AMSER (Applied Math and Science Education Repository) is a portal of educational resources and services built specifically for those in community and technical colleges, but free for anyone to use. AMSER is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of the National Science Digital Library, and is being created by a team of project partners led by Internet Scout.
This website includes a cut-away animation of a pneumatic 180 degree rotary table. Objective: Describe how the 180 degree rotary table works. You can find this animation under the heading "Automation Technology."
The transit of Venus is a rare astronomical event that has been well documented throughout history. The most recent transit occurred in June of 2004, and the one before that took place more than 100 years earlier in 1882. This site from the South African Astronomical Observatory provides information and first-hand observations of the 1882 event from Wellington, South Africa. Just prior to the event, an observatory was erected at the Huguenot Seminary for girls, and some of the historical observations made from that site in 1882 are provided here for your perusal.
This dataset, created by Robin H. Locke of St. Lawrence University, describes 93 new cars for the 1993 model year with 26 variables, including price, mpg ratings, and engine size. It also illustrates a broad range of statistical techniques such as box-whisker plot, confidence intervals, difference in means, one-way ANOVA, contingency table, scatterplot, regression, and correlation. If further research is required the author has included a list of references.
The University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database (UM/BBD) contains "microbial biocatalytic reactions and biodegradation pathways primarily for xenobiotic, chemical compounds." A new microbial enzyme-catalyzed reactions has been posted for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid. 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is used in cultivated agricultural areas, rangeland and pastures, forests, and homes or gardens, and is "a chlorinated phenoxy compound [that] functions as a systemic herbicide and is used to control many types of broadleaf weeds." The degradation pathway map includes organisms which can initiate the pathway. The pathway map provides detailed information on each hyperlinked step, including graphics, product/substrate reactions, and external links to further information.
The Two Micron All Sky Survey at IPAC website provides an image gallery of the solar system's objects, Jupiter's moons, H II regions, star formation regions, and reflection nebulae, open star clusters, globular star cluster, young stellar objects, planetary nebulae, supernova remnants, various IRAS sources, galaxies, as well as galaxy groups and clusters.
Created by David Lane of Rice University, this applet simulates experiments using 2 x 2 contingency tables. You specify the population proportions and the sample size and examine the effects on the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis. The author provides instructions and then five different exercises to practice these concepts. Overall, this is a nice interactive resource that allows users a more hands-on approach to statistics.
These zipped documents from MatEd provide information on designing a course on 3 Dimensional Digital Laser Scanning Fundamentals. At the end of the course, students will be able to identify applications for 3 dimensional digital laser scanning, operate a NextEngine brand 3 dimensional digital laser scanner, and have proposed a project to reinforce these concepts. The documents include a draft syllabus, contact information for the author of the course, a sample new course proposal form, and a course outline.
This web site, hosted by the University of Chicago Dept. of Astronomy and Astrophysics, is an image gallery of the Yerkes 40 inch refracting telescope--the largest refractor in the world. It includes views of the telescope, the machinery that turns it, and the observatory building. Links go to other parts of the Yerkes website.
With over 100 years of service, the 4-H Organization is committed to helping "young people and their families gain the skills they need to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy." Their work includes outreach to agricultural communities, teen leadership programs, and many other initiatives. On the site's homepage, visitors will find four primary areas, including "About 4-H", "Programs", and "Resource Library". In the "Resource Library" area, visitors can learn about 4-H curriculum materials, volunteer resources, and grant opportunities. Moving on, the "Programs" area includes information about their youth research programs that address climate change, community leadership, and childhood obesity. Also, visitors can sign up for the "Power of YOUth News" updates and other news bulletins.
In 1953, Gottfried Moellenstedt invented the electron biprism, more or less by accident, with the serendipity characteristic to him: Aiming at dark-field imaging in an electron microscope, he stretched a thin tungsten wire across the objective aperture to block off the zero beam. However, instead of a dark field image, because of inadvertent charging of the wire under the beam, he found two images of the ZnO-needles serving as an object. Instead of trying the dark field imaging over and over again, he asked what the effect would be if the obtained two images were superimposed. Is coherence given? Moellenstedt, educated by Walther Kossel in diffraction of electron waves, had a vision: Together with his PhD-student Heinrich Dueker, he developed the electron biprism, consisting of a 1 micron m thin wire deliberately chargeable by means of a voltage source, as a beam splitter for coherent superposition of the electron waves passing the filament on the right and on the left. In 1955 they published the first results showing biprism interference fringes [G. Moellenstedt and H. Dueker, Naturwiss. 42, 41 (1955)], which, since then, gave access to the understanding of electron waves and their use for analysis of object structures up to atomic dimensions. Target Audience: 2-4 Year College Faculty/Administrators
This resource introduces students to the Dry Valleys of Antarctica, the largest area on the continent that is not covered by ice. Materials include a map and some brief facts about Antarctica and the valleys, such as size, location and physical properties (temperature, precipitation and others), and an online journal in which participants in the Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project discuss what it is like to live and work there. The journal entries include descriptions of some of the organisms that inhabit the extreme environments of the valleys, physical features of the valleys, and the strange mummified bodies of animals such as penguins and seals that have been preserved in the cold, dry climate. There is also a glossary of acronyms used in the project and a set of links to other websites with additional information about the Dry Valleys.
This website includes a cut-away animation of a pneumatic 90 degree rotary table. Objective: Describe how the 90 degree rotary table works. You can find this animation under the heading "Automation Technology."
9th Grade Math Practice Questions to test addition, multiplication, word-problem skills, and basic algebraic skills. Includes answers and explanations. From the Proficiency Building Activities of the NASA Lewis Research Center K-12 Program.
The AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science Atlas of Population and Environment is an important analysis of the relationships between human population and the environment. Through text, maps, and diagrams, the Atlas illustrates how population affects the world's ecosystems and natural resources both in the short and long term. Using sophisticated mapping and graphic techniques, the Atlas provides quantitative analyses of the important links between such factors as human population density, rates of growth, migration, resource consumption, and technologies, and the state of the global environment. These links are explored across the content areas of natural resources, land use, the atmosphere, waste and chemicals, ecosystems, and biodiversity. The Atlas draws on research and data from a number of academic institutions and international organizations, including the United Nations, its specialist organizations and agencies; the World Resources Institute; the Center for International Earth Sciences Information Network; Oak Ridge National Laboratory; U.S. Geological Survey; and the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre. The Atlas was produced to provide a concise, science-based compendium of information on the population and environment topics so important to the realization of a sustainable future.
This special feature page from the American Chemical Society (ACS) showcases the up-and-coming field of "green chemistry," that is, the development of chemical products and processes that eliminate or reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances. A list of principles behind green chemistry, a searchable bibliography of green chemistry references, and green chemistry links (including conferences). This page comes from ACS's Green Chemistry Project, a three-year educational project to develop and disseminate green chemistry educational materials for graduate and undergraduate chemistry students.
Provided by the American Dental Hygienists' Association, this site's resources are valuable for both dental patients and hygienists to help understand "the importance of oral health to total health." Patients will find informative fact sheets describing potential oral health problems as well as tips for preventing them. Hygienists will find the free posters useful as well as the instructions included for proper brushing and flossing techniques in order to educate and support their patients. The site underscores dental hygienists' roles in tobacco cessation efforts, a major topic of concern in the allied health professions. Providing free "life-saving advice", the ADHA hopes to promote overall heath beginning with oral care.
The Ryan White CARE Act provides funds for programs to "improve the quality of life of patients living with HIV/AIDS through the provision of high quality professional education and training." The AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETC) are part of such a program, and they "conduct targeted, multi-disciplinary education and training programs for healthcare providers treating persons with HIV/AIDS." Visitors interested in a thorough overview of this website can take the "Online Tour of the NRC", available on the homepage, on the right side menu. Both the "Clinician Resources" and "Trainer Resources" have "Featured Resources", such as a PDF of a short influenza management guide for HIV+ patients, a PowerPoint presentation on Diabetes Mellitus and HIV, a newsletter, the HIV Meds Quarterly, and a video, "HIV and the Older Adult". Visitors can also view materials on the website by topic, under the "Topics" tab. Topics include "Prevention", "Testing" and "Population/Settings".
This site, operated by the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), is a great starting point for people who want to learn more about the rapidly growing world of artificial intelligence (AI). AI Topics acts as a central hub for an enormous collection of material that exists on the Web. The links given on the site offer a wide range of information, including basic definitions of AI, discussions about related philosophical issues, journal articles, and current research. The news section is particularly useful, as it is updated frequently with new developments. Most of AI Topics are geared toward high school students, undergraduate students, people with little knowledge of the subject, and people interested in pursuing a career in AI.
This site, created by Michelle Lacey of Yale University, gives an explanation, a definition and an example of ANOVA for regression. Topics include analysis of variance calculations for simple and multiple regression, and F-statistics. This is a great overview of this topic.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) "is responsible for delivering specialised advice, scientific services and products to government, industry, academia and other research organizations." Researchers can learn about the Organization's ion beam analysis, accelerators, environmental systems, and additional facilities, capabilities, and services. The website offers pdf files of the organization's annual reports, news flashes, and media releases. Individuals can learn about managing radioactive waste, the functioning of the National Medical Cyclotron, and nuclear technology development. Students and teachers can read the editions of the science magazine, _Velocity_, and find tutorials on nuclear technology.