The Scout Report -- Volume 26, Number 19

Inclusivity is a core tenant of both personal and professional interactions. For "the latest news, opinions, and guides on conscious language - all in one place," turn to Conscious Style Guide. Launched by award-winning editor Karen Yin in 2015, this site curates articles, guides, and newsletters promoting "inclusive, empowering, and respectful language." These resources are divided into categories such as Ability and Disability, Ethnicity, Race + Nationality, and Gender, Sex + Sexuality. Each section includes articles produced by the Conscious Style Guide team, as well as links to external sources. These resources inform readers on how to make conscientious and inclusive language and style choices. For example, the Ability and Disability section contains information on adapting images on websites to be accessible for screen reader users and avoiding ableist language. The site also produces a monthly newsletter that covers topics relevant to inclusivity and highlights news stories that show thoughtful writing. For example, the April 2020 edition included resources for conscious coverage of COVID-19. Readers can subscribe to this free newsletter by following the instructions on the Newsletter page. Conscious Style Guide is endorsed by several members of the science and journalism communities, including NASA and the Chicago Manual of Style Online. [EMB]

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Think Google Maps for the climate-conscious. Readers interested in the intersection of cartology and climatology may enjoy the Surging Seas maps created by Climate Central. Using peer-reviewed data and research, the site's interactive resources explore the imminent and long-term effects of climate change through "user-friendly maps and tools, extensive datasets, and high-quality visual presentation." Those new to sea level science may want to begin on the Basics page, where they can toggle through brief introductions on the science and history of rising sea levels. From there, readers can explore the data visualizations on the Maps & Tools page, including a "Risk Zone Map" (that explores carbon consequences on a community level) and "Ocean at the Door" (that highlights the effects of rising sea levels). Interested in exploring the peer-reviewed data used to create these interactive tools? Check out the Research page, where you can view and download reports in PDF form, find links to published papers, and learn more about the researchers' methodology. The Responses and News pages are a great place to end, as they highlight action plans, news stories, and events where visitors can learn more about sea level changes and contribute to solutions. Surging Seas is supported by a variety of foundations, including the National Science Foundation. [EMB]

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Book and art enthusiasts, rejoice! This collection of digital images of late 19th- and early 20th-century book covers presented by The Public Domain Review contains more than 30 book covers with exceptional aesthetics. Online since 2011, The Public Domain Review specializes in "exploration of curious and compelling works from the history of art, literature, and ideas," focusing on works that are in the public domain. The covers are available in web resolutions at the link above. Higher resolution photos and more information can be accessed via the provided link to each image's source. Images come from a range of sources, including: Wikimedia, the Biodiversity Heritage Library, Internet Archive, and more. In addition to the curated covers, readers will find many full volumes by visiting the source links. For example, visitors can page through Walter Crane's A Floral Fantasy in an Old English Garden (hosted on Internet Archive). Beyond this digital exhibition, the Collections section of the website provides access to plenty of interesting content. Readers may also enjoy the Essays section, which contains contributions from some well-known authors such as Phillip Pullman (His Dark Materials) and Julian Barnes (The Sense of an Ending). [DS]

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Supported by Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Discover Egypt's Monuments invites visitors on a virtual trip through Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, Luxor, South Sinai, Wadi Natrun, Al-Minya, and the Red Sea. Clicking "Explore Egypt's Maps" leads visitors to an interactive map where they can scroll through locations (using the Places to Visit box on the right-hand side, under Sites and Monuments) and find pinpointed sites along the way. Each site includes a brief description (available in English or Arabic). If a site sounds particularly fascinating, click the "Read More" button to find additional highlights, history, and galleries. Visitors can also explore sites by time period (by switching the selection in the top-right from Sites and Monuments to Chronological). Want even more immersive content? The Ministry of Tourism's YouTube channel (accessible via the icon on the left-hand panel) offers video tours of many of the featured places. The Ministry of Tourism's website in its entirety is full of engaging resources. The button with three lines in the top-left corner links to these other parts of the website, including Children's World, where you will find a variety of activities and resources for the young ones in your life, and a Stories and Media hub with additional reading material. [EMB]

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Are you a teacher, parent, or caregiver looking for a stress-free STEM activity? This app and lesson plan on the human skeletal system may be just what you need. Using the interactive STARS Anatomy app (available at the link above and downloadable from Apple or Google Play), kids will follow along with the "Tinysaurs" (the app's characters) as they go on quests, play games, and test their scientific knowledge. In addition to being free and fun, the app introduces users to important anatomy concepts. Users then build upon this knowledge with the corresponding lesson plan (found by visiting the Lessons page and then selecting the Anatomy tab at the top center of the page). The curriculum includes guided questions and links to reading and visual materials. While some aspects of the lesson are designed for classroom settings (with group work and projector images), these can be easily adapted for online learning. The lesson plan's length is also adaptable from one to five days (see the Lesson Duration section for guidance on how to structure accordingly). This project is a collaboration between the U.S. Army and other partners, including Tennessee Technical College and James Clemens High School. [EMB]

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As noted in How Wine Colonized the World, wine's roots extend beyond the literal horticultural sense. The beverage is also rooted in history, spirituality, and colonization. Following an interactive timeline, readers will learn more about these roots, traveling from 4100 B.C. (when the first known winery was established in Armenia) to 2013 (discussing China's consumption and production of wine). Along the way, readers will find themselves traveling to six of the seven continents. Unfortunately, Antarctica has yet to cultivate the drink, though the end of the timeline jokingly implies it might be next. Clicking on the right- and left- sides of the page or using arrow keys, readers can scroll through the resource's 24 panels. Each panel offers a short paragraph and visual describing an influential period in the world history of wine. Some panels even contain links to additional related content. This resource was created by VinePair, a "digital media company delivering accessible, entertaining, and inspiring content about drinks and the experiences you have with a glass in hand." [EMB]

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Longtime viticulturist and professor Maynard Amerine has an impressive wine label collection. UC Davis's Label This: Wine Label Transcription Project is cataloging his materials to "provide a meaningful window into the history of both winemaking and winemakers," for all to enjoy. The project is a work-in-progress, but visitors can find the nearly 5,000 materials inputted thus far by scrolling to the gallery at the bottom of the page. In addition to browsing images of the included wine labels, the project offers a unique hands-on opportunity to contribute by welcoming volunteers to assist with catalog and transcription efforts. Learn more about participating by reading the Here's How You Can Help section on the home page, and then click the green "Get Started" button just below to begin. Those eager to jump in can also head directly to the transcription section by clicking the Transcribe tab at the top of the site. The project also has a blog (located under the Blog tab in the top-right corner) and, though it has not been updated since 2017, archived posts offer additional insight on the project's inspiration, Mr. Amerine. [EMB]

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A publication of the South African Society for Enology and Viticulture, the South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture brings readers open-access research on a variety of topics connecting wine and science (from wine biotechnology to plant pathology). The journal has been published biannually since 1980, and readers can browse all 41 volumes (as of this write-up) on the Archives page. Those with a particular topic in mind may want to use the query bar (located on the Search page) to find related articles. To explore the latest volume visit the Current page. At the moment, for example, you will find articles such as "Effect of Grapevine Canopy Side on Selected Sensory Attributes of Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon Wines," (which details the way grapevine directions impact the quality of wines) and "Phenolic and Sensorial Evolution during Bottle Ageing of South African Shiraz Wines with Different Initial Phenolic Profiles," (which explores the "phenolic evolution" of red wine). Articles can be read on the website, or downloaded in PDF form. [EMB]

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If you have already mastered the sourdough starter, perhaps it is time for a new quarantine kitchen experiment. Learn the ins and outs of wine production with Inside Winemaking. Hosted by professional winemaker Jim Duane, this podcast introduces listeners to "the best winemakers in the U.S. [and] spend[s] an hour discussing... questions about growing grapes and making wine." Launched in 2014, the show now has more than 100 episodes packed full of expert advice. Readers will find all of these episodes at the link above. Each installment is accompanied by a brief description and a list of resources discussed during the show. Are you looking for even more winemaking content? Stay tuned! Duane's next goal "is to make a short and simple to understand [video course] guide that distills the most critical aspects of professional winemaking and ignores the stuff you don't need to sweat about." Check back soon or sign up for his e-mail list (via the box at the bottom of the About page) for more on this addition. [EMB]

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What comes to mind when you think of esters, pyrazines, and terpenes? Perhaps you are getting flashbacks to your organic chemistry class, but these compounds are not just present in laboratory beakers. They also form the aromas responsible for the flavors that wine connoisseurs know and love. "Where Wine Flavors Come From" explains how some of these compounds interact to create the three basic wine flavor categories: Fruit/Floral/Herbal, Spice, and Earthy. Posted on Wine Folly (a website on a mission to improve appreciation and education surrounding wine), the post introduces readers to the science behind wine flavors through text and useful diagrams. The article was originally posted in 2015 and updated April 3, 2020. Madeline Puckette (a James Beard Award-winning writer and the International Wine & Spirits Competition Wine Communicator of the Year 2019) created the guide with input from sommeliers Geoff Kruth and Matt Stamp. Readers interested in more content from this sommelier duo may be interested in their podcast, Guild of Sommeliers. [EMB]

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With new posts each month covering news, resources, and workshops, UGA's Extension Viticulture Blog (last featured in the 10-27-2017 Scout Report) continues to be a great resource for viticulturalists.

From the University of Georgia's (UGA) Extension Viticulture team, part of UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, comes this blog that aims to "educate, inform, and conduct applied research that will support and positively impact the fast growing grape/wine industry in the state of Georgia, but also neighboring southeastern US regions." Regularly updated, this blog addresses topics including meteorology and viticulture, diseases that affect grape crops, and how to protect crops from birds and mammals. While most entries are aimed specifically at viticulturists in the southeastern United States, some posts appeal more broadly to a global perspective of viticulture. Recent posts discuss how climate conditions are affecting grape crops (see the April 17, 2020 entry) and proper disease management (see the March 9, 2020 entry).

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