Biology

Databases for Background

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:16:25 -0700

These databases function much more like encyclopedias, while some of them may have research articles, they are best used to collect background information to enhance your understanding of a topic.

Just like Wikipedia, be cautious about including general encyclopedias in your references list for research projects. Be sure that you understand the expectations of each instructor.

BI 112 Enzyme Articles

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:05:54 -0800

Need to find articles for the BI 112 Enzyme lab paper? This YouTube video makes it easy!

Related Research Guides

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:24:45 -0700

There are often research guides created for specific classes and/or research topics. Related research guides are suggested to the left of this research guide, or you can locate the full list of research guides by subject and class.

Scientists Hijack Worm's Brain

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:24:31 -0800

10/22/12 - Researchers at Harvard have managed to take control of a worm's brain. After making the worm's neurons sensitive to light, the scientists found they could control its movements through stimuli projected into the brain. [Scientific American]

Databases for Research

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:36:53 -0800

Databases provide access to journal articles and sometimes videos and additional content.

New to scholarly science journals? Read Purdue University's How To Read a Scientific Journal, a short tutorial to help you get the most out of your research.

Environmental Data -- General

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:09:11 -0800

Envirofacts Data Warehouse
An amazing roundup of environmental data from the EPA.

Climate Change: NASA's Eyes on the Earth
How is climate change measured? What are its effects? Here's a collection of satellite data, images, and more!

US Fish and Wildlife Service
Find news releases, policy information, wildlife refuges, and much more.

Environmental Controversies

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:09:26 -0800

There are many places to find information on current environmental controversies.

Environmental Data -- Oregon

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:59:26 -0800

Oregon's Forest Atlas 2010 online edition
Part of the Oregon Dept. of Forestry's geospatial data resource. Use the Atlas to study climate, wildlife density, fire history, and changes in forest cover through the 20th century.

Common Trees of the Pacific Northwest
A dichotomous key, common and scientific names, and a "Mystery Tree" exercise to practice using the dichotomous key.

Nature of the Northwest
Nature and recreation for Oregon and Washington.

Oregon Coastal Atlas
Provides "background information for different coastal systems, access to interactive mapping, online geospatial analysis tools, and direct download access to various planning and natural resource data sets relating to coastal zone management."

Oregon at the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Quick links to conservation information regarding plants, animals, energy, water, soils and more!

Genetics Links

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:33:55 -0800

Agriculture Research Service Plant Genetic Resources Unit
Maintains germplasm of many edible plants, and studies the genetics of edible crops.

Genetics Home Reference
A guide to understanding human genetic conditions.

Genomics at the Dept. of Energy
Founders of the Human Genome Project, now also sequencing microbes.

Genome News Network
News about research and related issues.

Foundations of Classical Genetics
From Electronic Scholarly Publishing, reprints of many older articles and a few books from the earliest years of genetics.

Fun with Genetics

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:34:07 -0800

Want to help compare genomes and contribute to research in disease genetics, all while playing a game online? Take a look at Phylo -- A Human Computing Framework for Comparative Genomics!

Research for Lab Papers

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:35:25 -0800

Sometimes the best sources for a lab-related paper aren't the most obvious. You may need classic articles from older journal issues to explain your results, or you may need to look in unexpected places to find the most relevant current information.

Other useful databases include JSTOR and Google Scholar.

CSE Citations

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 17:29:03 -0700

CSE citation style is used by the Rock Creek Biology and Environmental Studies departments. We use the name-year system. You can print a copy of the PCC CSE handout for reference.

For unusual situations, or if you'd like to know more about CSE, Diana Hacker's guide to CSE is comprehensive and clear.

Reading (and Writing) Journal Articles

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:38:16 -0800

Journal articles are written in a specialized style. When you understand the structure, you'll be able to quickly skim articles to determine which are worth your time to read. There are a couple of good, short tutorials about journal articles.

Journal articles are generally organized in the IMRaD format: introduction, methods and materials, results, and discussion. The following resources will help you get the most out of your journal reading and paper writing time.

Purdue University's animated tutorial covers the basics, and lets you select which sections you're interested in.

There are a couple of good YouTube videos available -- a basic introduction to reading scientific journal articles (like the Purdue tutorial) and a more detailed introduction to the 3-pass method of reading journal articles (video of a PowerPoint slide show).

For everything you will ever need to know about writing great lab papers, including the structure of journal articles, the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has a great scientific reports handout.

Get Help in Person or by Phone

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:34:41 -0700

You can ask our librarians a question during open hours at any PCC Library.

Need the phone number for your campus? Contact us! If you'd rather come by in person, check the PCC Library locations and hours.

Email Us

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:34:58 -0700

Need to ask a question by email? That's easy too. Use Ask a Librarian, or find your favorite librarian's email address on Library Staff.

Help from Tutors

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:35:15 -0700

Tutors are available to you both in person and online, and the service is free! Cascade, Sylvania, Rock Creek and Southeast Center each have a tutoring center with excellent in-person tutors in most subjects. If you're working on a paper, the writing tutors are popular (so don't wait until the last minute)! You can get more information about each campuses hours and locations at the links below:

Cascade Campus Learning Center

Rock Creek Student Learning Center

Tutoring at Southeast Center

Tutoring at Sylvania

Or get started working with PCC's online tutors:

eTutoring at PCC

Chat or Text a Librarian for Help

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:35:30 -0700

You can chat with a PCC librarian any time you see the PCC Ask A Librarian chat widget on any of the library's pages (like the PCC Library home page) or in a subject guide like this one. You can also get to us through AIM, Yahoo!, or Google Talk.

AIM/Y!: pcclib
Google Talk: pcclib@gmail

You can also text a librarian for help at:
971-259-TEXT (8398)

Need help when the library isn't open? Chat with an L-Net librarian 24-7.

Helping Yourself!

robin.shapiro@pcc.edu (Robin Shapiro) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:35:44 -0700

PCC Library has lots of resources that you can use on your own. You may already know that about the quiet study spaces as well as study rooms you can reserve.

Citing sources is another way you can help yourself! PCC Library has all the information you need on Cite Sources. The library also has video tutorials on everything from how to develop a topic for your paper to figuring out how to incorporate those citations. You'll find those videos, as well as information about using e-resources, at Tutorials and Handouts.