Research and Education
http://www.physics.pomona.edu/sixideas/
Developed by Professor Thomas A. Moore of Pomona College, the Six Ideas That Shaped Physics textbook was designed to help students gain a contemporary perspective on the discipline, along with giving them the ability to better understand the organization of physics concepts. While the site doesn’t allow visitors to access the actual textbook, physics instructors will find a number of helpful instructional materials here that they can use in the classroom. These resources include sections on optics, links to a number of useful computer programs, and some notes for instructors on how best to use these materials. Finally, a FAQ area rounds out the site. [KMG]
http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11729
Released in September 2006, this volume from the National Academy of Sciences summarizes “the current status of health effects in veterans deployed to the Persian Gulf irrespective of exposure information.” In layman’s terms, the volume is primarily concerned with reviewing, evaluating, and summarizing the scientific and medical literature which addresses the current health status of Gulf War veterans. In its findings, the report notes that studies have not found a cluster of symptoms that constitutes a syndrome unique to Gulf War veterans, but those who served in the 1990-1991 conflict are at increased risk for developing anxiety disorders, depression, and substance-abuse problems. The report does note that there is evidence to suggest that there may be an elevated rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among these veterans. [KMG]
Established in 1974 in Paris, The International Urban Development Association (INTA) is an international network that “encourages the exchange of information, experiences and best practices on urban development and renewal across the world.” The site’s homepage offers access to the three sections that will be of greatest interest to most visitors, namely “Forum”, “Services”, and “Institute”. In the “Forum” area, visitors can review documents from various meetings and congresses that have looked at the redevelopment of public urban spaces, heritage development, and cross-border cooperation in the Caucasian region. The “Services” area contains commentaries by urban experts on proposed urban development plans, such as the proposed master plan for two sport sites in northeastern Paris and a regeneration scheme for the city of Nador in Morocco. Finally, the “Institute” section brings together documents from seminars and conferences held by INTA, such as those that have dealt with urban-based sports complexes and the competitive advantages of urban regions. [KMG]
http://jersey.uoregon.edu/vlab/
Multimedia instructional tools for the physical sciences are rather in vogue these days, and a number of universities and colleges have developed creative resources in this area. One such set of resources happens to be the Physics Applets collection, created by staff members at the University of Oregon’s physics department. The interactive applets are divided into four sections, including mechanics, thermodynamics, astrophysics, and energy & environment. In total, there are over thirty different applets, and they include those that illustrate the concepts of potential energy, Kepler’s Third Law, and atomic emission. The site also includes a listing of credits, a help section, and information about this initiative. [KMG]
http://www.mathgoodies.com/lessons/
The creator of this site is one Gisele Glosser, who happens to be the “Mrs. Glosser” referenced throughout the site. She is also an experienced math teacher who has worked in New York and New Jersey. In an effort to assist her fellow educators, she has created this delightful collection of math lessons. Visitors will want to look over the lessons, which are listed in full here. While some of the materials require a fee, there are a number of lessons offered completely free of charge. In total, there are thirty free lessons here, and they cover such topics as probability, symbolic logic, understanding percent, and number theory. [KMG]
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/saha/
Recently, the Center for Disease Control released the 2007 State of Aging and Health in America Report. It’s a valuable document for anyone with an interest in public health, gerontology, and other allied fields. This website contains the full text of the report, along with the 2004 report as well. Visitors will also appreciate the extra features offered here, which include state-based report cards that examine fifteen key indicators of older adult health, such as obesity rates, smoking habits, flu vaccine updates, and others. Obtaining these report cards is quite simple, as users just need to click on the state they are interested in. After doing so, they can examine the statistics for these fifteen indicators, and see how different states compare. Additionally, the site contains resources for journalists who wish to use these findings in various publications, and a general section titled “Using the Report”. [KMG]
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/130newphila/
Born into slavery, Frank McWorter would become “Free” Frank McWorter when he purchased his freedom in 1819. While living with his family in Kentucky in the 1820s, McWorter decided to move to a free state as soon as possible, and he left for Illinois in 1830. In 1831, he arrived at his new plot of land about twenty miles east of the Mississippi River. In 1836, the founded New Philadelphia, and it was the first town platted and registered by an African American before the Civil War. This particular website is part of the Teaching With Historic Places Lesson Plans series created by the National Park Service, and it is concerned with telling the story of New Philadelphia. On the site, visitors can look over historical documents such as maps, deeds, and other items that tell the story of the community. Educators will also appreciate the instructional materials offered here that will help them craft an interesting lesson for students. Additionally, the site also contains links to additional lesson plans and a primer on how to use these materials. [KMG]
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/index.html
Young students can find the world of college physics difficult at times, and it’s always good to have a wide range of instructional materials on hand in case they need them. The University of Tennessee’s Physics Department has placed a number of these materials online, and this particular resource deals with the course Astronomy 162, which covers stars, galaxies, and cosmology. On the site, students and educators will be delighted to find twenty-eight separate sections that cover this material through illustrations, animations, and written explanations. Some of the specific topics covered here include the properties of light, energy production in stars, and stellar motion. Overall, it’s a great way for students to refresh their knowledge of these subjects, and educators can draw on some of these materials for their own lessons. [KMG]
