Geosciences Subject Guide

Now that we have a new major, we needed a new subject guide. The Geosciences subject guide is available by clicking here or going to the library home page and clicking on Subject Guides. The guide is designed to give majors a place to start their research and includes pertinent encyclopedias, dictionaries, databases, and Web sites. Please let me know if there are additions you would like to see.

Online tutorial for finding full text

Finally the long-awaited tutorial for finding full text is complete. I decided to try my hand at this online tutorial because finding the full text is one of the challenges that plagues nearly every student with whom I speak. Although, it was a multi-step process in the old days (when I was an undergrad), students seem baffled that it remains a multi-step process. Everything should be instantaneous. I think it comes from confusion and surprise that students have when they learn information is not free, and information that is free may not be the kind you can use. And I get it. I think it should all be free also. Unfortunately until then, we have to deal with different vendors and services to provide information. And that means several steps to find what you need. I hope this tutorial will prove useful for finding full text at Eckerd. I admit, it's not the shortest tutorial ever, but I think it is thorough. I really want you to understand that we have access to many more articles than what you can find in the full text databases. It has been tested by a few people, however if you find a problem, please let me know.

http://home.eckerd.edu/~logank/findingfulltext/index.html

New Book Profile: Encyclopedia of Tidepools & Rocky Shores

This summer we began a large project weeding old reference books...you know, those encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, and the like. We also ordered some new ones. Therefore, in the coming weeks, my new book profiles will focus on our new reference books.

Title: Encyclopedia of Tidepools & Rocky Shores (REF QH541.5.S35 E53 2007)
Series: Encyclopedias of the Natural World, Vol. 1
Editors: Mark W. Denny and Steven D. Gaines
Publisher: University of California Press
Year: 2007
705 pages

Written for an interested general audience, this work covers geology; oceanography; weather and climatology; plants, algae, fungi and microbes; invertebrates and vertebrates; ecology; behavior; physiology and ecophysiology; human uses and interactions; and finally research and methodology as they pertain specifically to rocky shores. The encyclopedia was added to our collection at the request of Prof. Szelistowski in the Marine Sciences. Entries begin with an introduction to the topic and continue with several subtopics. In addition, articles contain cross referencing, referring readers to other articles in the volume that are similar in topic. A bibliography for further reading ends each entry. Writing is very clear and most entries are accompanied by excellent full color photos and graphs. This volume will serve as a thorough introduction for Marine Science students researching new, unfamiliar topics, as well as a jumping off point for student looking for their next research topic.

New open-access journals added

At Professor Wetzel's suggestion, two open-access journals have been added to our online collection:

Numeracy: Advancing Education in Quantitative Literacy: This journal is published by the National Numeracy Network. Started in 2008, it is a peer-reviewed focusing on education at all levels.

Spreadsheets in Education: Also peer-reviewed, this journal publishes articles on use of spreadsheets in the classroom. Prof. Wetzel and student Peter Whicker published an article, Quick Correct: A Method to Automatically Evaluate Student Work in MS Excel Spreadsheets, in 2007.

Know of any other open-access journals that would e great for Eckerd's online journal collection? Just let me know.

New Book Profile: How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper

Title: How to write and publish a scientific paper (T11.D33 2006: New Book shelf)
Edition: 6th
Authors: Robert A. Day and Barbara Gastel
Publisher: Greenwood Press
Year: 2006
303 pages

...the research scientist, perhaps uniquely among the trades and professions, must provide a document showing what he or she did, why it was done, how it was done, and what was learned from it. ... Thus, the scientist must not only "do" science but must "write" science. (p. ix)

The above quotation from the preface of this book illustrates how important it is for science students to learn how to write. This book benefits from clear, concise writing and neatly demarcated sections, making it easy to skim for portions relevant to your own writing challenges. It is not meant to teach you to be a better writer but rather a better science writer, primarily addressing issues that are unique to science writing. Yet, it is not a workbook and provides few examples. Although the book is designed for graduate students and professionals, undergraduates will benefit immensely from putting its advice into practice now.

Part I addresses preliminaries such as the definition of science writing, its history and ethics. This section is useful in helping delineate the difference between the writing that you will do for your science classes versus the writing you will do in an elective class. The chapter Approaching a Writing Project offers considerations before you write, which can save time in revision later.

Part II deals with the nitty gritty of each section in a scientific paper. Chapters on the title, abstract, introduction, and materials and methods sections seem the most useful. Chapters on the Results and Discussion Section would benefit from more examples but offer a few choice tidbits. I recommend getting as good style manual rather than the book's chapter on citing.

Part III on graphs, tables, and photographs uses great examples to show when each is needed and, perhaps more importantly, when each is not needed. In addition, correct formatting of each is discussed.

Part VI on conference communications clarifies the differing types of preparation and writing needed for oral versus printed communication, and offers limited advice for handling difficult question and answer periods.

The chapter, Use and Misuse of English, is highly recommended for highlighting some of the most common mistakes I have seen (over and over again) as a copy editor, although the section on dangling modifiers may prove confusing for many students. The next chapter on avoiding jargon is also useful, but, in my opinion, even better, is Appendix 2: Words and Expressions to Avoid (one of my personal pet peeves being "in order to" which uses 3 words to simply say "to").

In addition to the aforementioned sections, the book includes chapters on conducting peer review, becoming involved professionally in scientific communication, and writing a dissertation, CV, and a grant proposal.

I am working on an annotated list of books available at Eckerd for science writing, and I will put it on the blog when it is available. If you would like to talk to me or have me look over your papers, please contact me for an appointment.

New Book Profile: a math coffee table book

New Book Profile

Title: Mathematical Omnibus: Thirty Lectures on Classic Mathematics (QA37.3.F83 2007: New Book shelf)
Authors: Dmitry Fuchs and Serge Tabachnikov
Publisher: American Mathematical Society
Year: 2007
463 pages

I love the self-described concept of a mathematical coffee table book. Dmitry Fuchs and Serge Tabachnikov have lofty goals for Mathematical Omnibus: Thirty Lectures on Classic Mathematics, a book they dedicate to one of their heroes Vladimir Arnold in honor of his seventieth birthday. For one, the topics covered in this work are meant to depict the beauty and classical nature of mathematics. In addition, the authors suggest the book solo as the text in an undergraduate advanced math seminar. Other suggestions include provision of topical discussion for a math club, and finally, as a coffee table book. Indeed, it is illustrated throughout with proofs, photographs of famous mathematicians, and charming chapter drawings by Sergey Ivanov.

The discussions in this book are designed for students and advanced mathematicians alike. Assumed prior knowledge is, at most, a calculus class with many discussions appropriate for high school students in advanced math. Each lesson contains exercises with solutions or references to mathematical literature, in the case of a complex solution. Topics are not limited to one aspect of math but cover the gamut from rational numbers to developable surfaces to the Poncelet Porism. Whether or not Fuchs and Tabachnikov reach their goals, I leave to the Eckerd community to decide.

New book profile: Brainteaser Physics

New Book Profile

Title: Brainteaser Physics: Challenging Physics Puzzlers (QC75.G75 2007: New Book shelf)
Author: Goran Grimvall
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Year: 2007
162 pages

A columnist in a Swedish journal for engineers has published 57 puzzles to challenge physicists and students of physics. By the author's own admission, some puzzles are classics and others are new twists on old themes. Puzzles span from novice level to those that "may baffle even a physics professor" (p. 55). According to the preface, some knowledge of mathematics is assumed for many of the brainteasers.

The puzzles incorporate real world examples, as well as other disciplines such as literature. The baffling puzzle mentioned above involves a passage from a novel by Kurt Vonnegut. Solutions are provided for each problem, complete with illustrations and mathematical equations when necessary.

An excellent component of the book is the Further Reading section included at the end. Articles from the American Journal of Physics, European Journal of Physics, Physics Education, and The Physics Teacher correspond to individual problems. These references should help students correlate the puzzles to work of physicists. In this vein, Grimvall states that one purpose of these brainteasers is to provide a view of "how physicists think." (p. vii)

New electronic resources for NAS

Welcome back!

I know many of you have been back for a week and a half, but I spent last week at an NCBI training workshop on microbiology resources. So can I find you the DNA sequence for PER2 gene? Yes, I can now--but more about that in an upcoming blog post.

For now, let me tell you about our new resources. We have added GeoRef, a geology database accessible to all Eckerd community. To quote from the Web site,

The GeoRef database, established by the American Geological Institute in 1966, provides access to the geoscience literature of the world. GeoRef is the most comprehensive bibliographic database in the geosciences and continues to grow by more than 90,000 references a year. The database contains over 2.8 million references to geoscience journal articles, books, maps, conference papers, reports and theses.

A complete title list is available at http://www.agiweb.org/georef/about/serials.html

GEOBASE will remain available with a password available from the librarians or your professor.

In addition, we have added the complete full text to BioOne. Any article you locate via BioOne should be available in full-text format. Furthermore, if you search BioOne through the CSA Aquatic Science and Fisheries Abstracts interface, you will be able to connect to the full text from there.

Finally, the JSTOR Biological Sciences Collection is now active. This would provide the backfiles in full text for most of the journals we get through BioOne. Full title list is available at http://www.jstor.org/about/biosci_content.html.

As the Spring semester approaches, please remember that I am available to conduct a class on these resources and others that may be pertinent to work being done in your classes. Contact me as soon as possible to book the lab.

New Book Profile: The Periodic Table

New Book Profile

Title: The Periodic Table: Its Story and Significance QD467.S345 2007 (New Book shelf)
Author: Eric R. Scerri
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2007
249 pages

Dr. Eric Scerri, lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA, has written a book that explores the development, both historical and philosophical, of the periodic table of elements. In addition, the book examines the relationship between chemistry and physics. Scerri states in his introduction

One can still consider the more modern question of whether chemistry reduces to its sister science of physics...It is this question that forms the underlying theme for this entire book, and it is a question that is addressed more and more explicitly in later chapters as the story reaches the impact of modern physical theories on our understanding of the periodic system. (p. xviii)

Ten chapters begin with the historical origins of the table, including the concept of an element and its changing meaning throughout early scientific thought, continue through Mendeleev's predictions, to the impact of the nucleus and atomic number, and finally to modern quantum mechanics and astrophysics. Written in a manner accessible to students with some knowledge of chemistry, this book will provide a fascinating basis for students about to embark on more serious study of chemistry and/or physics, whether one agrees or disagrees with Scerri's premise.

A Nature (Q1.N2) magazine review of the book

Bensaude-Vincent, B. (18 January 2007). Display elements. Nature 445, 263-4.

discusses Scerri's argument that chemistry cannot be simply reduced to physics. Although the reviewer finds the introductory historical overview somewhat cliched, she approves of later arguments, especially those surrounding the discovery of isotopes and Niels Bohr's atomic model.

This may be an interesting book to take home for the holidays. Remember the library's holiday hours
Wednesday until 1 am
Thursday until 1 am
Friday until 5 pm

December 15-16	CLOSED	Semester End
December 17-18	8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Semester End

ILL into your e-mail

Because this is the NAS Collegium blog, I usually limit my posts to items of interest for those in the Natural Sciences. Today, however, as the Interlibrary Loan Librarian as well, I want to let you know about an exciting, new feature from Interlibrary Loan. We now have the capability to send documents electronically. Therefore, if a lending library sends us the document electronically (which many do), we can now convert the file to a PDF and send it straight to your e-mail. You will no longer have to wait for delivery via campus mail. The article will arrive immediately. Hurray! Let me know if you have any concerns over this new method of delivery. Otherwise, the e-mails will start arriving in your inboxes. Keep an eye out for them!

Update January 31, 2008: The new process has been successful so far. However, one problem with the new system is that we receive no verification that patrons receive their article. Therefore, if you have not received an email from us updating you on the status of your article or the article itself within 10 days, please contact myself or my assistant Liz Bodie: bodieea at eckerd dot edu

Geology of the Everglades...

I have decided to occasionally profile new books that are added to our collection. Today's selection is the following:

Petuch, E. J., & Roberts, C. E. (2007). The geology of the Everglades and adjacent areas. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Petuch, Professor of Geology, and Roberts, Associate Professor of Geology, at the Department of Geosciences, Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida), wrote 7 chapters detailing the geological development of the Everglades from late Paleogene to Holocene Southern Florida. The preface of this 212-page book acquaints us with the Everglades through an evocative line,

There is but one Everglades on this planet...

This work identifies the Everglades as a marine environment that must be studied from an oceanographic perspective. According to Petuch and Roberts, what was essentially an enclosed sea was flooded 12 times, providing layers of unique ecosystems.

The introduction serves as both a historical overview and a literature review. Students will find the exposure to the historical aspects of the geological foundation to the Everglades useful to understanding and researching its formation.

The book also comes with a DVD that includes and Powerpoint and a Quicktime video depicting the development of the Florida peninsula using simulated space shuttle photography.

Students at Eckerd are likely to find this book especially fascinating as it deals with areas close to home. In addition, most of the research on the area is relatively new, providing fascinating exposure to the development of an area of study within geology.

Credo Reference added to virtual Reference Shelf

Eckerd College has recently purchased Credo Reference, an online interdisciplinary reference resource. Credo Reference is available to all members of the Eckerd community on campus, or off campus, by using your e-mail user name and password.

To reach Credo Reference, choose the link Reference Shelf from the home page (as seen below).


Once you reach our virtual reference shelf, you will see Credo Reference as the first link listed under Encyclopedias and Dictionaries.

In Credo Reference, you can search all 289 reference books, or you can narrow your search to all the science reference books (complete title list below), or one particular reference book. Many results have images or even video links included. For example, I searched "Comet" in the Astronomy Encyclopedia to find an entry on Comet Holmes, which has been prevalent in recent news. In addition to an entry on this comet, more than 100 other entries, many with images, were available.

Credo also include concept map searching. The image below shows an example concept map for photosynthesis. Each dot represents a concept that is linked to photosynthesis. This feature is a fun way for you to explore larger concepts that you are trying to focus for a research paper. To see a larger image of the concept map, click on the map.


The science titles included in Credo are listed below:

• Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology
• Astronomy Encyclopedia
• Atlas of the Universe
• Collins Dictionary of Astronomy
• Collins Dictionary of Biology
• Dictionary of Astronomy, Peter Collin Publishing
• Dictionary of Developmental Biology and Embryology, Wiley
• Encyclopedia of Paleontology
• Guide to Gems
• Guide to Global Hazards
• Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils
• Guide to Seashells of the World
• Guide to Stars and Planets
• Guide to the Oceans
• Illustrated Dictionary of Science, Andromeda
• McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
• McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
• Reader's Guide to the History of Science
• The American Heritage Science Dictionary
• The Cambridge Dictionary of Scientists
• The Macquarie Dictionary of Trees & Shrubs
• The New Penguin Dictionary of Science
• The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics
  
• The Penguin Dictionary of Physics