Research and Education
http://elmer.lib.tufts.edu:8080/aas_portal/index.xq
Ever wonder about the results of the 1823 election for the position of lieutenant governor in Connecticut? Maybe so, maybe not, but it's hard not to get excited about this very ambitious site dedicated to American election results. Assembling all of this data has been a decades-long process, and much of this work was done by Philip J. Lampi, an expert in the area of early American politics. This ongoing project represents collaboration between the American Antiquarian Society and Tufts University Digital Collection and Archives. With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the project will eventually include data from all 25 states that existed during this time period. First-time visitors to the site may wish to read over some of the introductory materials in the "About" section. After that, they can navigate over to the "Quick Search" function, or they can also browse by candidate, office, year, or state. Finally, visitors can also take a look at their data entry progress area, and they may also wish to download data for offline analysis. [KMG]
With a penchant for invasive species management and habitat restoration, the Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is interested in creating an environment for both "healthy fish" and "healthy people" through its various initiatives and partnerships. The homepage presents a rotating series of photographs that feature various fisheries facilities, and visitors will find the site quite easy to navigate. Along with a directory and a sitemap, users can look over topics that include pollution, restoration, working with Native Americans, along with eight others. Within each of these areas, visitors will find brief overviews of each topic, complete with links to relevant policy documents and external links. The site is rounded out by a "Special Events" area and information about requesting documents through the Freedom of Information Act. [KMG]
http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/chm/influenza/index.htm
Researchers and scholars looking at historical pandemics frequently study the communities that were strongly affected by these various occurrences. However, this fascinating digital archive from the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School looks at seven communities during the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic that experienced low rates of influenza during this period. Drawing on the expertise of a team of scholars, they decided to focus their efforts on places such as the San Francisco Naval Training Station and Bryn Mawr College. Visitors can click on any of the seven communities to read an extended essay about each location, and they can then look over dozens of primary sources from the period. These sources include internal planning reports, newspaper articles, and other items. Overall, this collection is a tremendous find, and is one that should serve as an inspiration to other institutions with similar interests. [KMG]
http://www.democraticmedia.org/
How is the Internet organized? Is it a democracy? Or is it increasingly controlled by large media corporations bent on limiting what people can do or see on various websites? These are valid questions, and the Center for Digital Democracy (CDD) is intimately involved with such matters. Founded in 2001, the CDD has worked on developing the campaign for an open broadband Internet, along with leading efforts at the Federal Trade Commission "to promote new polices governing online privacy and responsible interactive marketing practices." Visitors can learn about these initiatives and others through sections on the site that include "Current Projects", "Resources", and "Issues". Actually, the "Issues" section is probably the best place to start as it contains brief overviews about key issues such as broadband access, journalistic integrity in a new media environment, and so on. Moving on, their series of up-to-the minute news coverage on their homepage is also very good and inspired guests should also look over the "Get Involved" section. [KMG]
Are you fascinated by fascia? Might you find silica scintillating? Look no further gentle reader as Bentham Open Access can provide information about these topics. Bentham Publishers recently launched over 200 peer-reviewed open access journals, and visitors should feel free to browse around at their leisure. Visitors can browse titles by discipline, and everything from agriculture to virology exists within these electronic pages. Of course, for those who already know the title of the journal they are looking for, there is an "A-Z" section as well. In each journal, visitors can browse through the articles, learn about the editorial board, and also take in their manuscript submission requirements. Overall, it is an ambitious journal and one that may spur other electronic publishers to action. [KMG]
http://www.learner.org/resources/series61.html
One doesn't have to be a Glenn Seaborg or a Lord Ernest Rutherford to learn about chemistry, though it probably couldn't help to have some of their curiosity about the world of chemistry. Young chemists and their teachers will definitely benefit from this nice resource offered by the Annenberg Media project. This original video series was produced by the University of Maryland and the Educational Film Center, and it consists of 26 half-hour programs. With industrial and research chemists demonstrating a number of high-intensity experiments and processes, the series is quite a find. The installments include such titles as "Modeling the Unseen", "The Atom", and "The Busy Electron". [KMG]
http://www.sciencecases.org/iguanas/iguanas.asp
The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science has been the host to dozens of helpful educational resources, and their series of case studies is one that every science educator should be well acquainted with. One recent addition to their archive comes from Conrad Toepfer of Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky. This resource deals with the disappearing marine iguana population in the Galápagos Islands, and it is framed as a conversation between two friends who grow concerned about this trend and decide to explore the subject further. It includes well-phrased questions, complete with tables and charts, and is written in a way that will be compelling to both students and teachers alike. [KMG]
http://geology.utah.gov/teacher/index.htm
From Arches National Park to the towering cliffs at Castle Rock Campground, Utah has some remarkable geology on display. The Utah Geological Survey decided to draw on these fantastic "outdoor laboratories" and create a set of resources designed for science educators. While some of the resources are geared towards users in Utah, many of the sections contain helpful overviews that will help all educators remain on a steady foundation of geologic knowledge. One key area on the site is the "Earthquakes & Geologic Hazards" section. Here, visitors can find well-composed and straight forward summaries on topics like liquefaction, ground cracks, and fault lines. Moving on to the "Teacher Resources" area, visitors will find the delightful "Glad You Asked" articles and the very useful "Teacher's Corner" column which provides information on reading a stone wall and geologic stretching. [KMG]
