Research and Education
Established in 1962, the Land Tenure Center (LTC) is perhaps one of the most well-regarded university-based institutions to deal specifically with land policy across the world. Essentially, the LTC "serves as a global resource institution on issues relating to land ownership, land rights, land access, and land use." The LTC is also highly regarded for its interdisciplinary research approach which places a premium on working collaboratively with host-country institutions and individuals in the areas of policy analysis, research, and training. On the organization's site, visitors can learn about their various ongoing research programs, its staff members and affiliates, and the lectures and events it sponsors. Of course, the publications area is quite strong, and all documents created since 1996 are available online. These papers include such titles as "Patterns of Tenure Insecurity in Guyana" and "Indigenous Land and Community Security: A (Radical) Planning Agenda". [KMG]
http://invasives.eeb.uconn.edu/ipane/
Many persons have grown increasingly concerned about various invasive species, and despite the scientific debates about what constitutes such a species, ecologists and others will find this site quite helpful. Drawing on support from the USDA, this project was developed by the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department of the University of Connecticut, the New England Wildflower Society, and several other participating organizations. This site includes a Web-accessible atlas that contains images and descriptive information for the invasive and potentially invasive plants in New England. Visitors can create their customized maps that document these species by utilizing the online records database, and also just search the species by geographic species. As a way of introduction, visitors can also browse a current list of species for which data has been collected thus far. Persons interested in volunteering for the project may also want to take a look at the volunteers section which lists the times of upcoming training sessions. [KMG]
Established under the terms of the National Cancer Act of 1937, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health. The scope of the NCI is extremely broad, and its work includes conducting and supporting research; training; health information dissemination; and other programs with respect to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation of cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and the families of cancer patients. First time visitors may want to start by reading the latest NCI Cancer Bulletin, which is available from the homepage. If users find the information therein helpful, they may also elect to subscribe at no charge to the Bulletin. The Quick Links section is also of use, and contains a dictionary of cancer-related terms, funding opportunity notices, and a host of NCI publications. Finally, the site is also available in Spanish. [KMG]
http://www.cloudappreciationsociety.org/
The Cloud Appreciation Society believes that "clouds are Nature's poetry" and, therefore, "pledges to fight 'blue-sky thinking'." Visitors can find out about the latest cloud related news and events. The website offers a forum for users to ask cloud-related questions and communicate with other cloud enthusiasts. Anyone in the UK can join the society for free and membership will soon be expanding to other areas of the world. Everyone should check out the numerous fascinating pictures in the cloud gallery. Individuals can also contribute their cloud photographs to the continually growing collection. This site is also reviewed in the March 4, 2005_NSDL Physical Sciences Report_. [RME]
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/Internet_Status_2005.pdf
Web-browsers have been a commonplace of the online experience for approximately a decade, and in some ways, everyday use of the Internet has transformed certain aspects of modern life. This fourteen-page report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, authored by Lee Rainie and John Horrigan, takes a critical look at how the Internet has woven itself into mainstream American life. As might be expected, the report concludes that much of the online world mirrors the activities of the offline world. The report also notes that during the early days of the Internet the average user tended to be young white males with a high income level, and that during the past few years, this pattern has changed dramatically. Overall, the report is well-written and also complemented by a nice series of tables and graphs. [KMG]
http://www.brookings.edu/metro/pubs/20050214_jobsprawl.pdf
In the urban policy literature, there are many issues which attract the attention of scholars, politicians, and other practitioners. One rather thorny issue that continues to be of great interest is often called the "spatial mismatch. At the risk of oversimplifying this issue, the essence of this concept is that most job growth and creation occurs at some distance from those persons who are in most dire need of employment. This phenomenon is explored in depth throughout this recent paper composed by Michael A. Stoll for the Metropolitan Policy Center at The Brookings Institution. In its fifteen pages, this report (released in February 2005) highlights several key findings, including the observation that metropolitan areas with higher levels of employment decentralization exhibit greater spatial mismatch between the relative locations of jobs and black residents. [KMG]
http://www.demos.co.uk/capturingculturalvalue_pdf_media_public.aspx
Various policy analysts, politicians, and other persons have become increasingly intrigued by the potential that various cultural programs and initiatives may have in terms of economic development in their respective regions. This report, authored by John Holden on behalf of the Demos Group in London, examines the way in which government views the potential benefits of various cultural programs. In this 62-page report, Holden argues that arts and other such programs should be funded because of their cultural contribution to society, rather than for the increasingly popular reason given by many units of governance, which is that they can effectively deliver government policy. The report goes on to argue that government should move from a target-oriented, top-down approach to one that is more cognizant of the full range of values created by culture. [KMG]
http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/bestfishguide/index.asp
From the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand, this website contains a guide to ecologically conscious fish consumption. This informative "guide profiles New Zealand's 62 commercial marine fisheries and species, and advises consumers on the best choices according to the ecological ranking of each fishery. Each profile takes into account the state of fish stocks, bycatch, damage done to marine habitats and other ecological effects of the fishing." The full guide (published June 2004) is available in two downloadable reports: the first is an 84-page document providing a summary of the ecological rankings; and the second is a 42-page document addressing the criteria for ecological rankings. In addition, site visitors can view online summary information by fish species; and a download a wallet card guide as well. For the epicure, the site also shares recipes for the guide's top twelve seafood choices. This site is also reviewed in the March 4, 2005_NSDL Life Sciences Report_. [NL]
