Science 2.0 sources for students

The latest issue of TechTrends gives some recommendations for integrating selected web 2.0 accross the curriculum.

For science 2.0, some free tools are cited:

• To assist in developping concept understanding, a diagramming tool (graphic organizer) called Gliffy
• To leverage an issue or to write down your knowledge about a problem, use mind mapping tools: MindMeister or Mindomo
• To collect data and analyze phases of science inquiry projects: Google Docs (MS Word ersatz) and EditGrid (MS Excel ersatz)
• To present findings with disruptive channels: stunning presentations with Prezi

Oliver, Kevin. Integrating Web 2.0 accross the Curriculum. TechTrends, Vol.54, N°2, March/April 2010, pp.50-60

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Bibliometric indicators: WoS Vs Google Scholar

Due to the importance of citation analysis, especially for measurement of science institutions performance (it is still mainly based on famous ISI data), number of studies to compare different sources (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.) or different methods (Impact factor, H-Index, etc.) is impressive.

Around 20 major analysis were done in the last 10 years. This paper is a new one, focused on computer science papers.

Like most of other recent studies, the author concludes that “there is a significant correlation of citation-based rankings between the two sources
“, either WoS or GS can be used.

For simply finding papers on this field, the author advises to use Google Scholar.

Advantages:

• Freedom + Conference papers indexing

Drawback:

• “is that the consistency and accuracy of data is admittedly lower compared to that of Web of Science and other comemrcial citation-enhanced databases“
• “time needed to obtain meaningful data might be significantly higher than the time spent to get data with fee-based data sources” (30 as much time as collecting usable data from GS than from WoS)

Franceschet, Massimo. A comparison of bibliometric indicators for computer science scholars and journals on Web of Science and Google Scholar. Scientometrics, 2010, Vol. 83, pp. 243-258

Do Scientists read blogs?

Following Christina Pikas’ comment, I remember that the extensive STM report of 2009 talks about 15% “who regular read blogs“.

I already mentioned main findings of this STM report, while supported by STM publishers, seems serious.

I’m just wondering where SEED Media has found 33% of scientists who would use blog!

How many Science blogs world wide?

David Crotty is wondering how many blogs over the world might be counted as Science blogs…

It is difficult to get realistic figures. just found out a few estimations:

• In 2008, Nature mentioned: “The Technorati search engine is now tracking over 7.8 million blogs and 937 million links and reports, nearly 20 000 of which consider themselves to be science related“ (http://www.nature.com/msb/journal/v4/n1/full/msb200839.html )

• In 2008, ResearchBlogging mentioned: “I’d put the number between 3,000 and 10,000 science blogs worldwide“ http://researchblogging.org/news/?cat=5

Even with the highest estimation (20,000) we are very very far from a massive success….

Libraries can mobilize!

The Gerry McKiernan’s blog is completely devoted to mobile world applied to
Libraries

http://mobile-libraries.blogspot.com/

Social Networks: 57.5% of Internet users…

.. in the US, will use a social network at least once a month in 2010, estimates a new marketing report by Emarketer.

By 2014, nearly two-thirds of all Internet users [in the US], or 164.9 million people, will be regular users of social networks.

Williamson,Debra Aho. Social Network Demographics and usage. Emarketer report: May 2010. 26 p.
Summary: http://www.emarketer.com/Reports/All/Emarketer_2000644.aspx

Drugs.com: deal with FDA

www.drugs.com is one of the rare free services in the biomedical area which competes with paid services.

The web site offers extensive Drugs sheet, including pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical data, links to free resources, anufacturing and marketing information (label, etc.), etc.

Drugs.com annoucnes a new deal with FDA to expand access to the FDA’s consumer health information. Drugs.com seeks to provide patients with information to better manage their own healthcare and to assist in the reduction of medication errors. It attracts more than 12 million unique visitors each month.

The service will feature soon FDA Consumer Update articles, videos, and slideshows. The partnership will also provide access to FDA health information on Drugs.com’s mobile phone platform.

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