October 31st, 2008
Thinking about writing your science paper about the May 2008 earthquake that hit the Sichuan Province of China? Check out these web sources for topic ideas:
- Maps related to the incident: This website brings together maps from many different disciplines about the earthquake, including humanitarian efforts and some satellite images and radar maps of the area
- Mental health concerns: Experts are now worried about mental health issues of dealing with trauma in the region
- Damage to dams: Engineers are still assessing damage to dams in the area
October 29th, 2008
Officials in Japan have released statements about earthquake preparedness. One of their major concerns? A possible shortage of toilets. Officials cite the 1995 Kobe earthquake as evidence that this major health risk should be of concern.
What other concerns are involved in disaster planning? What types of health risks are associated with major disasters like earthquakes in Japan or major flooding in China? These are all great topics for a RES104 Science paper!
October 28th, 2008
News out of the Korean peninsula today point towards rising tensions. N. Korea has threatened to take action against S. Korea for propaganda spread by its citizens. South Korea claims it cannot stop its citizens from taking these actions as they fall under freedom of speech. What do you think?
October 27th, 2008
Come kick off Halloween by joining us for the Japanese horror film, Ringu!
Free showing Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00pm
Myers 146 (auditorium)
One Amazon reviewer said: “A grainy, enigmatic videotape has the power to kill people seven days after they watch it. This brilliant premise fueled the 2002 Hollywood hit The Ring… Guaranteed, its effect will linger for at least seven days. Longer… if you’re lucky.” –Robert Horton
October 21st, 2008
The Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences has a great interactive online exhibit called Lights at Night. Using satellite data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the museum has put together an interactive global map of visible light at night.
You can zoom in to view specific regions or countries, or even light from fishing vessels off the coast of Japan. The image above shows the stark difference between North and South Korea. (Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea.)
Other features include looking at the difference over time. Some regions of the world have decreased the brightness of the lights, others have increased it. The video on the front page explains some of why that may be occurring.
October 9th, 2008
The Dalai Lama was hospitalized for undisclosed reasons in India today. Read more about it here.
October 9th, 2008
National Public Radio (NPR) aired lots of stories on China earlier this year. Topc ranged from economics and cultural issues to education and the environment. Check out the China: In the Spotlight webpage for video, audio, and lots more!
October 7th, 2008
Can you help me figure out my thesis statement? This is a common question at the Reference Desk and in the Writing Center. We can help! Here are some tips:
As you read & annotate your sources, keep your focused research question in mind and focus your attention on the sections of your sources that help you answer your question. Remember, your sources should help you refine your question.
The next step: Determine an effective thesis statement, the answer to your question. See this guide, provided by the Writing Center, for information & examples about effective thesis statements.
Need help? Stop by the Reference Desk and/or the Writing Center!
October 1st, 2008
What are you thinking about for a humanities research topic?
Choose Comment below to post your ideas so far.
