By now, the Web is becoming a mainstream publishing medium in its own right. As such, virtually everything is available somewhere on the Web. Because it is cheaper to publish on the web than it is to publish on paper or in the other electronic media, a wide range of interests are represented. This is limited only by the fact that the population of the Internet is not yet as diverse as the population of the real world. Fortunately, that is changing as web access becomes more and more readily available.
Netscape software offers a Directory menu with links to spark (What's New? and What's Cool?) and expedite (Internet Directory, Internet Search, and Internet White Pages) your explorations. Throughout the Internet you'll find links to pages of related interest. And your local bookstore has shelves filled with titles attempting to map the ever-changing information landscape.
Perhaps you were hoping for the handbook to supply 100 color illustrations of the most fabulous Internet sites. (You were probably also disappointed that Melville didn't include any pictures of the whale.) Alas, an arbitrary sampling might quickly date a reference book and portray a bias of taste. Internet content increasingly reflects a spectrum of interests from individuals and institutions, benevolent and opportunistic, sometimes artfully communicated, sometimes splayed in an attempt gone awry.
The Internet remains an untamed frontier. Its rules and etiquette have evolved, and continue to evolve, from its participants. You can find unparalleled richness in human expression; the principles of mass publication are no longer the property of the elite. The quality of information and the behavior of individuals vary. As a member in the electronic community, you might ask yourself how you'd like to contribute.
The following list of sites is provided in order to get you "up and running" on the web. It is, however, a very limited list and as you make increasing use of the web you will create a database of links/sites that best suit your particular needs.
The Regional Alliance supports K-12 mathematics, science, and technology (MST) reform efforts in the Northeast and Islands Region.
Coordinated by TERC and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Regional Alliance provides professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and resources to schools seeking to formulate and execute MST reform plans.
Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC)
The purpose of the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse is to encourage the adoption and use of K-12 curriculum materials and programs which support state and national efforts to improve teaching and learning in mathematics and science. It provides better access to resources by creating, maintaining, and cataloging a comprehensive, multi-media collection of materials and programs. The ENC catalog and other products are distributed nationally using both traditional formats and advanced computing and telecommunications technologies.
There are many good sites. That's the glory and the challenge of the Internet. Our goal is to build a community that can be a center for teachers, students, researchers, parents, educators, citizens at all levels who have an interest in mathematics education.
The Vernal Pool is a student project to encourage the identification, appreciation, and protection of vernal pools. Vernal pools are one of the many types of temporary wetlands found throughout the world. This site is an introduction to the biological community of the vernal pools of Northeastern United States.
Welcome to the WhaleNet website. Focusing on whales and marine research, WhaleNet is dedicated to interdisciplinary education. Our Goal is to foster excitement about learning and the environment.
WhaleNet is a collaborative project of the biology departments at Wheelock and Simmons Colleges in Boston, Massachusetts with support from the National Science Foundation and technical assistance from MuseNet-- the Multi-user Science Education Network.
Welcome to EnviroNet! We are a network of students, teachers, scientists, environmental educators and others who utilize telecommunications to enhance environmental science education. EnviroNet began in 1992 as a Teacher Enhancement Project at Simmons College in Boston which is funded by the National Science Foundation. The purpose of the project is to enhance environmental science education in the K-12 community throughout New England and the nation with the use of telecommunication technology.
The mission of the USGS is to provide geologic, topographic, and hydrologic information that contributes to the wise management of the Nation's natural resources and that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of the people. This information consists of maps, databases, and descriptions and analyses of the water, energy, and mineral resources, land surface, underlying geologic structure, natural hazards, and dynamic processes of the earth.
High-Energy Astrophysics Learning Center
This site is primarily dedicated to a discussion of the High-Energy region of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e. X-rays and gamma-rays, and the science that can come from examining the universe in those regions. Another part of the broad field of high-energy astrophysics is Cosmic Ray Astrophysics. You can find out information about the high-energy particles called cosmic rays and the science that comes from them at the learning center site, Cosmic Ray Central.
The National Association of Biology Teachers
The National Association of Biology Teachers is the largest national association dedicated exclusively to the concerns of biology and life science educators. To date, nearly 8,000 educators have joined NABT to share experiences and expertise with other biology educators from around the globe; keep up with trends and developments in the field; and grow professionally.
Space Science EducationThe Space Science Data Operations Office, under the auspices of NASA Headquarter's Office of Space Science, is committed to using its knowledge and discoveries about the Sun, the solar system, the galaxy, and the universe to develop education and public outreach opportunities and activities that enhance science, mathematics, and technology education and the scientific and technological literacy of all Americans.
Welcome to the PlanetsThis is a collection of many of the best images from NASA's planetary exploration program. The collection has been extracted from the interactive program "Welcome to the Planets" which was distributed on the Planetary Data System Educational CD-ROM Version 1.5 in December 1995.
Science OnlineThe online version of Science magazine. This site provides visitors with a full Table of Contents, weekly Editorial, This Week in Science, original Research Articles and Reports, News items and more!
Human Chromosome MapsFind any gene on any chromosome in the human genome. Visit this site to get the latest chromosome maps available.
The Thinking FountainThinking Fountain offers surprising and personal connections to science.
The Exploratorium is a hands-on thrill ride of a science museum dedicated to the advancement of scientific understanding through active participation with the exhibits. As the sign over the entry states: "Please Touch the Exhibits!"
The Frontiers in Science Education Conference is a free, four day program sponsored by The Wright Science 2000 project at Governor Dummer Academy and The Wright Center for Innovative Science Education at Tufts University. The Conference, held at Governor Dummer Academy's campus in Byfield, MA, is designed to explore recent innovations in middle and secondary school science education.
Access Excellence is a national educational program sponsored by the biotechnology industry pioneer, Genentech, Inc., that puts high school biology teachers in touch with their colleagues, scientists and critical sources of new scientific information through an online network. It's a virtual beehive of activity!
Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory Web
The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) was established in 1888 as a non-profit institution devoted to research and education in basic biology. Lewis Thomas, author of The Lives of a Cell, has called the MBL "the uniquely national center for biology in this country." Scientists and students throughout the world come to the MBL to conduct research, teach, study, and collaborate with other scientists.
Your visit will carry you into the hidden world of Monterey Bay--a place of ever-changing beauty at the heart of the nation's largest marine sanctuary. More than a hundred galleries and exhibits re-create the bay's many habitats, from shallow tide pools to the vast open ocean. These are exhibits like nothing you've ever experienced. A million-gallon indoor ocean, viewed through the largest window on Earth...a towering three-story kelp forest...jewel-box exhibits that reveal the delicate beauty of smaller sea creatures.
National Association of Marine Laboratories
The National Association of Marine Laboratories (NAML), organized in the late 1980's, is a nonprofit organization of over 90 members employing more than 10,000 scientists, engineers, and professionals and representing marine and Great Lakes laboratories stretching from Guam to Bermuda and Alaska to Puerto Rico. NAML member laboratories provide a variety of academic, research, and public service programs. They are unique "windows on the sea," providing information on the rich environmental mosaic of coastal habitats where land meets sea. their 'sense of place' encourages wise local land management and protection of our precious natural resources.
This is a good place to begin your journey. Start by reading a letter from NASA Administrator, Dan Goldin, or NASA's Strategic Plan. Check out the User Tips page to find the helper applications you will need to get the most out of what we have to offer. If you're looking for something specific, there's a search engine for the top-level NASA pages.
MayaQuest '97 will follow a team of adventurers as they traverse the rainforests of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize in search of lost Maya cities and the secrets to saving the environment. For the third year in a row MayaQuest will be followed and driven by kids teachers and families online as they vote on the team's route, help them make decisions, and collaborate with the world's top archaeologists.
The Cornell Theory Center Math and Science Gateway for secondary school students and educators provides an easy starting point for locating science and mathematics resources on the web. It is tailored to the needs of students in grades 9 through 12, with links to resources in subject areas such as astronomy, biology, chemistry, computing, the environment, health, mathematics, and physics.
Hopkins Marine Station is a marine biology research facility that operates as a branch of Stanford University's Department of Biological Sciences. The Station is located in Pacific Grove, on the Monterey Peninsula, which forms the Southern shore of Monterey Bay. It lies in a region of scenic beauty and historic interest, 90 miles south of Stanford's main campus in Palo Alto.
Founded in 1892, Hopkins was the first marine laboratory to be established on the American Pacific coast. Since that time, many notable scientists, as well as a continuous population of undergraduate and graduate students have come to the Station to study and work towards an increased understanding of the marine world.
Tufts Environmental Programs Council
The Tufts Environmental Programs Council (TEPC) coordinates existing environmental research, education, and outreach projects and programs at Tufts University, identifies new opportunities for creating interdisciplinary programs, advocates for these programs within the university, and helps to develop new funding proposals. The report, Environmental Activities at Tufts University is the source of most of the material on these pages.
The JASON Project was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert D. Ballard following his discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic. After receiving thousands of letters from children who were excited by his discovery, Dr. Ballard and a team of associates dedicated themselves to developing ways that would enable teachers and students all over the world to take part in global explorations using advanced interactive telecommunications.
The award winning daily science radio series Earth & Sky is heard by millions of listeners on over 800 commercial and public stations and their translators throughout the United States. It can also be heard in Canada, the South Pacific and on a variety of international networks, including Armed Forces Radio, World Radio Network and Voice of America. Each day, Deborah Byrd and Joel Block discuss popular science subjects that affect our everyday lives.
List of Organizations Involved with Science Education
A full listing of various science education organizations (amongst others) presented by Alan Cairns. This collection covers a wide variety of resources ranging from the National Association of Biology Teachers to the Wright Center for Science Education.