Category: Tools & Resources

Tools & Resources

mindat.org – A Minerals Database

“Built and maintained by a worldwide community of experts, Mindat.org is the world’s largest open database of minerals, rocks, meteorites and the localities they come from.” Motivated by a passion sparked at an early age, Jolyon Ralph started this database from scratch in 1993 (DOS/Windows application; homemade hand-coded system) and shepherded its evolution through the internet stage to finally becoming an outreach program under the … Continue reading mindat.org – A Minerals Database

STS Science Resources1 Comment
Tools & Resources

What is JabRef?

JabRef is an open-source reference management system that prepares BibTeX files for LaTeX users. The original version of JabRef was released in 2003 (“JabRef,” n.d.). It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms and can be downloaded from JabRef. JabRef offers several features similar to other reference managers like Mendeley or Zotero but it is geared to LaTeX users. Similar features include the ability … Continue reading What is JabRef?

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment
Tools & Resources

A Short Introduction to Evidence Synthesis

Note: The majority of this blog post is distilled from information presented at the IMLS-funded Evidence Synthesis Institute created by librarians in partnership from the University of Minnesota, Cornell University and Carnegie Mellon University; which the author attended in the spring of 2021 and highly recommends. For more information, see: University of Minnesota Libraries, Evidence of Synthesis Institute. Evidence synthesis “refers to any method of identifying, selecting, … Continue reading A Short Introduction to Evidence Synthesis

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment
Publishing, Tools & Resources

Research Resource Identification (RRID)

In 2016 the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began to require grant applications to be reviewed with respect to reproducibility criteria (see Notice NOT-OD-15-103, Enhancing Reproducibility through Rigor and Transparency). This policy was a response to years of increasing concern about the reproducibility of scientific results: One barrier to reproducibility is a lack of sufficient detail about the materials and tools used in research. A … Continue reading Research Resource Identification (RRID)

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment
Antiracism, Equity & Inclusion, Tools & Resources

Antiracism Resources for STEM Educators

While helping to create our library’s Anti-Racism Resources Guide, I wondered if there were any STEM-specific library guides out there. I was most interested in guides that would help science librarians and/or science faculty not just learn about antiracism but also incorporate antiracist concepts/lessons into their classrooms. The following are some of the resources that I found most useful. Library Guides At the time of … Continue reading Antiracism Resources for STEM Educators

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment
Data Science, Tools & Resources

Papers with Code

Papers with Code is an excellent resource for anyone doing research related to or involving machine learning as well as researchers interested in open science and reproducibility. As the name indicates, every paper included in the Papers with Code database includes the associated code in a GitHub repository. These associated GitHub repositories allow users to examine the code, discover contributors, and make a copy (known … Continue reading Papers with Code

STS Science Resources1 Comment
Open Access, Tools & Resources

Transportation information in the NTL, TRID, ITRP and Other Sources

Transportation research and development is a very active area in industry and academia. Emerging trends such as in electric vehicles; autonomous vehicles; traffic forecasting; big data for transportation and mobility; information systems in network technologies; intelligent transportation systems; sustainable transportation; high-speed rail; advances in road infrastructure; advances in public transportation; and new materials are often found in the literature (Grazia Speranza, 2018), (Porter et al., … Continue reading Transportation information in the NTL, TRID, ITRP and Other Sources

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment
Data Science, Tools & Resources

Repositories for Scientific 3D Models

A 3D model describes either a physical object or concept and these models play an increasing role in visualizing and understanding scientific data.  3D models can be created using modeling software, as an export from analysis tools (such as Matlab), or using a 3D scanner to digitize an existing object.  There are many motivations to incorporate 3D models in scientific research including aiding in visualization, … Continue reading Repositories for Scientific 3D Models

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment
Tools & Resources

Using Hypothesis for STEM and Library Instruction

Evaluating sources for credibility is a cornerstone topic in both information literacy instruction and STEM, but teaching these concepts in online classrooms can be difficult to maneuver. Without pens, pencils, printed articles, white boards for group work and face-to-face time where students may actively discuss the source – evaluative group work in online classrooms may fall flat. So, how can we keep our students engaged … Continue reading Using Hypothesis for STEM and Library Instruction

Kimberly M. ChesebroLeave a comment
Data Science, Open Access, Tools & Resources

NASA Earth Observatory

The NASA Earth Observatory is a visually stimulating portal to a wealth of information from the Earth Observing System Project Office at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The Observatory’s mission is “to share with the public the images, stories, and discoveries about the environment, Earth systems, and climate that emerge from NASA research, including its satellite missions, in-the-field research, and models.” The Observatory’s content is … Continue reading NASA Earth Observatory

STS Science ResourcesLeave a comment