The Scout Report -- Volume 27, Number 50

The video, lesson plan, and related materials linked above are designed to help audiences from the age of seven onward understand more about nanoscience by exploring snowflakes ("nano at its coolest"). This resource is one of many from the National Informal STEM Education (NISE) Network (previously featured in the 07-19-2019 Scout Report), an organization that creates and implements projects to foster informal STEM learning and "bring people together to engage in STEM, understand our world, and build a better future for everyone," through collaboration among researchers, educators, STEM professionals, and others. This particular set of educational resources includes multiple components that will be useful to educators in both formal and informal settings, as well as home schoolers. A 25-minute video provides an example of how the included slideshow resource can be used, which would be helpful for anyone considering using the materials. The page also includes background information that introduces the term "nano" and related concepts such as nanotechnology, nanoscience, and nanoscale science, as well as lots of good information about snowflakes, what they are, how they are formed, and how they relate to the nanoscale world. Lesson plans and support materials, such as templates for making several types of snowflakes out of foam core, are also included. [REB]

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There have been many recent efforts to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Mental health activists and those interested in changing the conversation about the subject will find the organization Active Minds not only intriguing, but crucial in combating negative associations common in discussions of mental health. Founded by Alison Malmon, Active Minds welcomes all, but specifically aims to provide help for anyone "suffering in silence." The site offers an immense variety of resources, ranging from statistics, up-to-date news, and tips regarding mental health, many of which can be found by clicking "Resources." Some of the current offerings include recommendations for "Healthy Socializing Post-COVID" and "Coping with the New Normal." The site also lists numerous programs enacted on college and university campuses, in communities, and at workplaces to bring awareness to the topic, and provides the option for donations. Readers who want to get more involved can participate in the "For You Pledge," which is a commitment to continue the conversation about mental health beyond the site. Active Minds is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, with funding from numerous sponsors who can be found in the "Partners" section. Follow the organization on Facebook and Snapchat (@activemindsinc on both), or on Twitter and Instagram (@active_minds on both). [AMR]

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Ottoman History Podcast began life in 2011 to provide an alternative forum for discussions of the Ottoman Empire and the making of the modern Middle East. Now, with more than 500 episodes produced, it provides a great resource for professional historians, folks working in foreign policy, or anyone interested in learning more about this region's people, cultures, and history. Episodes feature contributions from and discussions with dozens of scholars from fields such as history, art history, Middle Eastern studies, literature, media studies, and more. Each episode page includes links to listen, a short synopsis, suggestions for further listening, related images, and a select bibliography. The podcast has also produced special series, which can be found in the menu on the left side of the page (which may appear as a hamburger icon on smaller screens): the series "The Making of the Islamic World," which is intended as a university-level introduction to Medieval and Early Modern Muslim history; and "Deporting Ottoman Americans," an investigative series exploring efforts by the U.S. government in the 1930s to deport people to a country that no longer existed. Turkish speakers can also find Turkish-language episodes on the page linked above. Listeners can stay connected with the podcast on Twitter (@OttomanHistory). [MJZ]

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Metanoia: Transformation through AIDS Archives and Activism is an online exhibit of community-based responses to the ongoing AIDS crisis, highlighting the contributions of "Black cis and trans women, and cis and trans women of color impacted by HIV, many of whom have had experiences within the criminal justice system." There are several sections to the exhibit: "Contemporary Activism," "Activism in Central California," "AIDS Archive Activism," and "Women's Inclusion." The Contemporary Activism section presents interviews with activists like Nathylin Flowers Adesegun, member-leader with VOCAL-NY, and Yue Begay, an indigenous transgender woman of the Dine (Navajo), who is Program Coordinator of the Red Circle Project at APLA Health. Visitors can read profiles of these and other activists and listen to interviews where they discuss their backgrounds and their work. Other sections of the exhibit include materials such as flyers, meeting notes, bumper stickers, and newsletters from historical and contemporary activism. Readers can also follow the exhibit on Instagram (@metanoiaehibit). [DS]

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Women are underrepresented and undervalued in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) fields - less likely to pursue careers or advance within these fields due to bias, harassment, pay gaps, unequal access and workloads, and fewer opportunities. The consequences of this manifest in labor shortages in STEMM, a lack of diversity, and lost talent and creativity. Promising Practices for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine: Opening Doors, a policy report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, seeks to address these issues by synthesizing and reviewing existing research on policies, practices, and programs for improving the recruitment, retention, and sustained advancement into leadership roles of women in STEMM fields. On the page linked above, visitors can read the report in full online or download a free PDF version, or navigate to the "Contents" tab for a detailed table of contents. The "Resources" tab includes highlighted content specifically for medical institutions and policy makers, as well as commissioned papers. The report's editors are Rita Colwell, Ashley Bear, and Alex Helman, with additional contributions from Policy and Global Affairs, the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and the Committee on Increasing the Number of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine. [RMP]

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The recent fire at the National Museum in Rio de Janeiro and the ravaging of monuments in Palmyra by the so-called Islamic State remind us that features of humanity's shared cultural heritage can be erased in an instant. An effort to digitally preserve what remains, Open Heritage is an open-access collection that allows users to take 3D tours of iconic locations from around the world. The effort uses laser scanning and photogrammetry to document and digitally reconstruct heritage sites and share them widely. On the page linked above, users can scroll to begin their digital journeys to sites such as Ayutthaya, Thailand's historic capital; the Temple of Apollo in Portara, Greece; the desert cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde; or the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. Visitors can also watch videos explaining the project, read notes from the field workers who capture and digitize these places, learn about the technology deployed in digital conservation, and even download data to reuse and remix. Open Heritage is a production of Google Arts & Culture, in collaboration with CyArk and the University of South Florida Libraries Digital Heritage and Humanities Collections. [MJZ]

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For anyone who loves maps and the rich history of map-making, this project, based in the Department of Geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will provide hours of pleasure and learning. The project focuses on drawing attention to the history of maps and mapping. Its flagship publication, a multi-volume series called the History of Cartography (which currently has 6 volumes, although Volume 5 is still forthcoming), tracks cartography from prehistory through the twentieth century. The site and its materials will appeal to academics and the general public alike, as PDF versions of the volumes make it easy to skim through and enjoy the maps and graphics, or read and study in depth. The project is "designed specifically to facilitate the understanding and use of maps as human documents, [offering] the only comprehensive and reliable work that studies the people, cultures, and societies that have produced and consumed maps from prehistoric times to the present." Beyond the publication series, visitors to the site can read the annual newsletter, find links to articles, learn more about the project and its staff, and enjoy videos that feature cartography-related lectures and presentations. [REB]

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Readers who have ever wanted to put their knowledge of the world to the test will enjoy GeoGuessr, the game that drops users somewhere in the world using Google's Street View feature and leaves it up to them to guess the location. In the game, users must navigate the map and take in as much information as possible, utilizing their knowledge of geography, history, botany, languages, architecture, and culture to make their best guess. Users can play the Classic mode solo, play with friends, or compete in Career mode. Users can opt to drop anywhere in the world at random or choose from GeoGuessr's map categories, including famous places, specific countries, popular maps, and more. GeoGuessr requires an account to play, but signing up is free. With a free account, users can play one five-round game for free each day, while the subscription model allows more frequent playing and access to additional features. GeoGuessr is available in 10 languages and can be played in a browser or as an app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play. [RMP]

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Geography is sometimes regarded as a dry topic, but really it can be a fascinating subject with connections to a broad range of disciplines, from sociology and political science to economics and ecology. Educators and learners looking for fast-paced and engrossing primers on the topic will love Geography Now, a long-running Youtube channel that produces informative videos for every country on Earth, in alphabetical order. Created and hosted by Paul "Barbs" Barbato, the channel was started in 2014 with an inaugural episode on Afghanistan and, as of this writing, is working through "s" countries, with recent episodes on Switzerland and Syria. Episodes vary in length depending on the country, but they are well-edited and tightly scripted and cover content such as flag design, political and physical geography, demographics, and relations with neighboring countries. The channel does not shy away from complex geopolitical issues, but Barbato strives to provide honest and holistic primers on the countries discussed, while remaining impartial, positive, and often extremely goofy. In addition to the main channel, Barbato and his collaborators post travel videos, "behind-the-scenes" content showcasing the process of researching and creating scripts for episodes, and "geograbee" competitions in which contestants answer geography questions. [IM]

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Readers looking for a way to get young learners more involved with the world around them, especially educators, teachers, and administrators in primary education, will find National Geographic Kids: Geography Primary Resources to be a great foundation starter for early learning in the fields of geography and climate. Visitors can find resources in several ways. There is a search bar to query keywords for specific topics ("What are you looking for?"), but users can also scroll to the section Popular Geography Resources, which highlights the most searched and viewed materials; or All Geography Resources, which can be sorted by popularity, alphabetical order, or mode ("Video" or "Article"). For example, "Volcanoes of Ecuador Primary Resources" discusses the formation and features of volcanoes, which can be downloaded as a PDF. Visitors can also use the menu under "Primary Resources" to navigate to other topics, including "History," "Science," and "Art & Design." These resources are free to download, although some users may be interested in subscribing to the National Geographic Kids magazine, which can also be done on the page linked above. [AMR]

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Age is a small, simple tool for encrypting files. In contrast to tools like GnuPG that provide a large grab-bag of encryption related functions, Age only handles encrypting files. There is no web of trust, no network of key servers, no system of key revocation and expiry. Users can either use the included age-keygen utility to generate a keypair or reuse their existing SSH keys. In either case, key distribution and management are left to the user to handle. Some users, including the authors of Age, opt to publish their SSH public keys by adding them to their github accounts. The age README describes how to retrieve a key published in that way and encrypt a file for that key's owner. The "format specification" document linked from the README provides both detailed technical references about the operation of the tool and a discussion of the project's goals. The Age site provides links to pre-built executables for Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD, along with instructions for installing the tool from OS-provided repositories for many common operating systems. [CRH]

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Ov's developers describe it as a "feature-rich terminal pager." These features include good support for Unicode and especially East Asian characters, support for compressed files, and mouse support. Ov also includes a number of features for dealing with delimited files, such as the ability to toggle zebra striping, keep header labels at the top of the screen, and highlight the currently selected column. The ov README provides a number of usage examples and instructions for using ov to view tabular data from within the mysql and psql tools. Many operating systems include Ov in their repositories, but for those that do not, the Ov site offers executables for Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. [CRH]

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These resources for teachers were last featured in the 07-12-2013 Scout Report. Educators are encouraged to revisit the offerings from USGS, which have been updated to include 12 "Learn from Home" topics and many other new lesson plans and materials.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has brought together a unique blend of materials designed to complement and enhance the experiences of teachers and students seeking to understand the wide world of geology and other sciences, including geography, ecology, hydrology, atmospheric sciences, and planetary sciences. These items are designed for use in education settings ranging from K-12 to undergraduate. On the page linked above, visitors can navigate the curated collection of materials and resources using the menu at the left side of the page. Some materials are organized by grade level (e.g., "Grade K-2" and "College"), while others are organized by content type (e.g., "Documents" and "Multimedia"). There are hundreds of items available for educators to access and apply to their instruction. Some examples include: vivid imagery of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption; lesson plans on plate tectonics and earthquakes for Grades 3-5 ("Natural Hazards"); and "27 Ideas for Teaching with Topographic Maps," a set of classroom cartography activities for college students. Teachers are sure to find something to boost their educational activities, and materials are easily searchable by grade level, topic, or type. [KMG] [MJZ]

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