers
http://earthsci.org/
Provided by Earth Science Australia, the Basic Geology Course for Primary and Secondary Teachers was adapted from lecture notes of Professor Stephen A. Nelson of Tulane University. The site is a free online course geared for teachers but is also very suitable for high school and first year college students. The dozens of subjects contain simple descriptions and graphics covering the basics of geological time, rocks, minerals, the oceans, and everything in between. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Kids Zone
http://www.aecl.ca/kidszone/atomicenergy/index.asp
Kids Zone is the Atomic Energy of Canada Web site for kids that explores nuclear energy, electricity, and how energy interacts with our environment. The interactive lessons use animations, games, colorful cartoon characters, and other attention grabbing methods to help drive home the "energy is good" theme. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
I.M. Perplexed School
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/0012/0001/angindex.asp
Another good Canadian educational site, from the Environmental Assessment Agency, is called Dilemma at I.M. Perplexed School. The activity chronicles the imaginary schools project to enlarge the schoolyard and the environmental impacts of such a project. The lesson teaches compromise, environmental advocacy, and how to consider other viewpoints. Students can follow along; make suggestions; discuss alternatives; and, in the end, take a short quiz to help reinforce the learning. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
If The Earth Could Talk
http://www.cgq-qgc.ca/english/outreach/earth/index2.html
If The Earth Could Talk Web site, offered by Quebec Geoscience Center, is described as a general introduction to the earth sciences. Although the graphics suggest a younger audience, grade school students may need teacher assistance with the writing, which is a bit technical. The puzzles, quizzes, and fun style of the site however make it well worth a visit for kids studying these topics. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Test Your Geography Knowledge
http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/
Provided by Web site creator Lyndsey Mania and Lizardpoint.com, the Test Your Geography Knowledge interactive quiz gives students a fun way to learn geography. Users choose a region of the world; click on the state, country, ocean, or other feature requested; and are told whether theyre right or wrong and their total score. A simple yet effective learning tool for kids. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Understanding Our Planet Through Chemistry
http://minerals.cr.usgs.gov/gips/na/aii-indx.htm
The Central Region's Mineral Resource Surveys Understanding Our Planet Through Chemistry Web site shows how chemists and geologists use analytical chemistry to determine the age of the Earth. The various topics covered include: elements, isotopes, and radioactivity; global change in the geologic past; cleaning up coal burning; and mapping stream sediments for resource exploration, among others. The articles are written by various USGS personnel and include interesting photographs, illustrations, and other relevant learning materials. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Global Challenge, Global Opportunity: Trends in Sustainable Development [.pdf]
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/media_info/pressreleases_factsheets/1308_critical_trends_report.pdf
As part of the upcoming 2002 Johannesburg Summit, the United Nations report "Global Challenge, Global Opportunity: Trends in Sustainable Development" was issued on August 13, 2002. The report, in part, tells that "if current patterns of development continue, nearly half of the world's people will suffer from water shortages within the next 25 years, the use of fossil fuels, along with greenhouse gas emissions, will grow, and the world's forests will continue to disappear." [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Action Plan to Enhance Comparability Among Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers in North America [.pdf]
http://www.cec.org/home/index.cfm?varlan=english
A new report, "The Action Plan to Enhance Comparability Among Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) in North America," was issued by The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation. The document includes an overview of progress made since 1997 on increasing the comparability of the North American PRTRs and the proposed set of actions for further enhancing the comparability of PRTR data in North America. The entire report is available for download free of charge. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Physics Central
http://www.physicscentral.org/index.html
Physics Central is how the 42,000 physicists of the American Physical Society "communicate the excitement and importance of physics to everyone." The continually updated Web site provides news and insight into the world of physics through articles, subject and physicist features, pictures, answered questions, and much more. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
A Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/management/joysmanual/
The Washington State Department of Ecologys Water Quality Program offers the Web site A Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams. The five chapters include the basic scientific knowledge needed to partake in water quality monitoring. For example, visitors can learn about parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH, as well as how to report and analyze the collected data. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
National Soil Survey Center Soil Science Education Web site
http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/nssc/educ/Edpage.html
The National Soil Survey Center is part of the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the USDA. Their Soil Science Education Web sites motto is "Helping People Understand Soils," and accomplishes this by offering an explanation of what soil is, its formation and classification, what the soil survey is, and soil movement regulations. The site also provides links to a soil science glossary, photo gallery, and much more. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
The Yucca Mountain Project
http://www.ymp.gov/
The Senate recently agreed to allow the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project to proceed to the next stage of development. The US Governmental site, the Yucca Mountain Project, gives a thorough description of its objectives; describes timelines, milestones, and economic concerns; and even provides a tour of the mountain using pictures and videos. This site is also reviewed in the August 23, 2002 Scout Report. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
100 Top Science Sites
http://www.100TopScienceSites.com/
A simple but informative Web site, 100 Top Science Sites gives exactly that, along with very brief descriptions. Although nomination criteria were not given, several sites listed have been previously reviewed by the Internet Scout Project. A nice alternative to normal search engines, visitors can choose to receive notification emails for when the list changes or visit the site's chat room. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
USGS by Theme
http://www.usgs.gov/themes
The USGS by Theme Web site has links to four principle areas of the agency's research including Hazards, Natural Resources, Environment, and Information Management. Geared to the general public, each link provides basic information and highlights from each general area. For example, the hazards page contains six maps of the US that show the potential for various hazards to occur. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Seismic Waves
1. What Is Seismology?
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html
2. Earthquakes Overview
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/quakes/overview/
3. Earthquakes Hazard Program
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/bytopic/seis.html
4. Seismic Waves
http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/Input/lahr/waves/waves.html
5. UK Macroseismology Home Page
http://www.quakes.bgs.ac.uk/hazard/macro1.htm
6. Lesson Plans - High School
http://mae.ce.uiuc.edu/Education/Teachers/high.htm
7. Earthstation Library
http://www.eoascientific.com/
8. Earthscope Data
http://dax.geo.arizona.edu/earthscope/data/realtime.php3
The first site for this Topic in Depth comes from the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Technological University and is called What Is Seismology? (1). The site describes the basics of seismology, the various types of waves associated with it, and even contains a link that shows you how to make your own P and S waves. Next is the Earthquakes Overview site (2), provided by The Tech Museum. Visitors can explore topics such as seismographs and waves through an informative and well done site that can be enjoyed by all age levels. The third site, from the USGS Earthquakes Hazard Program (3) Web site, contains animations of various seismic waves that gives a very clear look at what happens during an earthquake. The site also contains other relevant links worth investigating. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Seismic Waves (4) Web site provides a diagram of an earthquake wave traveling through the earth and shows how far it travels 15 seconds to 4 minutes after an earthquake event. The fifth site, called UK Macroseismology Home Page (5), explores the study of observable effects of earthquakes on people, buildings, and nature. Included are descriptions of macroseismic methods and the usefulness of macroseismic studies, among others. The Lesson Plans - High School (6) Web site offered by the Mid-America Earthquake Center contains links to several good lesson plans from various sources related to earthquakes and seismic waves. The seventh site is maintained by the Earth Ocean Atmosphere Scientific Systems company. The main page called Earthstation Library (7) offers information on several topics including a multimedia presentation on earthquakes and seismic waves. Under the Shockwave Demonstrations heading, visitors will find a link that provides a very interesting, visually stunning look at the subject. Lastly, from Earthscope comes the Earthscope Data (8) Web site, which provides a map that gives locations and links to seismic stations that give real-time seismic data from around the US. [JAB]
[Back to Contents]
Below are the copyright statements to be included when reproducing annotations from The NSDL Scout Report for the Physical Sciences.
The single phrase below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing any portion of this report, in any format:
From The NSDL Scout Report for Physical Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/
The paragraph below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing the entire report, in any format:
Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2002. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the National Science Foundation.
For information on additional contributors, see the Internet Scout Project staff page:
http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/about/team.html
