The Scout Report -- Volume 18, Number 35

The Scout Report -- Volume 18, Number 35

The Scout Report

August 31, 2012 -- Volume 18, Number 35

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




Research and Education

  Bridging World History

  American Indians of the Pacific Northwest

  Earth Science World Image Bank

  Indiana Magazine of History

  Set in Stone: Building America's New Generation of Arts Facilities, 1994-2008

  Human Body Maps

  Stephen F. Austin State University: Forest Resources Institute

General Interest

  Mary Binney Wheeler Image Collection

  Digital Storytelling

  American Democracy Project

  Shelby, North Carolina

  Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission: State Historic Preservation Office

  George McGovern Collection

  One Life: Amelia Earthart

  Creative Time

Network Tools

  TweetInsight

  Do Share

In the News

  An ambitious plan to study America's ecology begins in earnest





Research and Education

Bridging World History

http://www.learner.org/resources/series197.html

How can teachers give their students a thoughtful prospective on world history? It's a challenging task, and educators would do well to take a look at this 26-unit multimedia course produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Visitors can watch any of the segments here at their leisure, including Human Migrations, Early Belief Systems, Agricultural and Urban Revolutions, and Order and Early Societies. Also, there is a complete complementary website that provides selected additional readings, bibliographies, and classroom activities. Users shouldn't miss the World History Traveler area of the site, which includes a most efficacious section titled "What is World History?" and an Audio Glossary, which features the pronunciations of over 300 place names and historical figures. [KMG]


American Indians of the Pacific Northwest

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/pacific/

Based on materials held by the University of Washington Libraries and other institutions, this digital collection from the Library of Congress's American Memory Project brings together over 2,300 photographs and 7,700 pages of text. These materials relate the culture and history of American Indians in the Northwest Coast and Plateau regions of the American West. Visitors can get acquainted with the archive via the About this Collection area, which is a fine place to start. Moving along, the Maps of the Region area is a good way to get a sense of relevant geography. Perhaps the real standouts here are the 10 illustrated essays. Written by a range of experts in their respective fields, the essays include "The Nez Perce," "Chief Seattle and Chief Joseph: From Indians to Icons," and "Salmon, the Lifegiving Gift." To get started with the archive, users may wish to use some of the sample searches, which include Arts, Dwellings, Potlatches, and Treaties. [KMG]


Earth Science World Image Bank

http://www.earthscienceworld.org/imagebank/index.html

If you want to go around the world via thousands of visually stimulating and engaging photographs, this is a good place to start. Provided by the American Geological Institute (AGI), the Earth Science World Image bank website contains over 6,000 images related to the geophysical sciences for use by educators, the public, and the geoscience community. The photos are contained within a few dozen categories, which include coal, dinosaurs, and paleontology. Visitors can also use the Browse Images link to move around the collection. Each image includes a brief description, along with related information, such as the photographer. Users will find that the archive is updated frequently and return visits will be obligatory. [KMG]

To find 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.


Indiana Magazine of History

http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/imh/

If you're looking to get "back home again in Indiana" via the state's interesting and compelling history, this is a great way to do it. The Indiana Magazine of History has been published continuously since 1905 and is based at the Indiana University, Bloomington campus. This digital archive of past issues was made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Visitors can browse all of the issues back to 1905, and the search engine on the homepage makes it easy to look for certain areas of interest, including the Amish, Indianapolis, and highways. The volumes from the 1960s have some great articles. Visitors would do well to look over those articles published in 1964. Their number includes pieces like "Canalling in the Whitewater Valley" and "Emerson's Lectures in Indianapolis." [KMG]


Set in Stone: Building America's New Generation of Arts Facilities, 1994-2008

http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/setinstone/

Over the past two decades, there have been hundreds of new museums, performing arts centers, and theaters built around the United States. The University of Chicago's Cultural Policy Center, in partnership with the Harris School of Public Policy and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), has crafted this most interesting study of cultural building projects between 1994 and 2008. The site is set up with a rather neat graphical representation of a small set of books, and visitors can click on sections like Set In Stone: The Videos, Final Report, Follow the Money, and several others. The Final Report contains all five chapters of the actual report, including "The Investment Determinants of Cultural Building" and "The Feasibility of Cultural Building Projects." The Set in Stone: The Videos area features short films related to the report, including a nifty two-minute animation that "consolidates the report's findings in an easily accessible form." The site is rounded out by some International Perspectives and a rather intriguing area that looks at the relationship between these facilities and their urban environments. [KMG]


Human Body Maps

http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/

The human body is quite a wonder, and anyone with an interest in human anatomy and related topics will find this site quite useful. Visitors can get started by scrolling over a male or female body to learn more about the various body systems. There's a body keyword search engine here that is most useful. On the left-hand side of the page, visitors can use the demonstration section to rotate the bodies around and also look into different layers of the models provided here. The site also features embedded links to other resources that complement the interactive models. Visitors shouldn't miss the Video Tour area, which provides a great way to learn about all of the features here. This resource is appropriate for all ages, and it could be effectively used in a number of anatomy or physiology courses at the college level. [KMG]

To find 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.


Stephen F. Austin State University: Forest Resources Institute

http://www.fri.sfasu.edu/

Truly, the Forest Resources Institute (FRI) at Stephen F. Austin State University is a "friend of the forest." It's part of the Institute's mission statement. The FRI works to "serve all legitimate stakeholders in the southern forest without preference." On the website, visitors can learn more about the FRI, its history, and its ongoing research projects. In the Research area, visitors can read summaries of work on road sediments, fire prevention and management, and small watersheds in the South. Moving on, the GIS Resources area includes spatial data sets for Louisiana, links to related data sources, and a range of Texas maps. Finally, users should not miss the Landowner Briefs area. Here they will find a set of documents designed for landowners dealing with various forest-based issues. The titles here include "Area Control of Unwanted Woody Stems With A Foliar Spray" and "Shotgun Application for Individual Woody Stem Control." [KMG]

To find 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.



General Interest

Mary Binney Wheeler Image Collection

http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/wheeler/index.html

In 1907, Mary Binney Wheeler was born into a prominent Philadelphia family. She was quite talented in the musical and terpsichorean arts; at the age of 17, she performed at Carnegie Hall as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Later in life, she developed a deep and abiding interest in South Asian art and culture. Over the course of 14 trips to the area, she took over 9,000 photographs in India and Sri Lanka. Her work was recognized by the National Geographic Society, the Indian government, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art as being of tremendous importance as it documented everything from washing laundry to the Himalayan Mountains. This collection is a marvel, and visitors can use the Navigating the Digital Collection are to learn how to most effectively look through the archive. The site also includes a detailed biography of Wheeler's life. Finally, the Lectures area should not be missed. There are six wonderful illustrated lectures here, narrated by Ms. Wheeler. They cover Sri Lanka, life in the ancient palaces, and the Valley of the Sky. [KMG]


Digital Storytelling

http://digitalstory.osu.edu/

What's a digital story? The folks at the Digital Storytelling initiative at The Ohio State University define it thusly: "a short (3-5 minute) movie which uses images, voice, and music to tell a story." The initiative is a great idea and this website offers visitors the chance to get acquainted with the digital stories that are being created at the school. Visitors should start their journey here by navigating over to the Stories area. Here they will find examples of these narratives, including "Howling at the Moon," "Clover Angst," "Our Sacred Circles," and "What's This Say?" Moving on, the Resources area includes information for those who would like to create their own digital stories. The links here lead to copyright-free audio and video sources, along with low-cost or free images. Also, this section includes helpful handouts that are used in the storytelling workshops at the OSU campus. No doubt this website will be a source of motivation and inspiration for those people who might like to create their own narratives. [KMG]


American Democracy Project

http://www.aascu.org/programs/ADP/

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) has worked to create the American Democracy Project (ADP) which is concerned with "higher education's role in preparing the next generation of informed, engaged citizens for our democracy." It's a laudable initiative, and this website provides information about the Project's work and outreach efforts. On the left-hand side of the site, visitors can look over 10 sections, including Resources, Participants by State, and eJournal of Public Affairs. Visitors shouldn't miss the journal section, as it includes access to past issues along with information about submitting manuscripts for consideration. Moving along, the Resources area includes publications from the ADP, including webcasts like Agents and Architects of Democracy series. Finally, the Civic Engagement in Action Series features a set of initiatives designed to "allow students to become deeply involved in substantive citizenship issues." [KMG]


Shelby, North Carolina

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/shelby/

Located west of Charlotte, the town of Shelby has a great deal of history. The town is perhaps best known as the headquarters of the "Shelby Dynasty" which had considerable government influence for several decades during the first half of the 20th century. The town was named after Colonel Issac Shelby, an officer in the Revolutionary War, and was established as the county seat in 1843. This travel itinerary was created by the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places, the Uptown Shelby Association, and the Historic Shelby Foundation, along with several other organizations. On the site, visitors can peruse the List of Sites area and make use of the map provided here. There are over two dozen places to explore, including Shelby High School, the Joshua Beam House, and the Irvin-Hamrick Log House. [KMG]


Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission: State Historic Preservation Office

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/historic_preservation/3741

Most states have some type of historic preservation office to coordinate preservation activities. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a very active preservation office and this website brings together a number of their publications and resources. Near the top of the page visitors will find two key items: the state's long-term preservation plan and the document titled "Economic Benefits of Historic Preservation Activities in Pennsylvania." The preservation plan may serve to inspire and edify those working in the field and it's a nice roadmap for those working in related fields, such as museum management. The second document highlights some of the long- and short-term benefits of sustained historic preservation activities from Philadelphia to Erie. Moving along, the site includes areas like Programs, Resources, and Initiatives. This last area is a real gem, as it features a tool designed to protect agricultural resources and a very fine field guide to the architectural types and styles that prevail throughout the Keystone State. [KMG]


George McGovern Collection

http://dlsd.sdln.net/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2FGMC

George McGovern grew up in Mitchell, South Dakota. He would go on to serve his state and country as a U.S. Representative, Senator, and his party's presidential nominee of 1972. This digital collection from the archives of the George and Eleanor McGovern Library brings together over 130 images that document his life and achievements. Items here include photographs of McGovern dedicating the Big Bend Dam, campaign buttons from his presidential campaign, and several images of him meeting with Sioux tribal leaders. Visitors can perform an advanced search on the items here, or look through some of the additional collections included. The site will be particularly useful to students of American presidential history and those with an interest in the political culture of South Dakota. [KMG]


One Life: Amelia Earthart

http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/earhart/

Amelia Earhart once said "I chose to fly the Atlantic because I wanted to." It's a great quote, and this online exhibit provides some marvelous images of this most celebrated aviatrix. Created by the National Portrait Gallery to complement an in-situ exhibit, the site includes 12 images, including a drawing by Hugo Gellert and a photograph of Earhart's pilot's license from 1923. The real finds here are the five videos of Earhart out and about at various events and in her plane. Users should not miss the "Amelia Earhart Flies Autogiro" clip or her appearance at the National Flag Association meeting in 1932. The site also features a place where visitors can leave their own comments for consideration by others. [KMG]


Creative Time

http://www.creativetime.org/

Creative Time curates, funds, and organizes public art projects, so their website is a reference of the form dating back to 1975. You can browse by program name, date or artist's name (the most common of these being "multiple artists.") Creative Time's roster also includes familiar names such as Marina Abramovic, Doug Aitken, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, Paul Chan, Jenny Holzer, Gary Hume, Vik Muniz, Takashi Murakami, Shirin Neshat, Steve Powers, and Cai Guo-Qiang. For example, Creative Time worked with Cai Guo-Qiang to present Light Cycle, in 2003, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of New York City's Central Park; in 2008 David Byrne's Playing the Building transformed the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan into a massive sound sculpture that visitors could play using a keyboard; and in summer 2012 Creative Time and multiple artists hosted a sandcastle competition at Far Rockaway, possibly the start of a new New York summer tradition. [DS]



Network Tools

TweetInsight

http://tweetinsight.net/

For Twitter users, this helpful application will be most useful. Interested parties can use TweetInsight to spot the main topics their Twitter contacts are talking about and also find the most frequently tweeted hashtags. Also, users can use TweetInsight to find out which URLs their contacts have been sharing with others. It's quite easy to use and it is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]


Do Share

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/oglhhmnmdocfhmhlekfdecokagmbchnf

Google+ users will find Do Share to be a most welcome addition to their palette of tools. Visitors can use Do Share to write and schedule their Google+ posts or share links with others. The site includes a tutorial, along with suggestions for how to most effectively use this application. This version is compatible with all operating systems. [KMG]



In the News

An ambitious plan to study America's ecology begins in earnest


A 30-year plan to study America's ecology is about to begin
http://www.economist.com/node/21560838

National Ecological Observatory Network
http://www.neoninc.org/

Introduction to Ecology
http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/ecologyinteractive/lectures.htm

Ecoregions of the Continental United States
http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/level_iii_iv.htm

Biocomplexity Resources
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/biocomplexity/ecology.html

The Art of Seeing Things
http://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2012/07/the-art-of-seeing-things.html

Ambitious projects are the hallmark of a great society, and the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is one such undertaking. The focus of NEON is a grand plan to study America's ecology over the next 30 years by establishing field research sites at 60 different locations across the United States. The project is under the direction of Dr. David Schimel, and he and his colleagues are working on setting up 15,000 sensors to collect over 500 types of data, including temperature, air pressure, wind speed and direction, and humidity. Perhaps the most important aspect of this vast project is that these sensors will take the same measurements in the same way in every place. The NEON researchers have divided the United States into 20 different "domains," each of which is dominated by a certain type of ecosystem. The sensors in each of the locations will indicate how efficiently different ecosystems use nutrients and water and so on. One of the first projects began last week when two NEON researchers began to look at the impact of the High Park fire in Colorado. The project certainly falls within the realm of "big data," as when NEON is fully operational it will generate 200 terabytes of data a year. [KMG]

The first link will take interested parties to an article from last week's Economist about the NEON project. The second link will whisk users away to the NEON homepage. Here visitors can learn about the projects long-term plans, along with more about the research agenda. The third link will take users to course materials from the University of Idaho that provide an introduction to the field of ecology. The fourth link leads to an interactive map of the ecoregions of the United States as articulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The fifth link leads to a collection of resources on ecology for college instructors, including a searchable ecology bibliography. Finally, the last link leads to a beautiful essay titled "The Art of Seeing Things" by the naturalist John Burroughs.





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