Birds: A Virtual Exhibition
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Birds/Birds/
This site from the Virtual Museum of Canada compiles a wealth of information from five different Canadian museums into one location for the benefit of bird lovers. This site does not provide original information; rather, it links to online bird-related exhibits from each of the five museums, which can be navigated through individually. What makes this site particularly valuable is the ability to perform a search of all five museum exhibits at once, providing a comprehensive source of information for the user that builds on the strengths of each individual exhibit. [AL]
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EventOnline.org
http://www.eventonline.org
Excerpta Medica, a medical communications agency, provides this site as a portal to information on conferences, meetings, and events in medical and biotechnology fields. Users of the site can search for events by date or subject. Date, location, and conference information, along with links to conference Web sites, are provided. [AL]
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Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program
http://nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/CetaceanAssessment/cetacean.htm#Top
The homepage for the Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program of the National Marine Mammal Laboratory has recently undergone updates that change its look and navigation scheme. Drop-down menus at the top of the page allow users to quickly navigate between several categories of files and research available for download. The site provides general information about several species of whales, along with more specific research that is being conducted by the program. One interesting feature is the collection of maps that track the movement of tagged whales. [AL]
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Freshwater and Marine Image Bank
http://content.lib.washington.edu/fish/
This image bank is part of the University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections. The site makes available more than 2600 images, all from 18th and 19th century publications, many of which "lay buried in aging volumes on fragile paper in obscure corners of library stacks." Users can search or browse for images; each has been scanned for the digital collection and includes a description and bibliographic citation. This is a unique resource that uses modern technology to preserve substantial historical data. This site is also reviewed in the April 19, 2002 Scout Report. [AL]
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Life at High Temperatures
http://www.bact.wisc.edu/bact303/b1
The author of this site, Thomas D. Brock, Emeritus Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been conducting biological and geochemical field studies in Yellowstone National Park since the mid-1960s. This site is an interesting look at the "microorganisms that live in the boiling waters and run-off channels of the geysers and hot springs." Microbes are not the only life forms discussed on the site, just the most detailed. Plants, animals, and algae that live in and around hot springs are also touched on. The information is written for a general audience, is easy to navigate, and includes some great photos from Yellowstone. [AL]
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The Increasingly Official Mary Midgley Webpage
http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~matzke/midgley/midgley.htm
Mary Midgley is a British moral philosopher who offers a critical response to a variety of scientific issues. Created and maintained by an enthusiast, this Web site provides links to a sampling of Midgley's work and articles about her. Particularly interesting is the series of articles and responses surrounding Richard Dawkins well known book The Selfish Gene. Midgley and Dawkins exchange positions in a heated debate on whether or not humans are simply selfish "gene-machines." This site is in no way a complete source on the philosophical debate surrounding biological determinism, or Midgley herself, but it may serve to peak the interest of some readers. [AL]
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Altruis Biomedical Network
http://www.altruisbiomedical.net/
Altruis Biomedical Network is a "large network of numerous topic-specific [Web sites] focusing on information in healthcare and biomedical research." The content of the site is plentiful; visitors to this meta-page can choose from numerous biomedical topics to explore. Users should note, though, that the large network tries to generate Internet traffic within its body of sites by providing a forum for "topic-specific product advertising." Nevertheless, the advertisements are unobtrusive, and many, if not all, of the sites have been prepared by healthcare professionals and scientists. [AL]
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California Plant Names, Word Meanings and Name Derivations
http://www.calflora.net/botanicalnames/index.html
Created by an enthusiast, this site is a unique compilation of botanical etymology from a broad range of sources. The list focuses on plants found in Southern California, but "many if not most of these names are in general use world-wide." A simple alphabetical listing of botanical words and their meanings and derivations allows for user-friendly navigation. A similar list of botanical terms enhances the usefulness of this resource. [AL]
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