http://www.onguardonline.gov/default.aspx

Created by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the OnGuard website "provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information." The three main sections on the homepage include "Topics", "Games", and "Videos". Visitors should start with the "Topics" area, which includes interactive features on proper computer disposal, cross-border scams, email scams, and identity theft. Within this section (and all of the other sections), visitors will find a quick quiz that will allow them to learn about a number of topical issues. Moving on, the "Games" area features hands-on activities that include "Invasion of the Wireless Hackers", "Invest Quest", and "Phishing Scams". Finally, users shouldn't miss out on the "Tools" area. Here they can find helpful software and applications related to online security and also sign up to subscribe to receive cyber security tips. [KMG]

http://www.who.int/malaria/

The World Health Organization (WHO) created the Global Malaria Programme to craft malaria policy and strategy formulation, along with creating guidelines for malaria prevention and control across the world. On their homepage, visitors can learn about their work through their annual reports and their specific prevention efforts targeted towards pregnant woman and infants. A good way to get started on the site is by looking at the list of themes on the left-hand side of the homepage. One area that's worth perusing is the "Diagnosis and Treatment". Here visitors can learn about the most effective way to treat malaria and how the disease can be managed over time. Those persons travelling to malarial areas will want to click on the "Malaria and travelers" section. This area provides a section of tips for those entering such regions, along with information about areas currently dealing with malarial outbreaks. [KMG]

http://www.evolution-of-life.com/en/home.html

A number of groups are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" by Charles Darwin. This educational site, created with funds provided by Volkswagen Stiftung, celebrates this anniversary by offering videos, animations, and documents for teachers that explore the origins of life and evolution. The materials here are divided into three sections: "Observe", "Explore", and "Teach". In the "Observe" area, visitors can watch several short films, including the "O as Origin" movie, which follows a water molecule named "Piccolina" as she moves forward through time and becomes more and more complex along the way. There's also another film here that follows Darwin as he works on some of his discoveries and theories. Visitors can also elect to listen to these videos in French, English, and German, and they will also want to sign up to receive email updates when new material is added to the site. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/ti/podcasts/index.php

Created by science teachers for science teachers, the Teacher Institute Podcasts are five-minute podcasts that give educators science facts, science history, and pedagogy tips for new teachers. The podcasts are hosted by the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and support for the project comes from the National Science Foundation, The Noyce Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and others. Visitors can browse through the podcast series, and they will find thoughtful and fun suggestions on how to make a straw oboe, how to better manage the classroom, and how to build a Brazilian instrument called the cuica. Also, visitors can read up on the Teacher's Institute's summer institute program for science educators and also sign up to receive new podcasts via iTunes or RSS. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.

http://www.ppic.org/main/mapindex.asp

The Public Policy Institute of California provides timely research papers and policy briefs on various issues affecting the Golden State, including those related to public education financing, economic development, immigration, and transportation. As of late, they have also been beefing up their online map room area, which is a great resource for those with an interest in policy matters, geography, and urban studies. The interactive maps here are divided into four categories, including housing, population, water, and environment. With each map, visitors can click through to learn about different details and features, and many of the maps have additional layers of data as well. Perhaps the most interesting maps here include "Inland Empire Demographics: 2005 and 2015" and "Home Affordability in California's Counties". [KMG]

http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/2009/RAND_CF256.pdf

During June 2008, the RAND Corporation brought together representatives of government, industry, advocacy groups, and the research community to discuss policies for mitigating climate change. This series of discussions was made possible by a grant from the McCormick Foundation, and included discussions on the role of federal and state government in such matters, along with public engagement, potential legislative and regulatory solutions, and technological innovation. The 54-page document released in March 2009 is not meant to be an exhaustive transcript of these discussions, but rather is meant to serve as a general overview of the main topics discussed. All told, the report contains four chapters and an appendix which lists all of the participants. For anyone with an interest in such policy matters, it's a very worthy read. [KMG]

http://myloc.gov/exhibitions/lincoln/Pages/default.aspx

Abraham Lincoln's accomplishments have been reaffirmed in the nation's conscience over the past two years in part due to President Obama's great respect for him. But President Obama is not the only one who brings attention to the already revered Lincoln. The Library of Congress is honoring Lincoln's 200th birthday with online exhibit and physical exhibits in Washington, D.C., along with several other locales throughout the year. One of the more eye-catching features of the online exhibit is called "Lincoln Vignettes", on the far right side of the page. Here, drawings, photos, or sculptures of Lincoln represent different time periods of his life. Clicking on each image will take visitors to several items representative of that time period in his life, including photos and documents written by him or about him. Especially noticeable is the way that Lincoln's appearance changed not only as he grew older, but also as he grew more challenged by the strife and war in the country. The photo "At War's End" is a striking example. The tab "Exhibition Items", near the top of the homepage requires downloading Microsoft's Silverlight software to view, which takes just a minute or two, and it allows the feature to work like a sophisticated album. The images can be enlarged or viewed in full screen, and each image has an informative description. The images can be viewed alphabetically or by theme. [KMG]

http://www.organic-center.org/

The Organic Center is a great website that focuses on the science behind organic agricultural production. Their mission is "to generate credible, peer reviewed scientific information and communicate the verifiable benefits of organic farming and products to society." Under the "State of Science" tab at the top of the page visitors should check out the "Hot Science" section. The articles listed here will give the visitor an idea of all the aspects of organic production there are, and why they are important. For instance, articles such as "Common Insecticide Causes Neurological Deficits in Children", "Soil Quality from Long-term Organic Management Nearly Doubles Flavonoids in Organic Tomatoes" and "Hormone Growth Promoters Feed to Beef Cattle Linked to Adverse Impacts on Male Sexual Development". The "Organic Resources" tab at the top of the homepage has links to "Consumer Resources" and "Science Resources", which are loaded with links to websites regarding all aspects of organic agriculture. The "Leaders in Organics" link, also under the "Organic Resources" tab, has articles by a food scientist and by the chief marketing executive of an organic food company. Visitors interested in receiving the Organic Center's monthly e-newsletter, The Scoop, can sign up by clicking on the "News & Media" tab, and then clicking on the "Newsletter Archive" link. After signing up, visitors should browse the archives of the newsletter, which go back to the beginning of 2007. [KMG]

To find this resource and more high-quality online resources in math and science visit Scout's sister site - AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository at http://amser.org.