The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 47

Hosted by the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies & Civilizations at Boston University, Mizan is a "digital initiative encouraging informed public discourse and interdisciplinary scholarship on the culture and history of Muslim societies." On this website, visitors can explore three distinct aspects of the initiative. The Mizan Project features a number of detailed articles about new books, museum exhibits, and conferences that will be of interest to Muslim scholars and members of the general public alike. For example, one recent entry highlights an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to the Seljuqs, a Turkish dynasty that lived in the eastern Mediterranean from the eleventh through the fourteenth centuries. The Mizan journal of Islamic studies publishes peer reviewed scholarly articles that visitors can read in full on this website, while Mizan Pop features articles related to popular culture, including explorations of movies, comic books, and fashion. Visitors can explore all three aspects of this initiative from this website. The Mizan Project and Mizan Pop are both regularly updated; the journal is published biannually. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Edited by Philosophy scholars around the globe, PhilPapers is the largest comprehensive database for scholarly papers related to all areas of philosophy. Hosted by the Centre for Digital Philosophy at the University of Western Ontario and maintained by a number of volunteers, PhilPapers includes an index of all journals that have published philosophy articles (including both active and now-defunct journals) and an extensive bibliography of articles and books. Visitors can browse this bibliography - which, as of this writing, includes over half a million entries - through a number of categories and subcategories. As users browse these categories, PhilPapers suggests "sibling" categories that may also be of interest. Each bibliographic entry also includes information about how users can access the material. PhilPapers is updated almost daily, and visitors who want to keep abreast of new publications in Philosophy can check out the most recent additions to the database via the Monitor Current Research section on the homepage. In addition, PhilPapers includes a discussion forum for philosophy professionals and graduate students. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Open Science Journal is a "high quality Open Access (OA) online-only journal" that publishes articles related to all aspects of scientific research. Launched in 2016 and edited by an international team of scholars, the journal notes that they "[model] their submissions and review process on the standards, procedures of the Public Library of Science (PLOS)." To date, three issues of Open Science Journal have been published online. Recently published articles include a consideration of the impact of quality management certifications on the oil and gas industries; an economics study that examines the role of foreign investment in Libya; and an investigation of butterfly diversity at a campus in Bhilai, India. As this short list demonstrates, Open Science Journal publishes a widely diverse collection of both science and social science research. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The University of Iowa Libraries is home to a remarkable collection of digitized historical documents. In their words: there is "much more than library staff could ever catalog alone." As a result, library staff has initiated DIY History, a citizen historian project that allows visitors to browse digitized items while encouraging visitors to transcribe items or add subject tags and comments. Historic artifacts are presented across numerous thematic topics, including Pioneer Lives (which features a number of letters and diaries from nineteenth century Iowans); Early Manuscripts (which includes a will & testament from 1699); and Social Justice (which includes NAACP newsletters along with articles and pamphlets relating to activist groups from across the political spectrum). The collection also features letters and diaries from the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. Language instructors should note that the Germans in Iowa section includes a number of primary documents in German. While DIY History offers an opportunity for hands-on history in any social studies classroom, this versatile and engaging collection will also be of interest to the general public. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

One of the most challenging aspects of any kind of academic writing is remembering discipline-specific style rules. For researchers and writers in biotechnology, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has created this comprehensive and easy-to-use style guide that may help. The digital publication is divided into two parts: tips for general writing and tips for the biotechnology field. Part I includes guidelines for grammar, punctuation, and style that will be helpful to writers in any field. In fact, writing instructors may want to point students towards this section, which includes notes on "Wordy Constructions to Avoid" and "Voice: Active versus Passive." Part II outlines disciplinary conventions in biotechnology with special attention to writing for web pages. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Radical Pedagogy is an academic journal dedicated to "the institutional, political, and social aspects of education that impact critical pedagogical theory and practice." Published since 1999, this journal features contributions from a global and interdisciplinary group of scholars and includes explorations on issues within early childhood, K-12, and higher education. On this website, visitors may read current and past articles in full. Presently, in the Current Issue, education scholar Kaia Tollefson and librarian Monica Pereira examine challenges faced by Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and strategies to meet these challenges; social scientist Vernon E. Smith explores a specific model for teaching about racial and ethnic prejudice in a college-level introductory Psychology course; and education scholar Kathryn S. Young examines the geography of educational programs across Denver Public Schools and equity concerns related to this geography. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Health Statistic 2016 page features extensive data about health around the globe. This information will be of interest to health scholars and policy researchers alike. Academics, students, and interested members of the general public can explore this data in a number of ways. Those who want to explore the data in full can do so through a link to the complete 2016 health database, including information on life expectancy rates, infant health data, rates of cancer, and data about perceived health status by gender and socio-economic background. Visitors may also choose to explore a number of more specific datasets, from Health Expenditure and Financing to Health Care Quality Indicators. Finally, OECD also provides an abridged - although still quite extensive - report of key data points, which visitors can download as an easily navigable Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This is perhaps most useful for those looking to quickly access comparative data for use in a social science classroom. Visitors can also learn about the OECD methodology on this website and read related OECD publications. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

For K-12 language arts educators and librarians, RoaldDahl.com, a website maintained by a number of organizations dedicated to the well-known children's book author, provides an extensive collection of teaching resources for a number of Dahl stories. Instructors can browse these resources by novel and download PDFs of complete lesson plans. Chapter-specific lesson plans are available for Dahl's most frequently taught novels, including Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Instructors can also check out interactive classroom activities, including role plays and dress-up days. These lessons are designed to help young readers engage with the text while also developing their own writing skills, creativity, and imagination. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is home to a vast digital archive featuring photographs of plants and trees from around the world, along with a number of historical photographs of the arboretum itself. Collectively, these photographs "trace the evolution and management of the Arboretum's landscape, record individual taxa in the living collections, and capture these same plants growing in their native habitats." These images are arranged into interactive galleries for easy, enjoyable browsing. In one such gallery, the Arnold Arboretum Plant Image Database, visitors can browse Plant Images and filter their searches by season or by Character (e.g. bark, flower, insect), allowing visitors to observe each plant in detail and see how they change throughout the year. In another interactive gallery, visitors can browse through 42 images taken in South Central China and Tibet, including close-up photographs of plants taken by botanist Joseph Rock in the 1920s. In total, the Arnold Arboretum Visual Archives contains over 65,000 images. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

History aficionados, instructors, and the generally curious will want to check out The Junto, a blog and podcast dedicated to early American History. Authored by graduate students and early career faculty, The Junto features engaging essays, interviews, book reviews, and reflections on teaching and pedagogy. One recent essay explores Evacuation Day (November 25, 1783), the day that British troops left New York City after seven years of occupation. Other recent posts feature an exploration of how to teach early American history using the musical Hamilton, a reflection on accounts of seventeenth century piracy in the archives, and an interview with Colorado State University historian Ann Little. Little recently published a biography about Esther Wheelwright, a New England girl who was captured by Wabanaki Native Americans in 1701 and went on to join a French Canadian convent at the age of twelve. Podcast fans will want to check out The JuntoCast, a semi-monthly podcast featuring roundtable style discussions between historians. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

By now, most of us are familiar with Google Earth, but what about Google Moon? This lunar version of the geobrowser allows visitors to virtually explore all six missions of the Apollo Program carried out between 1962 and 1972. Visitors can examine a variety of spectacular photographs from each mission via map pins, which arrange photographs by geographic location on the moon. Alternatively, visitors can browse thumbnail images from each mission. Each photograph is accompanied by a short description that provides context as well as links to related resources and video clips. For example, by selecting one of these links, visitors will find the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, a record of lunar surface operations that includes parts of the original radio transcript from all six journeys. An extensively developed pan and zoom capability really brings the experience to life. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Since 1975, the National Ballet of Canada has collected and preserved photographs, videos, costumes, programmes, set sketches, reviews, and a number of other items related to its productions. This Virtual Museum acts as an online gallery of these items, where visitors may browse Notable National Ballet Productions such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote and Romeo and Juliet, to name just a few. There are two other exhibits for visitors to browse: Set and Costume Designers and The Tutu Project. A few of the many highlights in the designers exhibit include video clips of a 2015 production of Sleeping Beauty - including interviews with the performers - and brilliant photographs of costumes from various productions of The Nutcracker. This gallery is particularly enjoyable to browse, as it highlights the artistry of nine different designers who have worked for the National Ballet. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Hagley Museum and Library of Wilmington, Delaware is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to the history of business and technology in the United States. The Hagley Vault virtually presents a number of fascinating items from the museum's archives, including advertisements, pamphlets, photographs, and more. This highly entertaining and unique collection of ephemera calls attention to a number of products and trends of yesteryear. Folks with facial hair looking for some new styles may want to check out one recent post that features pages from a 1967 book entitled Practice and Science of Standard Barbering. Meanwhile, those hungry for a sandwich can check out recipes from a 1934 cookbook from Wonder Bread. Another highlight is a collection of surreal-looking doll advertisements from 1910. New items are added almost daily, and fans of this eclectic collection can also follow the vault on social media. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

From the Linda Hall Library of Kansas City, Missouri - a library of science, engineering, and technology - comes this extensive online exhibition about building the Panama Canal. The exhibit is centered on the papers of Aurin Bugbee Nichols, an Office Engineer who worked on the canal project and was instrumental in preserving photographs and other materials related to the project. Drawing on this collection, the Linda Hall Library has compiled this interactive exhibit that illuminates the history behind the canal's construction. Highlights include an extensive timeline that begins with 1502, when Christopher Columbus explored Panama in hopes of finding a route to the Pacific Ocean; an interactive map that highlights major landmarks along the canal; and a number of photographs and letters that detail the experiences of workers. This last portion of the exhibit is poignant; workers faced a number of daily dangers, including landslides, diseases, and accidents involving explosives. Tragically, an estimated 5,600 workers died during the construction of the canal. This well-crafted exhibition allows visitors to explore this complex history in depth. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Full Stop is an online literary magazine that "focuses on debuts, works in translation, and books published by small presses." With this aim, the magazine publishes book reviews, interviews, essays, and blog posts. Recent interviews include conversations with Paul Devlin, who edited the work of famous jazz critic Albert Murray, and Lisa Hanawalt, who produced the Netflix series BoJack Horseman. Readers will find a piece by freelance writer J.C. Pann about the realities of "hierarchy-free" offices along with an essay by comparative literature doctoral student Tomas Elliot on what modern video games can teach us about Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. There is also a subscription only Full Stop Quarterly, of which select articles can be found on this website as well. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

The Antarctic Report is a New Zealand-based publication dedicated to reporting on "the hard science which underlines the importance of Antarctica as a bellwether of global climate change." The website emerged from World Science Week, a 2014 conference in Auckland, New Zealand where scientists, researchers, and governmental science advisors from around the world gathered for a series of summits. On this website, visitors can learn about research and news related to Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. For instance, one recent article explores the use of long-range drones to study the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Another article shares the Antarctic Treaty. Drafted in 1959, this treaty stipulated that Antarctica "shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord" - making the continent a highly unique space. Visitors interested in learning more about this aspect of Antarctica will want to check out the Reference section, where pieces discuss Antarctic history, geography, and policy. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Jumpshare is a free file-sharing tool that allows users to instantly and securely share material with others, enabling easy collaboration on projects. Jumpshare may be downloaded as a web app on Apple or Windows computers, or as a mobile app on iOS or Android devices. Once downloaded, users can share an extensive assortment of documents, ebooks, images, videos, and other file types (interested users can check out the complete list of supported file formats on this website). In addition to Jumpshare's versatility and compatibility across multiple devices, the tool also syncs with a handful of workplace collaboration programs, including Slack and Asana. The basic version of Jumpshare is free; users can upgrade to a paid subscription for additional storage space. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource

Anyone looking to track their hours - whether to stay on top of freelance work or to improve personal productivity - may want to check out HoursTracker. Users can create their own tabs for each task or job and set a clock to mark an allotted time duration or a selected end time for each activity. A single tap allows users to easily clock in and out of tasks. In addition, employees can calculate earnings by entering an hourly wage for jobs worked. Data may be exported via email in either text or CSV format. This mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. [MMB]

Comment on or rate this resource