Stephen Jay Gould Dies [RealPlayer]
http://www.nature.com/nsu/020520/020520-3.html
The well known evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould died last week, 20 years after being diagnosed with cancer. This brief article from Nature touches on some of the highlights of his professional life. The Web page links to an audio interview with Ann Devlin, and to Gould's critical writing on cancer prognosis statistics entitled "The Median Isn't the Message." [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Biodiversity Month [.pdf]
http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/iboy/biomonth/index.html
May 2002 was the first US Biodiversity Month, coordinated by the International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY). Those who missed it can check out this Web site to learn the purpose of Biodiversity Month, the types of activities that were held, and how to be included in next year's events. Downloadable fact sheets and activity guides may be useful to a variety of site users during the remaining 11 months of the year. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Nature Watch
http://www.naturewatch.ca/flash.html
Nature Watch is a series of volunteer environmental monitoring programs coordinated by the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMANCO), the Canadian Nature Federation, and the University of Guelph. Nature Watch is a growing network that currently includes Frog Watch, Ice Watch, Plant Watch, and Worm Watch. Site visitors can access the home pages of each of the participating programs for details about each program, how to collect and contribute data, and to view data that has already been collected. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

State of the Environment Australia 2001 [.pdf]
http://www.erin.gov.au/soe/2001/index.html
This is the second comprehensive report on the state of Australia's environment, authored by the independent Australian State of the Environment Committee. The entire report, as well as the seven topic specific supporting reports, can be viewed online or downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. The report identifies important environmental improvements since the 1996 report, identifying new challenges that will require innovative protection and conservation strategies. For those who are interested in a brief summary of the report's findings, the site also includes press releases, a key findings brochure, and topic specific fact sheets. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Titan Arum: the Biggest 'Flower' in the World
http://www.kew.org/titan/
This spectacular and putrid smelling plant at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, burst into flower earlier this month. This Web site includes a sequence of photos as the inflorescence grows from 350 millimeters to its mature height of over 2 meters. By visiting the site, users can also learn about the plant, its giant leaf and flower, and how it is pollinated. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Genomics and Its Impact on Medicine and Society: A 2001 Primer [.pdf]
http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/publicat/primer2001/index.html
This Web site from the US Department of Energy's Human Genome Project (HGP) serves as an informative primer on the state of the science of human genomics as of 2001. The entire report can be viewed online or downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. The site is written for a general audience and includes a dictionary of genetic terms. The content includes some basic genomics, history and accomplishments of HGP, the future of genomic research, and social concerns surrounding genomic research. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
http://nas.er.usgs.gov/
This US Geological Survey database provides information on nonindigenous aquatic species for resource professionals and the general public. Distribution maps and species information for a variety of aquatic vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species includes photos, description of the life cycle, native and non-native habitat range, and potential impacts the non-native species has on its habitat. The site is easy to navigate; users can find information by species name, state, or drainage basin. A number of links are provided for further information. [AL]
[Back to Contents]

BiotechFind Search Engine
http://www.biotechfind.com/
BiotechFind.com is a searchable database of information on several aspects of the biotechnology field. The database is designed for a broad audience and includes information on biotech companies, university programs, lab products, job openings, and much more. Users can browse through the various topics, or search for a certain term or geographic area. The Web site also features the latest in biotech news. [AL]
[Back to Contents]