http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/index.html

For those who feel that there may be a paucity of material on the Himalayan region, they will need to take a close look at this fine site provided through a collaboration between the Department of Social Anthropology at Cambridge University and the Anthropology Department at Cornell University. Since its inception in December 2000, the partners have managed to digitize a number of photographic collections, several journals, and a number of short films. Scholars with an interest in Himalayan studies will want to browse through the digitized volumes of such publications as Contributions to Nepalese Studies and the Journal of Bhutan Studies. One particularly intriguing collection made available here is the Frederick Williamson Collection. Williamson was a British political officer stationed in Sikkim, Bhutan, and Tibet during the 1930s. During his tenure there he and his wife took some 1,700 photographs documenting their experiences and also made a number of short films, which are also available for viewing on the site. Visitors to the site may also want to register with the project so that they are informed of project updates. [KMG]

http://www.unchs.org/

Started in 1978, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme is designed to prevent and ameliorate problems that stem from the massive growth of conurbations throughout the world, with a special focus on those major urban locales in the developing world. For persons interested in this broad set of topics and the multilateral responses to such conditions, this site is invaluable. The site provides information on the Programme's governing bodies as well as the various campaigns, partner organizations, and events it sponsors, such as the World Urban Forum. The Publications area is quite nice, as it includes highlights from the annual "State of the World's Cities" report, research reports on slums, and the problems of large-scale urban governance. The homepage of the site also contains feature stories about the organization's latest research findings and updates from various urban areas. [KMG]

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/

The National Geographic Society has long been known for its flagship publication magazine, but they also have several other well-known public outreach programs such as their television programs. One such publication with a significant educational outreach program is the National Geographic Explorer magazine, which is geared for grades three through six. This particular website contains a host of valuable resources that complement the print magazine, many of which may be used as standalone materials to aid in learning about various topics, such as environmental degradation and wildlife. The site contains a number of educational games, such as one that asks students to identify various Ice Age animals, and others that ask students to find various topical words within a crossword. The "Kid Stuff" area is quite a find as well, containing a virtual coloring book, a map-making machine, and a photo of the day feature. Finally, there's a feedback section where people can send along ideas for future stories. [KMG]

http://www.metmuseum.org/special/Gilbert_Stuart/index.asp

Trained by an itinerant Scottish painter, Gilbert Stuart became one of the 18th century's most remarkable portrait painters, and his iconic image of George Washington remains one of the most well-known symbols in American history and visual culture. Overall, the legacy of Stuart's work remains somewhat contradictory, largely due to the fact that while he was quite prolific, he also often failed to finish works. As part of its special exhibitions program, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has created this nice online exhibit that allows visitors to embark on a virtual tour of their current exhibit featuring Stuart's work. By using their mouse, visitors can "stroll" through the various rooms of the gallery, organized around Stuart's different portraiture periods, including those in Scotland, Philadelphia, and Dublin. Visitors will also want to look at a special section for teachers and students as it contains a well-designed interactive feature where they may learn more about Stuart, engage in some activities, and view a timeline of his life. [KMG]

http://www.apa.org/

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the primary professional organization that represents the interests of a wide variety of psychology professionals, including those working in the fields of clinical, behavioral, and experimental psychology. There's a great deal of interest for both professional psychologists and students of psychology here, including the popular "Monitor on Psychology", which digests compelling and newsworthy research findings from the field. Another fine feature of the site's homepage is the Psychology News Wire, which profiles current relevant psychology news pieces, such as those dealing with treating victims of stroke and working at methadone clinics. The APA has also created a helpful section dedicated to providing high-quality information on a host of important topics, such as anger, Alzheimer's, sexuality, stress, trauma, and addictions. Finally, there is also the gradPscyh magazine, which is the APA publication designed for graduate students studying psychology. [KMG]

http://world.std.com/~reinhold/dir/mathmovies.html

There are many learned (and not-so learned) professions that get a bad rap in the world of cinema. Scientists, and mathematicians in particular, tend to be portrayed alternately as either evil madmen or troubled geniuses. Through this website, Arnold Reinhold offers his informed and honest appraisals of mathematicians (and their math, of course) in various films. To get a sense of the project, visitors may want to begin by listening to an interview with Reinhold, provided by the Studio 360 radio program on National Public Radio. After listening to the delightful interview, visitors will want to browse through the reviews, which offer a star rating for the film overall, and of course the portrayal and accuracy of the math in the film. Some of the films profiled are A Beautiful Mind, Straw Dogs, Good Will Hunting, and of course Pi. Overall, a site that’s worth a few visits, and quite a bit of fun.
This site is also reviewed in the December 17, 2004_NSDL MET Report_. [KMG]

http://www.unpo.org/

The concerns of such indigenous peoples who are unrepresented in the pantheon of nations is admirably represented by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), who strive "to protect their human and cultural rights, preserve their environments, and to find non-violent solutions to conflicts which affect them." The best way to learn about these various groups is to peruse the members section, which features profiles of their number, including the Lakota in the United States, Albanians in Macedonians, and numerous others. After taking a look there, visitors may want to proceed to the reports section, which includes various topical reports dealing with some of the groups represented by the UNPO. Equally helpful is the area which contains details on the UNPO's activities at the United Nations where they seek to provide their members with assistance in gaining access to the different UN bodies, such as the UN Commission on Human Rights and the Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Finally, the site is rounded out by a helpful links page, which offers direct links to the webpages of relevant non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other supra-national organizations. [KMG]

http://aep-arts.org/

Founded in 1995, the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) has worked through its partner organization in leading the national movement to establish education standards that include the arts. Currently the AEP includes over 140 organizations that are national in their scope, and includes government organizations, business groups, and philanthropic foundations. The AEP website is a true cornucopia of helpful material, including a set of arts education links, which contain brief descriptions of each site. Along with this pragmatic material, there is the publication section of the site, which contains full versions of reports on arts assessment, teaching partnerships within the arts, and the impact of the arts on learning. Another important resource made available on the site is an interactive listing of national advocacy resources, such as links to cultural funding opportunities, and opportunities to fund arts education projects through the U.S. Department of Education. [KMG]