NSDL Scout Report for Math, Engineering, and Technology
The sixteenth issue of the first volume of the MET Report is available. Its Topic in Depth section offers Web sites and comments about pollution control.
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The Polis Center
http://www.polis.iupui.edu/polis/home.htm
Located at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), the Polis Center is an academic research center that focuses on urban and urban-related issues. Their goal is to "to develop knowledge that will serve the common good and invigorate the sense of community in this city and beyond." To this end, they have placed on the site a great deal of material about their numerous research and outreach projects. Sections of the site are devoted to work that examines the intersection between religion and urban culture, intensive community research, and the different support services they provide. Other compelling information includes material on their various training sessions, which may be of great interest to persons in the Indianapolis area seeking to expand their own knowledge base. Finally, there is also a "What's New" section that tells about upcoming public events sponsored by the Center. [KMG]
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Zimbabwe and the Politics of Torture [.pdf]
http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr92.pdf
The United Institute of Peace recently released this report (written by John Brinkley) outlining the use torture as a means to achieve political ends in Zimbabwe. The brief report is divided into several sections, including an introduction that outlines the use of torture in the country, which dates back to the 1970s. Other sections of the report detail the populations most affected by these policies and the perspectives of journalists who have worked in Zimbabwe. The report concludes with a section of recommendations for alleviating this situation, and includes additional references for further reading. For persons interested in the political climate of Zimbabwe and current affairs in the region, this report will be a valuable resource. [KMG]
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Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/faith/
The events of September 11, 2001, left many Americans turning to cherished and long-held beliefs about their respective faiths, and still others doubting the existence of a divine presence. This site is the Web presence of a recent television special produced by Frontline, in conjunction with WGBH and PBS, exploring some of those issues. Through first hand interviews with survivors of the attacks, religious leaders, and others, the site documents different perspectives on the nature and potential for humans to commit evil acts and the presence of God on that day (or by some accounts, the absence of God). Included on the site are extensive transcriptions of various interviews, along with supplementary video footage. Finally, there is also a short poll about faith that visitors to the site may be interested in filling out. [KMG]
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Tenure, Diversity, and Commitment : Community Participation for Urban Service Provision [.pdf]
http://econ.worldbank.org/files/15962_wps2862.pdf
Written by Somik V. Lall, Uwe Deichmann, Mattias Lundberg, and Nazmul Chaudhury as part of the World Bank's Working Paper series, this 33-page report explores the factors influencing community participation in the delivery of urban services. The authors use a variety of data in their investigations (including household survey information) as they explore these various processes within Bangalore, India. Through their work, the authors conclude that participation is possible in heterogeneous communities when participation is a means to a shared goal, rather than just as a goal by itself. The end of the report contains maps detailing the level of community participation throughout the area, along with tables relating other data used in the report. [KMG]
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State of Working Wisconsin 2002 Report [.pdf]
http://www.cows.org/currently/archive/files/soww2002/soww2002.pdf
This recent report, produced by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, offers a great deal of timely and prescient material on Wisconsin's work force, along with providing information on income trends and offering some suggestions for future policy initiatives. Some of the findings of the report include documentation that, while median family income has increased, total hours worked have increased. The full 72-page report offers extensive data (through 2001) dealing with the problems and possibilities that Wisconsin's working population faces, along with an executive summary and a county-by-county breakdown of economic and other work-related data. The report also contains extensive data on the methodology deployed throughout, along with extensive policy recommendations. [KMG]
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Challenging Conventional Wisdom: Smallholder Perceptions and Experience of Land Access and Tenure Security in the Cotton Belt of Northern Mozambique [.pdf]
http://www.wisc.edu/ltc/wp48.html
Produced for the Land Tenure Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this 72-page paper is a case study of the land tenure practices and their recent evolution in Northern Mozambique. Authored by Paul J. Strasberg and Scott Kloeck-Jenson and released this April, the paper examines the effects of a land law that went into effect in Mozambique in 1998. The authors contend that, while the law may offer more protection to small landholders in the region, it may not in fact eliminate or effectively adjudicate disputes between small landholders. The work concludes with dozens of tables documenting these different relationships and various statistical data that the authors used to create this document. [KMG]
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Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions
http://www.cohre.org/
The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (located in Switzerland) "is committed to local and national capacity-building in the area of economic, social and cultural rights and places particular emphasis on securing respect for the housing rights of traditionally disadvantaged groups, including women, children, ethic or other minorities and indigenous peoples." With this mission in mind, the site contains materials for persons interested in international trends in litigation for housing rights, forced evictions, and housing rights across the globe. Also, there is an online library of documents and additional reports related to these subjects and a section for those persons who may choose to get involved with different projects. The site is rounded out by several extensive glossaries of terms related to housing rights and a section on the Centre's most recent activities. [KMG]
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HighLift Systems [.pdf]
http://www.highliftsystems.com/
An elevator to space might have seemed impossible a few years ago, but now, the feasibility of building one is being seriously investigated. With the recent carbon nanotube breakthrough, the scientific hurdles involved in making a space elevator are nearly manageable. HighLift Systems is studying the technical aspects, and its Web site has many fascinating resources on the subject. Many frequently asked questions are answered that shed light on specifics of the elevator's design. Reports and presentations from NASA and HighLift Systems are free for download. Some history of the idea's origin and its evolution are given, as well as updates on the project's status. This site is also reviewed in the September 13, 2002 NSDL MET Report. [CL]
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Arnold Schoenberg Center
http://www.schoenberg.at/default_e.htm
Perhaps best remembered for his musical forays into the world of atonality, Arnold Schonberg remains at the focal point of this particular Web site, sponsored by the Arnold Schoenberg Center. The site contains an amazing amount of material on the composer, ranging from an extended biographical essay to a complete listing of his compositions, complete with first performance date, location, and other germane information. The site also contains material on the mission of the Center (located in Vienna) and links to information about using the archives at the Center, which contain a great deal of Schoenberg's correspondence and personal effects. The site also has a section where visitors can purchase Schoenberg related material, such as audio recordings and the journal published by the Center. [KMG]
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Organization of Black Screenwriters
http://www.obswriter.com/
Devoted to the art of screenwriting, the Organization of Black Screenwriters (OBS) site has a variety of materials of interest to people working in the cinematic arts. The site is a valuable source of information on the group's activities, including their screenwriting competitions and their upcoming meetings, workshops, and seminars. Particularly helpful for those in the field will be the sections on scriptwriting resources and job opportunities. OBS also offers a calendar of events and a screenwriting forum where visitors can post questions about the screenwriting process, getting started in the movie business, or any number of other topics. Additionally, there is information on joining OBS and a section devoted to recent news and accolades garnered by current members. [KMG]
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The American Project [RealPlayer]
http://www.theamericaproject.org/
Alix Spiegel is the producer of these often amazing radio documentaries that are on This American Life and All Things Considered on National Public Radio. Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, these programs run through the gamut of off-beat and timely topics. The shows on the site include the quest to locate all of Screamin' Jay Hawkins 57 children, a piece on Hitler's yacht, and a group of urban adventurers in New York City. The show archive has over 20 shows, and new ones are being added. Also, there is a place to send feedback and suggestions for future shows. [KMG]
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Northern Lights
http://www.northern-lights.no/
Sponsored by Andya Rocket Range, the Norwegian Space Centre, and Nordlyssenteret, this intriguing site contains a host of material relating the history, science, and legend behind the Northern Lights, sometimes referred to as "Aurora Borealis." Sections of the site include The Physical Phenomenon, which is devoted to explaining the science behind the lights, and "The Mysterious Light," which offers some of the lore and legend associated with the Northern Lights. A nice feature of the site allows visitors to ask questions of the researchers at the site who will respond in a public forum. The site also has ongoing discussion boards, lists of places one can best view the Northern Lights, and a featured photo of the month submitted by a visitor to the site. [KMG]
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The Parallax Project
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/parallax/index.html
The Parallax Project at the Digital Research Library of the University of Pittsburgh makes available 10 digitized volumes of star data, calculations, and astronomical observations collected by researchers working at the Allegheny Observatory between 1910 and 1969. Originally published in the periodical Publications of the Allegheny Observatory of the University of Pittsburgh, data is provided in the form of articles, equations, tables, and graphs. Parallax Project visitors can browse scanned page images that preserve the layout and format of the originals, or search on a variety of criteria, such as Star Name, Declination, Parallax, and Parallax Error. A virtual keyboard is provided to make it easier to include Greek characters in star names. There is also a section on the Allegheny Observatory: its history ("born" 1859), its telescopes, and links to other observatories. For the astronomically challenged, What is a Parallax? by Dr. George Gatewood, Allegheny Observatory Director, explains. [DS]
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National Peanut Board
http://www.nationalpeanutboard.com/index.html
For those with an interest in peanuts, the National Peanut Board Web site will provide a host of information on this well-known legume. The site has different themed sections dealing with the history of the peanut, and continue on to give a detailed explanation of the production process involved with turning peanuts into a host of products. Additionally, the extensive research and promotion activities of the National Peanut Board are detailed on the site. A map shows the primary peanut growing regions on the United States and a cookbook offers a multitude of ways to use peanuts in different dishes. Perhaps the most interesting part of the site is a section offering a range of facts on the peanut and its uses throughout the world. [KMG]
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Wonder Books: Rare Books on Early Museums
http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/wonderbound/
This virtual exhibit sponsored by the National Museum of Natural History asks the question: "Why are centuries-old natural history books vital to scientific research?" Using materials from the Rare Books Collection at the Smithsonian, the exhibit offers a variety of images dealing with natural history museums of the past to allow for the exploration of parallels and contrasts between the operations and methods of present-day natural history museums. Materials in the different sections of the exhibit deal with the preservation and maintenance of specimens and the methods by which a natural history museum might be organized. Finally, there is a section devoted to further reading on the history and evolution of natural history museums. [KMG]
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Dnoter 3.0
http://www.ruinedsoft.com/dnoter/index.html
This small program allows users to post reminders on their desktop in the fashion of Post-it Notes. An installer is included, along with a rich text editor, and some samples of how users might set up their notes. Other options include making notes transparent, resizing notes, assigning them different colors, and hiding them. This footprint program will be helpful to those wanting to prioritize their activities. [KMG]
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PopupBuster
http://www.cableaid.com/PopUpBuster/
For those persons frustrated with the numerous pop-up ads that frequently appear when browsing the Web, this small program will be a welcome addition. Utilizing two built-in engines, PopUpBuster protects users from all unwanted pop-up and pop-under windows. Additionally, clicking on a link opens a new window if it is designed to do so, and this link will also be free from pop-ups. PopUpBuster is not invasive and can be overridden by clicking the shift or control keys. [KMG]
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Princeton University Tops New Ranking of Educational Institutions
Princeton Again Tops 'US News'
http://chronicle.com/free/2002/09/2002091302n.htm
National Survey of Student Engagement
http://www.indiana.edu/~nsse/
Americas Best Colleges 2003
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/rankindex_brief.php
College and University Rankings
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm
A Review of the Methodology for the US News and World Reports Rankings of Undergraduate Colleges and Universities
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2000/norc.html
The Princeton Review: Best 345 College Rankings
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankingCategory.asp?categoryID=1
The US News and World Report released their latest rankings of colleges this Thursday on their Web site. Princeton University was ranked number one in the rankings, followed by Harvard and Yale (who tied for second place), and with five institutions tied for fourth place. The past few years have seen great debates among educators about the validity of these rankings, with some institutions even refusing to release certain data to groups that prepare these rankings. A new aspect has been added to the data collection for this year's US News and World Report rankings with the inclusion of data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, an addition that is hoped will add a new dimension to the results.
The first link is to a no-fee article for the Chronicle of Higher Education about the rankings, which includes some reactions from Princeton officials. The second link leads to the National Survey of Student Engagement and contains information about their survey and which colleges and universities participate in their research. The third link goes to the US News and World Report 2003 College Rankings, which was released yesterday on their Web site with partial details. The fourth link is from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and contains a collection of helpful articles about the debates over college rankings and their varying methodologies. The fifth link is to a report prepared several years ago by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago that engages in a critical examination of the methodology deployed by the US News and World Report rankings. Finally, the last link leads to the most recent edition of the Princeton Reviews top 345 college rankings for comparative purposes. [KMG]
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