Sciences Library news featuring the subjects of biology, chemistry,
geoscience, mathematics, physics and astronomy
The following workshops will be offered at the Sciences Library during the Fall 2017 semester. Our workshops are open to everyone and there is no need to register. They will be held in the computer room on the third floor of the Sciences Library. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib.
Foolproof Searching Secrets – Thursday, September 28 at 10 – 10:50 AM
This is your chance to learn how to search like a librarian! Bring your questions and learn how to save time and effort by applying some simple search strategies. You’ll learn which resources are the best bets for different types of information, how to improve your search results, and how to refine your results when you get overwhelmed. And you’ll learn how to evaluate the quality of the information you find, no matter where you find it.
Lions and Tigers and Predatory Publishers, Oh My! – Wednesday, October 4 at 1:30 – 2:20 PM
In this workshop, you will learn strategies for navigating through the jungle of scholarly publishing. Have you ever wondered how to identify and avoid predatory publishers? How to publish open access without sacrificing impact? And how to control your identity as a scholar? This workshop will provide answers to these questions and more. Bring your own questions too!
Demystifying Metrics: H-Index, Impact Factor, and More – Wednesday, October 11 at 2 – 2:50 PM
Learn how bibliometrics like h-index and impact factor are calculated, how they’re used, and what they really mean. Learn to use tools like Journal Citation Reports, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to measure your scholarly impact.
Saving Time (and Citations) with EndNote – Monday, October 16 at 2 – 2:50 PM
In this workshop you will learn how to save time by using EndNote to import references from popular databases, organize and share your references, and automatically format in-text citations and bibliographies/reference lists in Microsoft Word.
If you’re interested, but unable to attend these workshops, private appointments and webinars are available. Contact Sara Scheib for more information.
The solar eclipse viewing event at the Sciences Library was a huge success! Thanks to all who attended and many thanks to our partners, the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Museum of Natural History.
In the end, we gave away over 1000 pairs of eclipse glasses! If you wish to recycle your glasses, you can bring them to the Museum of Natural History. Astronomers Without Borders will donate them to other countries for future eclipses.
Hundreds of people visited our courtyard to watch the eclipse as a community. The clouds parted just enough to give everyone a great view of the peak of the eclipse at 1:12 PM, when 92% of the Sun was obscured by the moon.
Some also came inside to watch NASA’s live stream of the eclipse, following the path of totality across the country from Oregon to South Carolina.
Have you caught eclipse fever? The next total eclipse will be July 2, 2019 and will be visible in South America. Your next chance to see a total solar eclipse in the United States will be April 8, 2024! I can’t wait!
Have you heard the news? On Monday, August 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be visible in the United States! During this rare event, the moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking our view of the Sun. While some areas of the country will see a total solar eclipse, in Iowa City, we will see a partial eclipse. At the maximum at 1:12 PM, 92% of the Sun will be obscured by the moon.
To learn more about this exciting phenomenon, check out our guide or stop by the Sciences Library to see our new exhibit. And on August 21st, join us at the Sciences Library for an Eclipse Viewing Party!
Study for finals at the Sciences Library! We’ll be open from 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday. The following special activities will be available all week! (Mon. May 8 – Fri. May 12)
It’s Love Your Data Week! A five-day international event to help researchers take better care of their data. Did you know there are resources on campus to help you create a management plan to store, organize, document, share, and preserve your research data? Research Data Services can help!
If you have questions about any of the services described above, please contact us for assistance. And make sure to stop by one of the campus libraries this week for candy and a bookmark!
The following workshops will be offered at the Sciences Library during the Spring semester. Our workshops are open to everyone and there is no need to register. They will be held in 102 SL, the classroom on the first floor of the Sciences Library. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib.
Pro-Searching Tips – Wednesday, February 8 at 1 – 1:50 PM
This is your chance to learn how to search like a librarian! Bring your questions and learn how to save time and effort by applying some simple search strategies. You’ll learn how to improve your search results, which resources are the best bets for different types of information, and how to refine your results when you get overwhelmed. And you’ll learn how to evaluate the quality of the information you find, no matter where you find it.
Staying Current – Wednesday, February 22 at 1 – 1:50 PM
How do you keep up with the news and research in your field? Would you like to learn how to use technology to find new information? Join us for a Staying Current workshop, and learn how to use RSS feeds and other alert options to keep up with blog posts, news, and scholarly articles.
EndNote – Wednesday, March 8 at 1 – 1:50 PM
In this workshop you will learn to use EndNote to import references from popular databases, organize and share your references, use tools to automatically format in-text citations and bibliographies, and use Microsoft Word add-ons to include pre-formatted citations in your paper. Participant’s questions about other citation management tools will be addressed if time permits.
Scholarly Publishing – Wednesday, April 5 at 1 – 1:50 PM
Have you ever wondered how the scholarly publishing process works? Have you heard the buzz about open access and wonder if/how it changes things? Are you worried about predatory publishers? This workshop will provide an overview of traditional and open access scholarly publishing models. Participants will also learn more about the UI Libraries Open Access Fund, author’s rights, and how to identify predatory publishers.
Data Management 101 – Wednesday, April 12 at 1 – 1:50 PM
Are you confused about funding agencies’ new data management and sharing policies? Or do you need some help managing your research data? You’re not alone, and we can help! The purpose of this workshop is to explain research-data management and its importance, help identify some common data management issues, and learn about best practices and resources that are available.
Scholarly Impact – Wednesday, April 26 at 1 – 1:50 PM
In this workshop, participants will learn how to use tools such as Ulrich’s, Journal Citation Reports, Web of Science, and Scopus to determine the impact that journals, articles, and authors have had on a particular field. Topics include impact factors, H-indices, and other metrics.
If you’re interested, but unable to attend these workshops, private appointments and webinars are available. Contact Sara Scheib for more information.
The following workshops will be offered at the Sciences Library during the Fall semester. Our workshops are open to everyone and there is no need to register. They will be held in 102 SL, the classroom on the first floor of the Sciences Library. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib.
EndNote – Monday, September 12 at 1:30 – 2:20 PM
In this workshop you will learn to use EndNote to import references from popular databases, organize and share your references, use tools to automatically format in-text citations and bibliographies, and use Microsoft Word add-ons to include pre-formatted citations in your paper.
Mendeley – Wednesday, September 28 at 2 – 2:50 PM
Mendeley Reference Manager is a popular tool used to save, organize, and cite references from journals, books, and other sources. In this workshop, you will learn how to use Mendeley for your research and writing.
Staying Current – Thursday, October 6 at 3:30 – 4:20 PM
How do you keep up with the news and research in your field? Would you like to learn how to use technology to find new information? Join us for a Staying Current workshop, and learn how to use RSS feeds and other alert options to keep up with blog posts, news, and scholarly articles.
Scholarly Publishing and Open Access – Wednesday, October 19 at 2 – 2:50 PM
Have you ever wondered how the scholarly publishing process works? Have you heard the buzz about open access and wonder if/how it changes things? Are you worried about predatory publishers? This workshop will provide an overview of traditional scholarly publishing and how the open access movement is changing things. Participants will also learn more about the UI Libraries Open Access Fund and how to identify predatory publishers.
Data Management – Monday, November 7 at 2 – 2:50 PM
Are you confused about funding agencies’ new data management and sharing policies? Or do you need some help managing your research data? You’re not alone, and we can help! The purpose of this workshop is to explain research-data management and its importance, help identify some common data management issues, and learn about best practices and resources that are available.
Scholarly Impact – Thursday, November 17 at 3:30 – 4:20 PM
In this workshop, participants will learn how to use tools such as Ulrich’s, Journal Citation Reports, Web of Science, and Scopus to determine the impact that journals, articles, and authors have had on a particular field. Topics such as impact factors, Eigenfactors, and H-indices will also be discussed.
If you’re interested, but unable to attend these workshops, private appointments are available. Contact Sara Scheib for more information.
