Introductory Biology

This lovely offering from the MIT OpenCourseWare project takes interested parties through the world of biology via course readings, discussion questions, assignments, and exams. The topics cover genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, and evolution. The Study Terms section is quite useful, as it covers a host of useful terms from cell signaling, immunology, cancer biology, and genetics. Moving on, the recitations are worth a look as they offer lecture notes in a succinct and learned fashion. It's worth noting that visitors can download each set of activities separately or they can also use the Download Course Materials area to download everything at once. 
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/biology/7-013-introductory-biology-spring-2013/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. 
https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Created in 1890, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory has a rich history of space science research. Affiliated with Harvard University, the SAO moved from Washington, DC to Cambridge, MA in 1955. Today, the Observatory employs over 300 scientists working on broad programs of astrophysical research supported by federal appropriations and other funding sources. Its divisions include high energy astrophysics, theoretical astrophysics, and optical and infrared astronomy. First-time visitors might do well to look over the Research area, which contains research statements and detailed project information on the SAO's work on the solar system, galaxies, and stars. The Features area is quite a find and it contains profiles on the third dimensions of Cassiopeia A, the search for other Earths, and dozens of other subjects dating back to 2009. Within Education & Outreach, visitors will find links to curriculum materials and public outreach ideas like "Inside Einstein's Universe" and "Black Holes: Space Warps & Time Twists." Finally, visitors should look over the Opportunities area as it contains information for science researchers and those seeking postdoctoral fellowships.

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/sao/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

 

Transitions to alternative vehicles and fuels

"For a century, almost all light-duty vehicles (LDVs) have been powered by internal combustion engines operating on petroleum fuels. Energy security concerns about petroleum imports and the effect of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on global climate are driving interest in alternatives. Transitions to Alternative Vehicles and Fuels assesses the potential for reducing petroleum consumption and GHG emissions by 80 percent across the U.S. LDV fleet by 2050, relative to 2005.
This report examines the current capability and estimated future performance and costs for each vehicle type and non-petroleum-based fuel technology as options that could significantly contribute to these goals. By analyzing scenarios that combine various fuel and vehicle pathways, the report also identifies barriers to implementation of these technologies and suggests policies to achieve the desired reductions. Several scenarios are promising, but strong, and effective policies such as research and development, subsidies, energy taxes, or regulations will be necessary to overcome barriers, such as cost and consumer choice."

Available for free download at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18264

Photobiological Sciences Online

Photobiological Sciences Online (PSO) has modules covering such topics as Photomorphogenesis, Photomovement, Photophysics, Photosensitization & Photosynthesis. The content is owned by the American Society for Photobiology. 

 http://www.photobiology.info/

ARKive

There is little more fascinating than the overwhelming variety of life on our planet. This variety is represented in dazzling detail by a team of wildlife photographers, filmmakers, conservationists, and scientists who have partnered with wildlife charity Wildscreen to create "an awe-inspiring record of life on Earth." Visitors to the site can browse a library of images, videos, and information about over 15,000 species, from extinct to vulnerable. ARKive also allows users to browse by place and conservation status, for those users who are interested in finding out about endangered species close to home. The Educate tab provides materials for teachers, all of which are sorted into appropriate age categories. Finally, a Fun section adds a little levity to an otherwise very serious topic, offering a blog, activities, games, quizzes, and other options for those who enjoy learning through play.

http://www.arkive.org/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

An Introduction to Teaching Mathematics at the College Level

Teaching college mathematics can be a daunting task, indeed. It's nice for seasoned professionals and others to have a solid primer on the subject and this guide from Professor Suzanne Kelton is quite useful. The 54-page guide is divided into four chapters that cover documenting teaching practices, classroom basics, course policies, and discussion sections. Each of these chapters has additional subsections, such as syllabi, pace, and proofs. As a bonus, the document has an appendix that covers graphing techniques. The language of the document is jargon-free and accessible, which is a welcome departure from other guides. Visitors will want to share this item with friends in the field and even those who are teaching in other disciplines.

http://www.ams.org/profession/career-info/grad-school/Kelton-TEACH.pdf 

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Numberphile

Are you a numberphile? Maybe you are and you don't know it yet. If you have any interest in topology, geometry, algebra, or other facets of math, this website may be right up your alley. Created by Brady Haran, the site contains hundreds of entertaining videos, including titles like "Unboxing Calculators," "Politics and Numbers," and the very engaging "Pi and the Size of the Universe." Visitors can search the entire collection as they see fit, read comments by other users and also even view topical themes, such as Prime Numbers and Yahtzee. Additionally, there is a Discussion area where visitors can engage in dialogue with other scholars and folks with an interest in mathematics education.

http://www.numberphile.com/text_index.html

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/http://www.numberphile.com/videos/simpsons_pi.html

As Many Exceptions As Rules

Dr. Lasbury is a scientist, educator, and writer who lives in Indiana. In his entertaining blog, exceptions to biological rules are used as a base to explore and reinforce the core concepts of biology. Ranked by Blogtopsites as once of the best science blogs, recent topics include free will (neural parasitology and domoic acid toxicity) and zombies (characteristics of life, cell theory, reproduction, homeostasis and  evolution). 
http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.com.au/

Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Resources for Early Career Scientists

What is it like to be a postdoc or new faculty member in the sciences? This series of guides and meditations is a great way to learn about such things, and it is based on workshops cosponsored by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The full-length book offered here, titled "Making The Right Moves: A Practical Guide to Scientific Management for Postdocs and New Faculty," can be downloaded in its entirety or as individual chapters. The chapter titles include "Obtaining and Negotiating a Faculty Position" and "Staffing Your Laboratory." Additionally, there are some equally fine stand-alone resources, such as the trenchant "Writing a Letter of Recommendation." The site is rounded out by the Additional Resources section, which contains a number of professional development resources crafted by the HHMI and other peer organizations.

http://www.hhmi.org/educational-materials/lab-management/for-early-career-scientists

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Science: Podcast

Brown dwarfs, numerosity maps, and social learning in bird migration are but a few of the topics covered within these excellent podcasts offered up by Science magazine. The audio explorations here date back to 2005 and users can browse around at their leisure. Some of the recent offerings include conversations about North Korean volcanoes, faulty ribosomes, and how pesticides might be used to prevent suicides. Each podcast is between 44 and 47 minutes in length and visitors can read along with a complete transcript for each installment. Needless to say, the materials here can be utilized in the classroom or for the general edification of those wishing to know more about the natural world.

http://www.sciencemag.org/site/multimedia/podcast/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2009. http://scout.wisc.edu/

Sound Waves: Coastal and Marine Research News from Across the USGS

Open your eyes and your interest in coastal and marine research by exploring this most informative publication. Created by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this monthly newsletter was started in 1999 to provide the public and other parties with access to timely research findings and updates from the various units of the USGS. The newsletter contains sections such as Fieldwork, Research, Meetings, and Awards. A good place to start is the Recent Highlights from Past Issues area. Some of the gems here include scientific explorations of Hurricane Sandy's long-term effects and the juvenile surf smelt and sand lance populations in Puget Sound. Units contributing news pieces to Sound Waves include the Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, Louisiana.

http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/index.php

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013.https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

HyperPhysics

The HyperPhysics website is a rather intriguing site where visitors can examine thematic segments in order to learn about dozens of physics-related concepts, such as atomic mass units, Avogadro's number, and acceleration.Hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Georgia State University, the site offers visitors the ability to join a live study group in order to share information and problems related to physics. Visitors can also use the list on the right-side of the page to look for specific topics of note. Clicking on each of these topics will bring up a definition of each term or topic, complete with graphs, diagrams, and in some instances videos. People with a sense of whimsy and fun will appreciate the "crushing Coke can" video as it is illustrative and edifying.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/HFrame.html

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013.https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Global Warming Science: MIT OpenCourseWare

Many of our readers will no doubt already be familiar with MIT's excellent OpenCourseWare (OCW), which offers free college-level curricula online to the public. The OpenCourseWare site is well worth a browse, as it offers courses on a variety of useful and engaging subjects such as business, health and medicine, mathematics, fine arts and science. This particular course, which was originally offered to undergraduate students in the spring of 2012, looks at the science behind global warming. Content includes lecture notes, assignments and student projects. The content could be used as a springboard for instructors teaching similar classes, or may prove useful to curious individuals looking to learn more about this timely and important topic. 

http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/earth-atmospheric-and-planetary-sciences/12-340-global-warming-science-spring-2012/index.htm 

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

Cell Biology Online Videos

The iBioSeminars are dedicated to bringing the world's best biology to you. They do deliver, and these lectures can be used in the classroom or for personal edification. On this site, visitors can find over a dozen lectures by professors from the University of Utah, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, MIT, and other schools. Lectures include Tissue Engineering, Fruits of the Genome Sequence, and Bacteriophages: Genes and Genomes. Each lecture has a series of extras that may include a speaker bio, related scientific articles, teaching tools, or the option to include subtitles. Visitors are encouraged to share the videos with others and as a whole, they present a wealth of information that is both scholarly and accessible to a wide range of people.

http://ibioseminars.hhmi.org/lectures/cell-bio-a-med.html

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/

USGS Science Resources for Undergraduate Education

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has brought together a unique blend of materials designed to complement and enhance the experiences of teachers and students seeking to understand the wide world of geology and other sciences including biology and ecology. These items are designed for use in collegiate settings, and each resource is here marked by a symbol that indicates the type of resource, such as a data set, teaching module, or classroom activity. Visitors can scroll through the thematic areas, which include Amphibians, Climate Change, and Maps and Geospatial Data. The Land Use History and Changing Landscapes area is a real pip, and it includes a document on the land use history of North America and a link to "Urban Growth in American Cities," an online publication that illustrates the spatial history of urban growth in 16 areas around the United States.

http://education.usgs.gov/undergraduate.html

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/  

The Engineering Exchange

Under the banner of "developed by engineers for engineers," the Engineering Exchange functions as a global educational networking community for engineers. The materials on the site are divided into eight primary areas, which include Groups, Videos, Images, Events, Blogs, and Resources. Sections such as the Top Blog Posts showcase some of the most popular insights, which include updates like Manufacturing Productivity Through Design Efficiency and technical pieces on engineering software. Moving on, the Groups area is a great way for visitors to learn from other professionals with sub-sections that include Green Engineering, Water & Wastewater, and Solar Power Development. The Videos section is another gem that features over 1400 items such as Additive Manufacturing: When will it arrive? and The Safest Key-Smart Key. Additionally, visitors can search all of the videos and create their own playlists. 

http://www.engineeringexchange.com/

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2013. https://www.scout.wisc.edu/