Internet Research for Science Fair Projects and Other School Subjects.
When researching for science projects, or any other school subjects, there is always a need for quality content for both the student and parent-helper. Search Engines are usually the first line of defense for most people and good results can be gained through this search process. However, a directory or encyclopedia type search may be a better more targeted solution for some. Here are my top suggestions.
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DMOZ – Open Directory Project
In their own words: “The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors.”
The DMOZ human-edited review process assures that websites in the directory are actually about what they say they are about. Their selective process keeps the directory more concise and higher quality than most search engines. Further, the DMOZ directory listings are actually used by hundreds of commercial search engines including AltaVista, A9, AOL, Clusty, Gigablast, Google, Lycos, MSN, Teoma and Yahoo.
For science projects and all science related material you can browse through http://www.dmoz.org/Science/
For students and much support for school related subjects browse through http://www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/School_Time/
WikipediA – The Free Encyclopedia
Wikipedia is a free-content encyclopedia, written collaboratively by people from around the world in 10 different languages. Here you can endlessly explore the fine details of just about any subject you are interested in. You can even volunteer to submit content that you have an expertise with. Relevant entries are crossed linked and organized so that your research can be as thorough as you want it to be.
The Internet Public Library (IPL)
The IPL, is a public service organization and learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan School of Information. Originally an experiment that started in 1995, the IPL tries to discover and promote the most effective roles and contributions of librarians to the Internet and vice versa. Like a library, the information is high quality and well organized into a category format.
For students and supporting information for school subjects browse through http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/
SCIRUS - A Scientific Information Only Search Engine
In their own words ...
Scirus is the most comprehensive science-specific search engine on the Internet. Driven by the latest search engine technology, Scirus searches over 200 million science-specific Web pages, enabling you to quickly:
- Pinpoint scientific, scholarly, technical and medical data on the Web.
- Find the latest reports, peer-reviewed articles, patents, pre prints and journals that other search engines miss.
- Offer unique functionalities designed for scientists and researchers.
Scirus has proved so successful at locating science-specific results on the Web that the Search Engine Watch Awards voted Scirus 'Best Specialty Search Engine' in 2001 and 2002 and 'Best Directory or Search Engine Website' WebAward from Web Marketing Association in 2004.
Edward Furey is owner of Southborough Website Design, LLC in Southborough, MA and at http://www.southboroughwebsitedesign.com/ and author/ developer of Make It Solar Science Fair Projects at http://www.makeitsolar.com/.
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