Environmental Sciences Information

The Institute of Physics, http://www.iop.org/UK, has launched a new website, http://environmentalresearchweb.org. The portal is projected to be a central source of information on issues covering the whole of environmental science.

Environmentalresearchweb.org will provide analysis and commentary on all areas of environmental research including policy and sustainable technology. It is targeted at all those who are interested in topics covered by environmental science, such as climate change and the development of biofuels.

In addition, the site also has links to new articles from the open access IOP Publishing journal Environmental Research Letters, launched earlier this year. Registration for membership of environmentalresearchweb.org is free. Members will gain free access to premium content, receive a weekly newsletter and be able to update the site with their comments, details of their events and their company.

Source: Knowledgespeak Newsletter, Feb. 19, 2007 http://www.knowledgespeak.com/Index.asp

World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision In the next 43 years, world population is expected to increase by our total population statistic in 1950, 2.5 billion. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Population Division provides this direct link to tables. “The world population continues its path towards population ageing and is on track to surpass 9 billion persons by 2050, as revealed by the newly released 2006 Revision of the official United Nations population estimates and projections.” (From the press release).

The National Academy of Sciences has created a program, STS, Science & Technology for Sustainability, in the division of Policy and Global Affairs “to encourage the use of science and technology to achieve long term sustainable development.” Their various projects are linked and there are also links under the Sustainability Gateway: Sustainability - The Issue People and Their Communities Life Support Systems-Air & Water Life Support Systems - Food Economy, Business & Industry Natural Systems Institutions and Indicators Global Change

The New Scientist Environment webpage and blog are worth checking out. The stories are so timely, international and well-written. There is a good blog too. (Why am I doing this?!)

The U.S. government, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Specialized Information Services more specifically, has set up an Environmental Health & Toxicology portal to web-based information about Chemicals and Drugs, Diseases and the Environment, Environmental Health, Occupational Safety and Health, Poisoning, Risk Asessment and Regulations, Toxicology and Pesticide Exposure.

Information geared to researchers and students may be specified…as well as the public or schools.

The World Wildlife Fund has issued this press release: Saving the world’s natural wonders from climate change “From the Amazon to the Himalayas, ten of the world’s greatest natural wonders face destruction if the climate continues to warm at the current rate, warns WWF.

Released ahead of the International Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) Second Working Group Report, a WWF briefing — Saving the world’s natural wonders from climate change — reports on how the devastating impacts of global warming are damaging some of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

They include the: Amazon; Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs; Chihuahua Desert in Mexico and the US; hawksbill turtles in the Caribbean; Valdivian temperate rainforests in Chile; tigers and people in the Indian Sundarbans; Upper Yangtze River in China; wild salmon in the Bering Sea; melting glaciers in the Himalayas; and East African coastal forests.”

The American Chemical Society through its journal, Environmental Science & Technology Online has collected links with — and without — descriptions for the following topics: Air, Bioaccumulative & Toxic Chemicals, Biotechnology, Career, Climate Change, Energy, Green Chemistry, Groundwater, Land & Forests, Policy, Remediation, Risk Assessment, Sustainable Development, Technology, and Water.

Having been directed to this Natural Resources Defense Council website from ActforChange.com, I’d like to pass the link along. Here you will find “Guides to greener living”: JOURNALS, COLUMNS & OVERVIEWS, ENERGY-SAVING TIPS, GUIDES TO CONSERVING RESOURCES, GUIDES TO PROTECTING YOUR FAMILIES’ HEALTH, TRAVEL AND RECREATION INFO, as well as a links to a “legislative watch” and “guides to capitol hill” about communicating with Congress and the legislative process.

“Columbia earthscape is an integrated, interdisciplinary resource that connects the Earth and environmental sciences with their social, political, and economic dimensions. Although it primarily serves undergraduates, it also functions as an online reference for graduate students, investigators, and professionals, as well as a core text and enrichment for high schools and continuing education.”

Earthscape deals with the global environment. It’s a very useful site directing researchers to conferences, seminars, books and journals; teachers to multidisciplinary, multimedia resources; students to study aids; and policy-makers to global, public online discussions.

The Encyclopedia of Earth is a refereed wiki of all things of, and about, the Earth. It seeks to become the world’s largest and most authoritative electronic source of information about the environments of Earth and their interactions with society.

The EoE is an Open Source project that uses a modified version of MediaWiki as its authoring platform. The EoE’s author wiki is restricted to individuals judged to be expert in their field by an editorial board, and articles are reviewed and approved by a subject-specific editor prior to publication.

ECOLEX is operated by the FAO, IUCN and UNEP*. It declares that it provides the most comprehensive, global source of information on environmental law. At this time, the Court Decisions Database is under development, but sections on Treaties, National Legislation, and Literature are present. “Treaties” contains references to and information on multilateral legal instruments. “National Legislation” covers jurisdictions around the world and legislation from the state or provincial level. The “Literature” section is comprised of information on monographs, articles and grey literature.

• United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture, The World Conservation Union, United Nations Environment Program

NSIDC is the leader in the field of cryospheric data management and distribution. They also conduct research and education. These data come from the field or are relayed from Earth-orbiting satellites. “The NSIDC supports research into our world’s frozen realms: the snow, ice, glacier, frozen ground, and climate interactions that make up the Earth’s cryosphere.”

NSIDC is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

CIRES, in turn, is one of the 21 joint research institutes of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. One of these is at GFDL (Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory) on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus, the Cooperative Institute for Climate Science

NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management [pdf] http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/ Source: the Scout Report, July 27, 2007, by KMG

“In light of a number of recent events, there is increased concern about the management of America’s coastal and ocean resources. It is a pressing issue for economic reasons, along with the simple fact that over fifty percent of the U.S. population lives close to the coastlines of two oceans and the Great Lakes. Persons interested in these matters will appreciate the NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management site, which features newsletters, information about their strategic plans, and copious amounts of material on their initiatives, which include dock management and community development partnerships. A basic overview of the issues facing coastal regions can be found in the “Coastal Issues” section of the site which contains brief summaries on marine debris, coastal hazards, water quality, and aquaculture. The site is rounded out by a “My state” section. Here, visitors can utilize a clickable map of the U.S. to learn about coastal management activities underway in their state.”

The EPA has revised its Library Network Website

Note that they are asking for advice about their future direction.

News updates about the EPA libraries can be seen from this site, too.

The Mission of the UNEP: “To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.”

Focus areas of the UNEP:

Biodiversity, Business & Industry, Chemicals, Civil Society and NGOs, Energy, Environmental Assessment, Freshwater, Governance & Law, Land, Marine & Coastal Areas, Ozone, Sustainable Consumption, Urban Issues

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives

Founded in 1990 in New York, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is a broad international association of local governments and related units of governance committed to sustainable development. The ICLEI provides support to their members through technical consulting and training programs, and their website also serves as a clearinghouse for this material, along with offering additional items, including research reports, newsletters, and policy briefs. On their homepage, visitors can read about their latest news, check job postings, and also learn about recent developments from their members. Most visitors will want to continue their exploration of the site by clicking over to the “Programs” area. Here they can learn about their “Cities for Climate Protection” campaign, read up on their biodiversity initiative, and take a look at their tools for creating sustainable cities. [KMG]

From the

Scout Report

Environmentalresearchweb is a community website maintained by IOP, the Institute of Physics for Science, Policy and Engagement. It offers departments on: Opinion, Research, Sustainable Futures, Journals, Jobs, Resources, Companies, and Events.
The IOP is an highly-respected British institution.

Teach Engineering is designed for teaching sciences and applications to younger than college-age students, but there are some wonderful experiments and activities described here for anyone and everyone, which even include bibliographies. There is a very nice Environmental History Timeline, and there are lots of environmentally-appropriate projects/studies included, especially in the Chemistry, and Earth and Space, Life Sciences, and Physical Science. Or most seem to be under Science & Technology details, too. Click on Browse Curriculum, then subjects to get the details of the lessons and activities.

“Established in 1998, the Pfleger Institute of Environmental Research (PIER) is a non-profit organization ‘dedicated to education and research of the marine environment.’ From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, their team of scientists continues to work on a variety of studies on thresher sharks, roosterfish, and the giant sea bass. One rather nice highlight of the site is the ‘Field Notes’ area. Here visitors can learn about some of their ongoing research projects, which have included work on the swimming muscle physiology of the common thresher shark and the fine-scale movements of roosterfish. Visitors can also click on the “Publications” section to read the results of some of their scientific endeavors over the years. [KMG]” From The Scout Report, Oct. 5th.

The IPCC shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore.

The IPCC has a useful website that was just re-reviewed by today’s Scout Report. Notable is their new calendar of events, and especially the series: annual climate assessment reports. ‘Scientists and policymakers will also want to look at some of their exhaustive scholarly works which include “Safeguarding the Ozone Layer” and “Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage”.’ The “Activities” area includes information on their National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme.

The UNEP has added another to its panoply of resources: The Global Resource Information Database (GRID) has been developed by the USGS EROS Data Center and Google Maps by employing remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and online mapping tools to create this free resource for use of geographers, political scientists, environmental researchers and policy decision-makers. “The atlas highlights sites around the world that have witnessed such dramatic environmental changes as glacial melt, desertification, deforestation, pollution, and population growth.”

Source: “Best Free Reference Websites, Ninth Annual List”, Reference & User Services Quarterly, Vol. 47(1), Fall, 2007.

RenewableEnergyAccess.com is “a leading online-only publication and business-to-business (B2B) community for renewable energy”. Even though, PennWell Corporation, a business-to-business (B2B) publishing corporation, has become the major owner of the website, its founders, Jim Callahan and Oliver Strube will continue to direct operations.

“RenewableEnergyAccess.com serves 50,000 registered readers by providing comprehensive industry information and insight with its daily news, weekly podcasts, and regular columns and interviews. The site covers finance, policy, and technology for renewable energies including solar power, wind power, biomass and biofuels, geothermal, hydrogen/fuel cells, and hydropower.”

Princeton University has most of the journals listed in the extended entry. However, as always, if anyone needs an article we don’t own, Interlibrary Loan or Document Delivery is encouraged.

National Pesticide Information Center [pdf] http://npic.orst.edu/

‘The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) was created through a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Its primary function is to provide “objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions about pesticides and their use.” The site contains seven primary sections, including “General Information”, “Technical Information”, “Pest Control”, and “Emergency”. Most casual visitors to the site should click on over to the “General Information” area. In this section, they will find fact sheets and posters on pesticide safety, storage and disposal, and case studies. Of course, they shouldn’t forget about the other areas of the site, particularly if they are interested in regulatory issues involving pesticides and emergency resources. Finally, the site also contains a search engine for those who know exactly what they need to find. [KMG]’

Source: The Scout Report for Dec. 14, 2007, from Univ. of Wisconsin.

This NPIC site does contain a disclaimer for the Case Profiles. This information is provided as a public service and for educational purposes.

The Exploratorium recently decided to celebrate International Polar Year 2007-2008 by giving cameras to a group of penguin biologists, glaciologists, cosmologists, geologists, and marine scientists working in Antarctica and the Arctic. The results of this interesting idea can be found on this site, and visitors will enjoy learning about the thoughts and experiences of the scientists working in these two regions. Visitors can get started by clicking on the “Check out the dispatches” button. Visitors can learn how penguins function as barometers of climate change, get up close and personal with a smattering of charismatic marine mammals, and learn about the fascinating South Pole Telescope. Visitors can also browse through archived materials and they should definitely revisit the site, as they will be adding posts from scientists in the Arctic over the coming months. [KMG] Source: Scout Report, Feb. 1, 2008

Professor Daniel J. Jacob of Harvard University has compiled this very fine set of educational materials that deal with various aspects of atmospheric chemistry. He draws these resources from his own teaching experience, along with offering slides, presentations, and information from his own introductory textbook on the subject. Visitors can click through sections that contain resources such as Power Point presentations on halogen chemistry, aerosols, and global biogeochemical cycles. Professor Jacob has also been kind enough to include several versions of his 1999 textbook titled “Introduction to Atmosphere Chemistry” for general consideration and use. Finally, the site also contains resources on chemical transport models intended for graduate students. Source: The Scout Report — March 14, 2008

There are also some helpful hints about presentations and writing!

Shana Weber, the University’s Sustainability Manager, spoke at a Lunch ‘n Learn on Wednesday, March 12th, on “The Greening of Technology: Sustainability Initiatives at Princeton” Highlights of it are on OIT’s blog: “IT’s Academic” Four from OIT were also on the panel: Leila Shahbender, Charles Kruger, Curt Hillegas, and John Shorey. They spoke about what OIT has instituted as practical applications and ideas to reduce the University’s carbon footprint. A podcast is available, as well as the presentations (powerpoint) from both links above.

From The Scout Report, March 7, 2008 — A little out of scope, but food for thought:

Ecology, Art, and Technology [Macromedia Flash Player, iTunes, Quick Time] http://www.ecoarttech.net/

“The intersection between ecology, art, and technology is a complex one, and one that provides the inspiration for the EcoArtTech organization. The organization was created in 2005 and they are primarily interested in “working with digital, networked, and sustainable technologies and contemporary environments to create art about the environmentality of modern life.” Their work is funded by Colgate University, the Turbulence Commission, and the Pine Lake Environmental Campus of Hartwick College. From the homepage, visitors can learn about some recent projects, view video podcasts of installations, and learn more about upcoming events and exhibits. The projects include “Frontier Mythology” which is a mobile, solar-powered environmental digital video and FM radio installation made of recycled shipping pallets. Visitors can watch the Quick Time documentary that profiles this installation, and they may want to mention it to friends and colleagues. Overall, it’s a fine site and one that is quite thought provoking.” [KMG]

“The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/envsci/index.html

Phrases like “biodiversity climate” and “ecosystems” are becoming ubiquitous on evening television broadcasts, yet some may still be unfamiliar with these terms and concepts. Fortunately, there is “The Habitable Planet” website, which was designed by Annenberg Media for teachers and adult learners who wish to learn more about current events in environmental science. The content on the site is divided into thirteen areas, which include oceans, water resources, energy challenges, and agriculture. Within each section, visitors can make their way through separate sections within the online textbook, and also view content that includes interactive labs, graphics, video clips, and specialized glossaries. Returning to the site’s homepage, visitors will also note that they can view the content by type, which makes it a bit easier if they are looking for a specific video clip or visual feature.”

Source: The Scout Report — August 1, 2008

The Specialized Information Services of the National Library of Medicine has compiled 26 information portals to date on many important issues in environmental health and toxicology. Links are provided to overviews, review articles, databases, bibliographies, regulations and policies, and other websites. These concerns include environmental health of ethnic groups, chemical and biological warfare, chemicals and pollutants, natural disasters and diseases.

Earth911.org is a practical website. It offers “resources on how to conserve, shop smart and be safe….Access local information by menu/postal code to find options in your area…in the U.S. and Canada.” Source: Information Outlook, v.10(9), p.7, Sept. 2006 (www.SLA.org)

The Environmental Literacy Council: Teaching Resources [pdf] http://www.enviroliteracy.org/category.php/17.html

“Environmental science encompasses a number of fields within the natural sciences, and an interdisciplinary approach to the subject is a must. For educators working in this area, the Environmental Literacy Council’s Teaching Resources site will be a real find. On their site, visitors should click on over to one of the sections on the right-hand side of the page. The sections here include ‘General Resources’, ‘Environmental Science Toolkit’, and ‘Survey & Textbook Reviews’. The ‘Environmental Science Toolkit’ is a good place to start, as it contains data table examples, information on creating citations, a guide to important concepts in environmental science, and an experimental design rubric. Additionally, visitors should not miss the Environmental History Modules which help teachers link up fundamental historical concepts to important environmental issues. These modules include ‘War and the Environment’ and ‘Ordinary Landscapes’, and they are both creative and quite engaging for students and teachers.”

Source: Today’s Scout Report, from the University of Wisconsin

Did you notice in today’s New York Times, an announcement of the blog: Green, Inc. : Energy, the Environment and the Bottom Line

“About Green Inc. How will the pressures of climate change, limited fossil fuel resources and the mainstreaming of “green” consciousness reshape society? Follow the money. From renewable energy policy to carbon markets to dubious eco-advertising, our energy and environment reporters will track the high-stakes pursuit of a greener globe.”

“…today [Jimmy] Wales and others at Wikia, Inc. announced the launch of a new eco-focused project, which they’re calling Wikia Green. The goal is to create a flexible, dynamic community wiki that covers anything and everything in the environmental and sustainable universe.” From an interview reported in The Daily Green 9/9/08: “Wikia Green Launches as a “Wikipedia” for Enviros”

On their homepage is stated: 681 articles since March 2008

The United States Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have produced a useful website, ENERGYSTAR, which gives practical information on how we all can save energy. There is advice or tips for products, buildings and plants, new homes and home improvements. There are links to news and podcasts.

Source: an email from Robert Sheneman at the Princeton Plasma Physics Labs.