Research and Education
http://environment.stanford.edu/
“Sustainability” is a phrase that is bandied about frequently and at times it is hard to determine if an adequate definition exits. Stanford University is intimately concerned with this subject, and they recently created the Initiative of the Environment and Sustainability to deal with questions raised by this phrase and other such thorny areas of inquiry. On their site, they pose this query which will give visitors to the site pause: “Can we adequately meet current human needs while protecting and restoring planetary life support systems for the welfare of people today and generations to come?” A good way to start browsing through the site is by clicking on one of their four primary areas, which are represented by small graphic symbols that read “Energy & Climate”, “Fresh Water”, “Land Use & Conservation” and “Oceans & Estuaries”. Perhaps one of the most intriguing sections of the site is “Sustainability at Stanford” area, where visitors can learn what initiatives they are working on at their own campus in Palo Alto. [KMG]
In the middle of the 19th century, Anna Atkins wondered how she might be able to create accurate impressions of algae specimens. She was an amateur botanist who was primarily interested in the art and science of taxonomy and scientific illustration. After a long period of experimentation, she came up with the idea of using an existing blueprinting process to create the multiple copies that would later back her “Photographs of British Algae”. This was also the first photographic work by a woman, and also the first book produced entirely by photographic means. Thanks to the fine work of the staff at the New York Public Library’s Digital Gallery, interested parties can browse through this monumental achievement at their leisure. Visitors can search the entire work, or just browse through the 285 images. As one might imagine, each image is accompanied with a complete bibliographic record. [KMG]
Interactions between the United States and various American Indian tribes have, at times, been quite contentious. For laypeople it can be difficult to understand some of the various nuances of the legal relationships between these different groups. Fortunately, the website of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ) contains answers to some of these questions. It also provides information about different aspects of law enforcement on reservations. The site is divided into four primary sections, including “Issues”, “Press Room”, “Resources”, and “About OTJ” area. The “Issues” section is a good place to start, as it provides information on some of the OTJ’s primary interactions with various American Indian tribes, which include civil rights, gambling, and litigation. The “Resources” area is worth a look as well, and visitors can also find a helpful FAQ area here that provides brief answers to questions such as “What is the relationship between the United States and the Tribes?” [KMG]
http://theevergladesstory.org/
Understanding the ecological history and operation of the Everglades is complicated, and when one considers the role that humans play in its transformation, things get even more complex. This website, created by Karst Productions (with substantial support from the Florida Department of Agriculture and the South Florida Water Management District) does a nice job of bringing web users a wealth of information about the history and contemporary situation in and around this massive area. Clicking on the “Begin Your Journey” link brings up an interactive map of south Florida that contains conceptual animations of the Everglades water flow before human impact, the current water flow, and the planned flow after the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CREP) is completed. Visitors should then proceed to the Everglades Historical Timeline, which tracks the earliest human interventions into the area all the way up to the present day through photographs and other primary documents. Finally, a splendid section of educational resources offers lesson plans, teaching modules, and other such material. [KMG]
http://www7.nationalacademies.org/gatheringstorm/
How does one bring together university presidents, industry leaders, elected officials, and other such types? Well, it probably helps to have a worthy cause, and in the case of this recent convocation, this cause is certainly one that is of growing interest to many of the aforementioned groups. Convened by the National Academies in September 2006, this particular convocation was designed to address the topic of maintaining a competitive environment in the United States for innovation, research, higher education, and K-12 science and mathematics education. All of which are worthy topics, and on this site, visitors can view presentations from this gathering, along with video presentations and a summary of the day’s events. Some of the video presentations include remarks by Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor, a forum on how to enhance innovation efforts in higher education, and a selection of remarks by officials that include Senator Pete Domenici from New Mexico. The site is rounded out by a link to the complete companion publication that served as the inspiration for the convocation. [KMG]
http://www.wisc.edu/cbe/biolearn/index.html
Started in 1999, the BioLEARN initiative was started as a project by the Center for Biology Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Drawing on the significant human capital of Wisconsin’s talented science educators, the BioLEARN program began developing and testing a collection of biology education materials to place into an online archive. Educators can browse around the materials, which are organized by disciplines such as botany, ecology, genetics, and molecular biology. Some of the activities include a module on familiarizing students with the uses of plants in biological research and on the process of writing up lab reports. As the site remains in development, visitors will want to return to the site in the coming months to see what new materials have been added. [KMG]
http://www.learner.org/resources/series65.html
Despite its rather daunting title, this series of instructional videos offers a way for teachers and students alike to enter the world of statistics with confidence. Originally produced by the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications, this 26-part series is hosted by Teresa M. Amabile. Intended for a wide range of students, each episode lasts for approximately 30 minutes. Visitors to this site can view the episodes, and they may wish to move around from such topics as distributions, time series, and the ever-popular significance tests. Users will need to sign up to view each program, but this process is offered at no charge. [KMG]
http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Anthropology/index.htm
MIT has been receiving praise from around the world for their OpenCourseWare initiative, which they started several years ago. Interested self-learners and educators have appreciated the ability to look at lecture materials and syllabi from all over the world, and they have received testimonials from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Mexico. One subject covered is anthropology, and visitors to this particular segment of the OpenCourseWare site will find a host of resources from different courses taught in this discipline at MIT. Currently, there are resources for about twenty undergraduate and graduate courses, including “Anthropological Theory”, “Identity and Difference”, and “Ethnic and National Identity”. Visitors can look over lecture notes, syllabi, and other items. Finally, they can also sign up for an RSS feed. [KMG]
