GSC-IS Version 2.0
The Government Smart Card-Interoperability Specification (GSC-IS) was released June 27, 2002. Developed in part by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, it provides an overview of the GSC architecture and discusses "solutions to a number of the interoperability problems associated with smart card technology." The main sections of the document offer details about the GSC architectural model, access control model, basic services interface, virtual card edge interface, card capabiliti
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
A participant in the U.S. space program since the 1950s, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado conducts research in atmospheric and planetary sciences, develops space instrumentation, and creates computer information systems. Through the extensive Tour, visitors can learn about LASP's assistance in unmanned robot spacecraft missions and its involvement in the International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) program. Students can read about experiment
Backyard Jungle
Created by Forum One Communications and funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Backyard Jungle is a kid-friendly Web site where members can upload photos, drawings, and descriptions of their own backyard or other natural area to share with an online community. Membership registration is straightforward and free of charge. While Backyard Jungle does not include any formal lesson plans or educational activities, it offers kids a fun incentive to explore and communicate about their natu
ANWR Technology
Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska has been a topic of debate for many years. Although initial exploratory drilling has not yet been authorized by the government, this site presents some technologies that could eventually be used to find and extract oil without damaging the land. Nine articles describe different drilling methods, spill prevention tactics, exploration techniques, and more. One topic is 3D reflective seismic technology, which is used to help a
Battelle: Technology Forecasts
Battelle Memorial Institute works with the government and industry to develop new technologies and products. In the course of this work, Battelle has compiled several technology forecasts that speculate about what will be common in the years and decades to come. These predictions range from 2005 to 2020, and many of them are quite interesting. Concepts such as nanomachines, "personalized public transportation," and genetaceuticals are defined, and their use in society is explained. Only time wil
Problems to Enjoy
Problems to Enjoy presents an enormous selection of mathematics problems for middle and high school students. Teachers will find it especially useful; divided into four categories and three grade levels, the problems are easily searchable. Eventually, the site's creators hope to "build up a comprehensive library of problems in a format that is simple to access, download and customize." The collection is already quite substantial. Number problems, algebra, geometry, and statistics are the main to
Young Engineers: Tomorrow's Ideas Today
This is the official homepage of Young Engineers, "a UK educational charity whose purpose is to inspire young people to recognise the importance and excitement of a career in engineering." Being tailored to British and other UK students, the site contains information on engineering competitions in the region, including coverage of past competitions and details on entering future events. Despite having substantial resources for prospective engineers in the UK, there is plenty of additional materi
Deep Content: Guide to Effective Searching of the Internet
This outstanding website is, without question, one of the most comprehensive online resources for learning efficient Internet search techniques. The guide begins with some fairly non-technical background about the Internet and explains why searching such a massive amount of information is more complex than it seems. The general process used by search engines to rank webpages is described. After covering the fundamentals of search engine operation, the guide discusses some best practices to use w
"Just the Maths"
Developed by a retired mathematics professor from Coventry University, this website "is a collection of separate units, in chronological topic-order, intended to service foundation level and first year degree level courses in higher education, especially those delivered in a modular style." Although there are separate sections for students and teachers, both contain essentially the same information except for the format of the material -- printable pages with slightly more detailed explanations
Automated Manufacturing Systems: PLCs
An engineering professor at Grand Valley State University has made available his book on programmable logic controllers (PLC's), which are widely used to control all kinds of electrical devices. The 800+ page book is presented free of charge and can be downloaded in one large file or in individual chapters. Readers can learn everything from high-level concepts, like Boolean logic and operational design planning, to physical details such as PLC specifications and connectivity. The author explains
National Diatom Database
Single-celled diatoms are "powerful indicators of environmental conditions as they respond quickly to environmental changes, and are widely utilized in stratigraphic investigations." The Geological Survey of Canada's National Diatom Database contains two components, the first of which includes about 5,000 diatom samples, their description, and precise geographic location. The second has 1,500 entries that give "information on the environmental and ecological tolerance of individual diatom specie
Math on the Web: A Status Report
This is a status report of Math on the Web, a biannual publication by Design Science. The September 2002 issue focuses on the Second International MathML Conference. There is considerable interest being generated by this standard of the World Wide Web Consortium, and its integration in online content is likely to increase.
Exploring the Future of Learning
ThinkQuest is a worldwide collaboration of students and educators that explores "youth-centered learning on the Net." A conference held by ThinkQuest in July 2002, called Exploring the Future of Learning, focused on emerging technologies and ideas to improve global education methods. This Web site presents several articles about the conference that were written by student journalists who attended the event. The articles highlight technology trends and new innovations, as well as the experiences
MathFROG
MathFROG stands for Math Fun, Resources, and Online Games. The games and resources available here were developed by a team at the University of Waterloo and are intended for students in grades four, five and six. The lessons are self-contained, combining online mathematics games or technological tools with appropriate paper-and-pencil follow-up exercises, which can also be downloaded free of charge. Each lesson lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and includes information on the related Ontario curricul
Genome Bioinformatics
This no-frills UC-Santa Cruz Genome Bioinformatics Web site contains searchable "working drafts of the human genome and the mouse genome," which each represent "immense collaborative efforts" within the biomedical research community. Those who are active in genome research may find this Web site useful, especially for the multi-faceted genome browser that "provides a rapid and reliable display of any requested portion of genomes at any scale, together with dozens of aligned annotation tracks (kn
A Net Meltdown is Inevitable
On October 22, 2002, an attack on the thirteen servers that act as the backbone of the Internet was carried out, briefly disabling nine of them. This drew attention to the often criticized organization that operates these servers, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). This news article argues that bad practices and insufficient safety precautions of ICANN may soon lead to a more successful attack, one that could cripple the Net. It also stresses the importance of refor
Dallas Paleontological Society
The Dallas Paleontological Society promotes the science of paleontology by creating a "network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in the field." Everyone should visit the Paleontological Information System, which is an easily searchable database containing information and photos of numerous specimens, related documents, and a glossary. In the Paleontological Info link, visitors can find materials about the surface geology of Texas, a geological timetable, and the
The Global Sun Temperature Project
This website created by Stevens Institute of Technology and the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) allows students from around the world to work together to determine how average daily temperatures and hours of sunlight change with distance from the equator. Upper elementary, middle, and high school students can participate in the Global Sun Temperature Project from March 18 to June 3, 2005. Educators can find project information, lesson plans, and implementation
Guide to Engineering
The Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society created this resource for helping college-bound students learn about different engineering disciplines. Operated at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the site has information on thirteen areas of study. For each discipline, there is a definition of the particular field, what people with a degree in the field do for a living, what the career opportunities are, and why it is a valid option. A few of the more broad subjects, like electr
The Vega Science Trust: Online Science Programmes
The nonprofit, UK-based Vega Science Trust broadcasts free science programs over the Internet. The programs "are mainly produced by experts in science and engineering and many have been previously shown on mainstream television." The Vega Science Trust website contains a sizeable collection of science programs for viewing. Program subject categories include: Biology, Health, Molecular Biology, Safety, Physics, and more. As indicated by the various categories, the programs address a wide range of
