The Scout Report -- Volume 21, Number 10

The Scout Report -- Volume 21, Number 10

The Scout Report

March 13, 2015 -- Volume 21, Number 10

A Publication of Internet Scout
Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison




Research and Education

  NASA Women of STEM
  Nature: Toolbox
  2015: International Year of Light
  How Housing Matters
  TED Talks: How schools kill creativity
  CyArk
  Center for Humans & Nature
  Edutopia: Assessment

General Interest

  Real Time Economics
  Cover Browser
  BioNews
  New York Public Library's Surprisingly Tricky Online Spelling Bee
  Nova Next
  CivilWar@Smithsonian
  Peace Corps: Passport Blog
  Digital Collections - Trinity College Dublin

Network Tools

  Readability
  Google Docs

In the News

  The Wealth of a Celtic Prince Unearthed



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Research and Education

NASA Women of STEM

·http://www.nasa.gov/education/womenstem/

NASA Women of STEM is a wonderful site dedicated to celebrating women who have made contributions to NASA in the related fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Readers will find a number of fascinating profiles, interviews, and articles about women at NASA who are engaged in a wide range of STEM fields, from teaching children about science to engineering rockets. For instance, the interview with Nancy Roman, retired Chief of NASA's Astronomy and Relativity Programs, offers insight into when she became interested in outer space, her career at NASA, and who inspired her. In addition to the numerous inspirations for girls that populate the site, educators may like to take advantage of NASA Educational Professional Development, in which NASA Educator Ota Lutz teaches fun ways to bring STEM into the classroom. [CNH]


Nature: Toolbox

·http://www.nature.com/news/toolbox

Nature is the world's most highly cited interdisciplinary science journal. Toolbox, which is hosted in the News & Comment section of Nature's website, reports on the software and websites that make research easier for investigators engaged in science and technology subjects, from molecular biology to astrophysics, and beyond. Readers will find articles here about software, such as Excel, ChemDraw, and MATLAB, and the programming languages that are used to build that software, including Python, R, and SQL. Readers may like to start with the September 4, 2014 editorial describing the site, and from there browse articles about computing skills "Boot Camps," learning to program with R, and other topics. [CNH]


2015: International Year of Light

·http://www.light2015.org

On December 20, 2013 the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in honor of Einstein's field equations explicating general relativity. While events, programs, and speakers are planned throughout the year - and across the globe - the website presents excellent resources accessible to anyone. Readers may like to begin by scouting the Einstein Centenary, which explains the logic and impact of general relativity, and can be found in the Cosmic Light section of the site. The Why Light Matters area offers sections explaining What photonics is, as well as sections on Energy, Economic Impact, Light in the Built Environment, and Connecting the World. For educators looking for light-related sources, or readers fascinated by Einstein's contributions, this is a rich site, full of inspirational ideas for student reports and presentations, as well as supplements for existing lesson plans. [CNH]


How Housing Matters

·http://howhousingmatters.org/category/education/

Over the past seven years, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has invested $25 million in grants to support research into how access to quality, affordable housing affects families and communities. How Housing Matters, an online resource from the MacArthur Foundation and the Urban Land Institute, was created in 2014 to make that research available to the general public. The site provides data-driven suggestions from the opening page. For instance, research has shown that reducing childhood moves, increasing access to economically diverse schools, and lowering rents so that families can invest on enrichment can all improve education outcomes. The meat of the page, however, lies in the Featured Content section, which is searchable by a dozen categories, including Community Profile, Expert Q&A, Research Brief, and by date. [CNH]


TED Talks: How schools kill creativity

·http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en

Are schools killing creativity? That's the controversial claim that creativity expert Ken Robinson makes in this wildly popular TED talk, which has been viewed over 31 million times. Originally filmed in 2006, the thrust of Robinson's argument is that in school we train our children to get right answers. But getting right answers is not the fountainhead of creativity. Creativity, according to Robinson, comes from the simple courage to be wrong. Building on that, he takes on the very fabric of public education as it is designed all over the world, calling it narrow and restrictive. He lays out three facets of intelligence, and then calls for an overhaul to meet the demands of the 21st century, which, he believes, will require a great deal of creativity. From educators who are dedicated to sparking creativity in their students, to professionals looking for new ways to think and create, this classic TED talk is still groundbreaking nearly ten years after its premier. [CNH]


CyArk

·http://www.cyark.org/

CyArk is an international non-profit organization that is using new technologies to create a "free, 3D online library of the world's cultural heritage sites." Readers might like to begin by watching Ben Kacyra's TED Talk, which describes the organization's process of capturing ancient wonders with a groundbreaking 3D scanning system, and can be linked to from the homepage. Perhaps the most exciting section of the site can be found under Projects. Here, for instance, readers may examine a three dimensional digital model of the Eastern Qing Tombs, the 18th century imperial burial place of several important Qing and Ming Dynasty emperors, or take a digital tour of Mount Rushmore. In addition, the Education tab, with its 37 fully developed lesson plans, can be especially useful to teachers who are designing units around ancient archaeology or modern architecture. The site works best with Internet Explorer, however it is also compatible with browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. [CNH]


Center for Humans & Nature

·http://www.humansandnature.org/

The Center for Humans & Nature, which has offices in New York and Chicago, brings together "philosophers, biologists, ecologists, lawyers, artists, political scientists, anthropologists, poets, and economists, among others" to ask big questions about the relationship between human beings and the rest of the planet. The group's manifesto can be found under the About Us tab. Readers may also like to explore the Featured Questions section, which poses a question and then asks scholars to write responses. In addition, the site provides access to the group's beautiful and important journal, Mind Nature, as well as a blog that is updated several times a month with comments on everything from biodiversity to ecological restoration to mindfulness. [CNH]


Edutopia: Assessment

·http://www.edutopia.org/assessment

The Edutopia website aims to "look beyond high-stakes testing to learn about different ways of assessing the full range of student ability - social, emotional, and academic achievement." Readers may want to begin with the five articles that explain Edutopia's philosophy on assessment, which include an overview, a history, a look at what the experts say, a post about how we should measure student learning, and a look at the research that supports the implementation of assessment in the classroom. There is also a discussion section that readers may browse or even contribute to. In addition, there are numerous videos to watch and a host of articles that can be searched by newest, most viewed, and editor's picks. [CNH]


General Interest

Real Time Economics

·http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/

The Wall Street Journal's Real Time Economics blog provides incisive, up-to-date information on national and global markets. The blog is updated multiple times a day as news breaks on dozens of fronts related to economics and related topics. One interesting way to follow the blog is to simply read the news feeds as they appear on the homepage. Readers may also like to scout the categories of Minimum Wage, Employment, Inflation, Fed, and Education, or use the powerful built in search engine to locate topics of their choice. One recent post, Inequality in America in 10 Charts, shouldn't be missed, as it explicates the intricacies of how wealth has distributed over the past 25 years. For instance, the top 10 percent of the income distribution has made unprecedented gains, while the bottom 60 percent has seen their net wealth stagnate or decline. The charts also outline how wealth breaks down by family, education, race, occupation, and other markers. [CNH]


Cover Browser

·http://www.coverbrowser.com/

Cover Browser is a homegrown project made for comic book lovers by comic book lovers. While the homepage could use a little help visually, the site is clearly a win for readers who want to browse hundreds and hundreds of examples of comic book art. Readers may click any of the dozens of titles suggested in the word cloud on the homepage to pull up images from specific genres or series. For instance, selecting "Avengers" opens a drop down menu of 10 different Avengers series (two of them in Spanish), and selecting "Avengers (1998)" links to almost 100 vibrant covers. Readers may also link from the covers to purchase hard copies on eBay and other sites; however, a nice bonus is the absence of ads. While this site will specifically appeal to comic art fans, who are encouraged to send in scans and copies of their own favorites, there is much to appreciate here for all Scout readers. [CNH]


BioNews

·http://www.bionews.org.uk

BioNews is an online British magazine that covers genetics, assisted conception, and stem cell research. Founded in 1999 with a grant from the Baroness Mary Warnock, the site offers a mix of news and commentary on both scientific advancements and the political, legal, ethical, and social issues that arise with these advancements. Recent articles have unpacked Europe's approval of stem cell marketing, highlighted some bad journalism on egg donors, and explored the possible medical applications of graphene. In addition to the excellent news coverage, the site offers a large glossary of terms related to genetics, assisted conception, and stem cell research. Few free, web-based magazines can compete with BioNews when it comes to coverage of biotech and related topics. [CNH]


New York Public Library's Surprisingly Tricky Online Spelling Bee

·http://pages.email.nypl.org/spellingbeequiz

The New York Public Library's Surprisingly Tricky Online Spelling Bee is quick, not-so-easy, and quite entertaining. Readers simply click "Let's Go!" to begin. A sample sentence appears, along with four word choices, three of them spelled incorrectly. Meanwhile, a ten second timer ticks away at the center of the screen. Pick fast! Is it mellifluous or melifluous? The quiz immediately provides feedback with a New York-infused wit. At the end of the ten questions, readers may choose to have their results sent to them by email. While there is an opportunity to donate to the New York Public Library, the quiz is free and as informative as it is fun. [CNH]


Nova Next

·http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/

NOVA, the Public Broadcasting Service's 40-year old science show, has broadcast nearly 800 episodes, won dozens of awards, and covered everything from elementary particles to the eruption of Mount St. Helens. NOVA Next is the show's online supplement, brought to viewers by WGBH. It focuses its journalistic energies on the cutting edge of science and technology. Recent articles have included a controversial theory of brain disease, an exploration of the EPA's relationship to natural gas, and some good news for coral reefs. In addition to the fascinating articles, the site's Storylines feature gathers bylines into convenient, searchable categories like Mind Over Matter and Planet Zoo. [CNH]


CivilWar@Smithsonian

·http://www.civilwar.si.edu/

This website from the National Portrait Gallery presents "America's most profound national experience" through the Smithsonian Institute's extensive portrait collections. Readers who have a Flash plug-in will likely enjoy the opening movie, which features a jaunty civil war era tune played on penny whistle and snare, along with a series of telling portraits from the era. From the homepage, readers may then explore a helpful timeline, as well as galleries organized around people and places. For instance, selecting The Castle navigates readers to photographs and drawings of the red sandstone building that was the Smithsonian Institute at the beginning of the Civil War, with the unfinished capitol building in the distance. [CNH]


Peace Corps: Passport Blog

·http://passport.peacecorps.gov/

The Peace Corps Passport Blog offers a window into many worlds. Peace Corps volunteers, staff members, and members from service countries pen fascinating, inspiring, and sometimes troubling stories about their service in countries around the globe. The blog is organized by categories (After Service, Agency News, etc.) and tags (Africa, Education, Community Innovation, etc.), so it's easy for readers to find the topics that most interest them. For instance, selecting the Entrepreneurship tag navigates to an article about textiles, written by a Liberian woman who helped found a small company with the help of a Peace Corps volunteer. [CNH]


Digital Collections - Trinity College Dublin

·http://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/testing4/home/index.php

Digital Collections at Trinity College Dublin provides visitors the opportunity to turn the pages of illuminated manuscripts from afar. For example, readers can view the Book of Kells, comprised of 680 pages hand written in Latin on vellum (calfskin), in a style called "insular majuscule." The book's dimensions are now approximately 12 x 10 inches - the pages were severely trimmed, and the edges gilded, when the Book of Kells was re-bound in the 19th century. Trinity's Digital Collections also maintains an active Facebook presence with regular This Day in History posts. Some recent examples include a cartoon in honor of Johnny Appleseed, "Print 162 of the Robinson Collection of Caricatures, The Irish Gentleman and his Apple Tree"; the score The Magic Harp, by Irish composer Ina Boyle; and, in honor of International Women's Day, a lecture from 1916: "Irish heroines: being a lecture written for and delivered before An Ard Craobh Cumann na mBan, Dublin, during the winter preceding Easter Week, 1916." [DS]


Network Tools

Readability

·https://readability.com

Most of us find articles we'd like to read, but don't have time in that moment to read them. Bookmarking them all creates clutter. So what if we had a network tool where we could stash our to-be-read articles? And what if that platform was really attractive? Enter Readability. Sign up for the service is free. Once a reader has created an account she may follow others and recommend stories. But the best part is the simple storing and reading experience on the site. To add an article, users simply click the plus sign and paste the URL from their desired article. Readability stores it in the user's personal archive, where it is available to read in a visually pleasing format at any time. Readability is available as a browser add-on for Firefox, Chrome, and Safari, and as a mobile app for tablets and mobile devices running iOS 7.1 or later and Android 2.1 and up. [CNH]


Google Docs

·https://docs.google.com

Google Docs was launched in 2007 as a cloud-based answer to the Microsoft Office Suite of Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. While Microsoft's applications are still engrained as most people's go-to for their basic office needs, Docs has been gaining ground, both in terms of market share and usability. Now part of the greater Google Drive collective, readers can create, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. In addition, it's web-based, which leads to important conveniences, like the ability to access documents from different computers or include multiple people when simultaneously drafting a document. Documents save automatically every few seconds, making loss of work nearly impossible, and users can also access revision history to see what changes have been made, when they were made, and by whom. For readers who have heard of Google Docs or Google Drive but haven't put it to full use quite yet, this is a handy and efficient way to tackle projects as a team. [CNH]


In the News

The Wealth of a Celtic Prince Unearthed

Ancient Celtic Prince's Grave and Chariot Unearthed
http://www.livescience.com/50069-celtic-prince-tomb-uncovered.html

'Exceptional tomb of Celtic prince' found in France
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31747159

Impressive Tomb of Celtic Prince Found in France
http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/impressive-tomb-of-celtic-prince-found-in-france-150305.htm

French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research
http://www.nearch.eu/partners/inrap

Top 10 archeological finds of all time after discovery of skeleton of Richard III
http://metro.co.uk/2013/02/04/top-10-archaeological-finds-of-all-time-3379570/

Romancing the Stone: An Egyptologist explains the Rosetta Stone's lasting allure
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/romancing-the-stone-175445099/?no-ist

A burial mound was recently unearthed in Lavau, France containing a host of ancient Celtic artifacts. Beautiful pottery, a large cup lined with gold, and a royal chariot are among the finds. Especially interesting to archeologists are the Greek or Etruscan engravings on several objects, as they provide further evidence for the interconnected trade routes that ran from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to present-day Germany. The tomb, carefully excavated by France's National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research, likely belonged to a wealthy Celtic prince, who profited from his trading connections with his trading neighbors to the south. [CNH]

The first link takes readers to an informative article by Live Science's Tia Ghose, which features a full page dedicated to photographs of the dig. The second and third links, from BBC and Discovery News, respectively, offer further coverage of these exciting finds, as well as beautiful close up photographs of some of the tomb's ancient artwork. For readers who wish to look more deeply into the group behind the excavation, the fourth link navigates to the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP), where articles and photographs document a number of exciting finds, and describe INRAP, who boasts a workforce of 2,000 and yearly excavates over 250 sites. The fifth link takes readers to a 2013 story from Britain's Metro News, which briefly outlines some of the greatest archaeological finds in history. Lastly, Beth Py-Lieberman interviews an Egyptologist about the resounding influence of the Rosetta Stone, discovered by the French while in Egypt in 1799.





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