http://www.opensciencedirectory.net/

Readers may have heard of the "digital divide", but what about the scientific "digital divide"? The Open Science Directory is attempting to bridge this gap by providing access to a wide range of journals to researchers in both developing and developed countries. Working with the support of EBSCO Information Services and Hasselt University Library, the Open Science Directory provides access to approximately 13000 scientific journals. The Directory includes collections of open access journals and also draws on a variety of other resources, including BioMed Central and PubMed Central. By clicking on the "Open Science Directory" tab, visitors will be redirected to the site's sophisticated search engine. Visitors can browse the list of titles alphabetically, topically, or also create their own detailed search across a number of fields. [KMG]

http://www.bioportal.gc.ca/

Canada is fast becoming a biotechnology hub, and the Canadian government has created this site as a clearinghouse of information both about biotechnology in general and about the various governmental strategies they have adopted in order to encourage development in this area. The materials on the site are divided into five sections: "BioGateway", "BioBasics", "BioStrategy", "BioRegulations", and "BioGov". Laypeople may wish to start their exploration of the site at the "BioBasics" section. Here they can learn about the various types of biotechnology and their applications in the environment, food production, and as a form of sustainable development. The "BioGateway" area is geared towards those persons who might want to know more about how the Canadian government is attempting to coordinate and encourage biotechnology across the nation. It's worth noting that visitors can also sign up for email updates on the site. [KMG]

http://geosearch.metacarta.com/

The explosion of geospatial computer applications and their ilk has been exciting in recent years. The MetaCarta company recently created the GeoSearchNews site, and it's one that visitors may find themselves spending a bit of time with while online. The site pulls news stories from a wide range of sources, geocodes them appropriately, and then allows users to view the locations on an interactive map. Users can type in a location and zoom in on a range of recent news articles and stories. Using the search engine, visitors can also specify their date range and their general region of interest. Currently, visitors can look all over the globe, and the site also includes a FAQ section for general consultation. [KMG]

http://www.wpfc.org/

As concern about the safety of journalists around the world continues to grow, a number of international organizations remain dedicated to this particular issue. The World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC) is interested in this issue, along with monitoring press freedom issues at the United Nations and other related activities. The information on their site is divided into sections that include "Fundamentals", "Programs", "Publications", and "News". First-time visitors should stop by the "Fundamentals" area to learn more about the basic international documents related to various press freedoms around the world. Moving on, the "Programs" area contains detailed information on their "Fund Against Censorship" initiative and their work in the area of Internet press freedom. Most scholars and working journalists will want to spend a bit of time in their "Publications" area. Here they will find recent work on press freedoms in the world of new media and the 2007 report "It's a Crime: How Insult Laws Stifle Press Freedom". The site is rounded out by an RSS feed and a news media center with recent press releases. [KMG]

http://www.biologycorner.com/

This particular virtual biology "corner" is maintained and updated by science educator Shannan Muskopf. On the site, visitors will find labs, worksheets, and various classroom activities. The "webquests" feature on the site is particularly interesting; this type of exercise requires students to peruse several websites that address a certain theme or topic. Some of the themes covered include bioethics, evolution, and genetics. Moving on, the site also contains a "Lesson Plans" area. Here visitors can look over such offerings as "Biodiversity of Ponds", "Estimating Population Size", and "Comparing Ecosystems". Additionally, the site also contains a section of online quizzes and links to other science education resource websites of note. [KMG]

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2008/04_fiscal_future/04_fiscal_future.pdf

The long-term fiscal outlook of the United States is the subject of this probing and insightful paper released by The Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation in April 2008. Authored by a group of scholars and experts who span the ideological spectrum, they all share "a deep concern about the nation's long-term fiscal outlook." They seem to agree on a number of things, including that "unsustainable deficits in the federal budget threaten the health and vigor of the American economy." In this work, they offer a number of proposals for change, including offering up the suggestion that Congress and the president "enact explicit long-term budgets for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security that are sustainable." The report will be a valuable find for many, including students of public policy, economists, and those in government. [KMG]

http://tiee.ecoed.net/index.html

Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology (TIEE) is a "peer-reviewed web-based collection of ecological educational materials." The collection is under the direction of Professor Charlene D'Avanzo of Hampshire College and Professor Bruce W. Grant of Widener University. TIEE relies on high-quality submissions from college educators across the United States and Canada, and the materials offered here will not disappoint visitors to the site. First-time visitors can jump right in by clicking on the "All Volumes" area, which contains direct links to all of the current and past publications which have appeared so far. The materials here are divided into several sections, including "Research", "Issues to Teach Ecology", and "Experiments to Teach Ecology". These sections feature full-length articles like "Insect Predation Game: Evolving Prey Defenses and Predator Responses" and "The Ecology of Disturbance". The site is rounded out by a superb "Teaching" area. Here visitors can read essays on guiding class discussion and other related topics. [KMG]