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Searching for Science

Searching for Science Generalities Fred O’Bryant Applied Sciences Librarian Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library University of Virginia 2006 What We’ll Cover… Some basic definitions Major resources (mostly online) for researching general science and engineering topics

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Searching for Science

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  1. Searching for Science Generalities Fred O’Bryant Applied Sciences Librarian Charles L. Brown Science and Engineering Library University of Virginia 2006

  2. What We’ll Cover… • Some basic definitions • Major resources (mostly online) for researching general science and engineering topics • History of science resources • An experiment or two • Hands-on work

  3. What Is Science? A way of learning about the physical universe by applying the principles of the scientific method, which include making empirical observations, proposing hypotheses to explain those observations, and testing those hypotheses in valid and reliable ways. Science also refers to the organized body of knowledge that results from scientific study. Adapted slightly from NOAA’s Coral Reef Information System webpage

  4. Let’s Do Some Science… …with Falling Bodies

  5. The “Sapienza” (Place of Wisdom): the oldest building of the University of Pisa.

  6. Aristotle (384 – 322 BC)

  7. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

  8. Go to the experiments…

  9. The Essence of Science • Observe • Propose • Test • Record • Modify • Repeat as often as necessary…

  10. Science ≠ Absolute Truth

  11. Categories of Science • Physical Sciences • Life Sciences • Applied Sciences • Mathematics

  12. Natural Science The study of the physical world… …rather than of divine processes.

  13. Mathematics Not a science, strictly speaking.

  14. Physical Science • Astronomy • Physics • Chemistry • Geology • Weather

  15. Life Science • Biology & Botany • Biochemistry • Ecology & Environment • Genetics • Medicine • Psychology

  16. Applied Science • Aerospace • Biomedical • Civil • Chemical • Computer Science • Electrical • Mechanical • Materials Science • Systems

  17. LC Science Classifications • BF Psychology • HA Mathematical Statistics • Q Natural Science • R Medicine • S Agriculture • T Applied Sciences and Technology

  18. Generalities Broad topics All fields Typical undergrad or educated layperson Databases with non-technical coverage Databases with highly technical coverage but a broad subject base

  19. Life Blood of the Sciences • InfoTrac OneFile • Lexis-Nexis • CQ Researcher • Cambridge Scientific Abstracts • Ei Compendex • Web of Science • Factiva

  20. Sneak Peek – Compendex Via Engineering Village 2

  21. Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS)

  22. History of Science Scientific Biographies

  23. History of Science • America: History & LifeCovers the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to present. Covers material published since 1964. • Historical Abstracts Covers the history of all the world except North America back to 1450 CE. Covers material published since 1954. • Periodicals Archive Online (PAO)Valuable for its coverage further back in time than America History & Life and Historical Abstracts, and for its links to full text. • L'Année philologique sur InternetThe standard index for ancient Greece and Rome. • International Medieval BibliographyThe standard index for the European Middle Ages.

  24. History of Science • ATLA Religion Database Provides international coverage on all aspects of religious studies including the religious and ethical aspects of technology and medicine. • Philosopher’s Index Provides indexing and abstracting from books and over 300 journals of philosophy and related disciplines. • Iter—Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance Includes over 700,000 citations pertaining to the Middle Ages and Renaissance (400-1700). • Proquest Digital Dissertations Information on over 2 million dissertations and theses published since 1861

  25. Biography • Scientific and Engineering Biographies BSEL subject guide page • Dictionary of Scientific Biography BSEL reference collection; covers classical to modern times but no living persons • Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science BSEL reference collection; from ancient times to the mid-20th century • Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century BSEL reference collection; includes portraits

  26. Science on the Web

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