http://www.hud.gov/info/disasters.cfm

As one might imagine, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Disaster Recovery Assistance office works closely with other federal agencies, such as the Small Business Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. On their homepage, visitors can learn about their programs in various states, or they may wish to start by viewing some of their latest press releases. The site contains a great deal of specific information on their work rebuilding New Orleans through the Disaster Housing Assistance Program and the Disaster Vouching Program. Users of the site will also be glad to learn that many of the materials are available in Spanish. The site is rounded out by a section on their work addressing disasters in Southern California. [KMG]

http://www.artsgenomics.org/

Based at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, The Arts & Genomics Centre is interested in expanding the "public debate on (future) goals, means, possibilities and use of results of genomics, from the specific point of view of bio-genetic art." The homepage provides ample information about their most recent initiatives, which have included a symposium on food, art and science and a video on their VivoArts program, which attempts to bring together biology and various contemporary arts. Moving on, the "Research" section of the site includes project documents and proposals that deal with their representational space program and the "Imagining Genomics" initiative. The site is rounded out by a collection of links to other germane sites and online resources. [KMG]

http://www-as.harvard.edu/chemistry/trop/education/index.html

Professor Daniel J. Jacob of Harvard University has compiled this very fine set of educational materials that deal with various aspects of atmospheric chemistry. He draws these resources from his own teaching experience, along with offering slides, presentations, and information from his own introductory textbook on the subject. Visitors can click through sections that contain resources such as Power Point presentations on halogen chemistry, aerosols, and global biogeochemical cycles. Professor Jacob has also been kind enough to include several versions of his 1999 textbook titled "Introduction to Atmosphere Chemistry" for general consideration and use. Finally, the site also contains resources on chemical transport models intended for graduate students. [KMG]

http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/index.html

How much do you know about rocks? Well, if you are a bit unsure about distinguishing an igneous rock from a sedimentary rock you'll certainly be on solid ground after taking a tour through this feature created by Annenberg Media. Visitors can make their way through graphically-enhanced sections that include "Types of Rocks", "How Rocks Change", and "The Rock Cycle Diagram". In the "Types of Rocks" area visitors will learn about the basic types of rocks and they can even check out a handy chart that will give them some of the finer points of rock identification. The "How Rocks Change" area provides a basic overview of the processes involved with rock creation and transformation through a heady blend of Flash animations and straight-forward prose. Finally, the "Rock Cycle Diagram" provides an illustration of rock transformation over time. This site will be quite useful to educators and anyone who has peered at a rock and wondered: "How did you come to be?" [KMG]

http://content.lib.washington.edu/donaldsonweb/

In 1946, Lauren R. Donaldson and several of his scientific colleagues were selected as radiation monitors for Operation Crossroads, which was the codename for the first atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. During this operation, two nuclear bombs were detonated above and below the ocean surface, contaminating the organs and tissues of living creatures and plants with large doses of radioactivity. Over the next twelve years, Dr. Donaldson and his colleagues would return a number of times to perform research related to these activities. Recently, the University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections team digitized selected personal logs, photo albums, papers, and ephemera from the surveys undertaken by this team of researchers. Visitors can browse the collection, or they may wish to get started by looking over the sample searches which include "1946 Operation Crossroads" and "1947 Bikini Atoll Radiological Survey". Also, visitors can learn more about Dr. Donaldson and peruse a finding aid for his own personal and academic papers which are also held by the University of Washington. [KMG]

http://www.foundation-partnership.org/

Created in 2000, The Partnership for Higher Education in Africa is an initiative supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, The Ford Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The primary goal of the Partnership is to support the renaissance of higher education in Africa. From the year 2000 to 2005 these partner organizations have contributed more than $150 million to support special initiatives and build core capacity in Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. First-time visitors may wish to read the introductory piece titled "What is the Partnership?" and then continue on to the "Focal Areas" section. Higher education scholars and policy analysts will want to make sure and look through the "Publications" section. Here they will find a number of publications, including recent works like "Public & Private Universities in Kenya: New Challenges, Issues & Achievements" and "Gender in the Making of the Nigerian University System". Finally, the "Resources" area contains a fine selection of external links that address African universities, consortia, networks, and think tanks. [KMG]

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG579.pdf

The Rand Corporation released this provocative and insightful 213-page study in late February 2008, and it's one that policy makers and academics will find well worth a look. The report takes a close look at the role of women in the recent reconstruction activities in Afghanistan and its impact. While some development agencies have argued that pursuing a stronger role for women in nation-building "too soon" will lead to instability, Rand researchers say that their work suggests otherwise. The study suggests that "nations should place a greater emphasis on the broader concept of human security from the earliest phase of nation-building efforts." The study was sponsored by the government of Qatar and conducted within the Rand National Security Research Division's Initiative for Middle Eastern Youth and the Center for Middle East Public Policy. [KMG]

http://www.oecd.org/statsportal/0,2639,en_2825_293564_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

As part of its mission, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) collects various statistics needed to create reports for both its member nations and the general public. This site provides access to that set of materials, and visitors can select data sets by topic or just look over their latest press releases. The topical sections offered here include development, energy, finance, health and twenty others. Visitors can also use the "Resources" section on the left-hand side of the page to locate specific resources designed for journalists, government officials, and members of civil society. Additionally, visitors can also sign up for RSS feeds and elect to receive email alerts. [KMG]