Sciences Library News

Jun 12 2019

EndNote Workshop

Posted on June 12, 2019June 12, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

The Sciences Library welcomes students, staff, and faculty to an EndNote Workshop on Wednesday, July 17 at 11:30 AM in room 102 of the Sciences Library. There is no need to register in advance.

In this workshop you will learn how to use EndNote to:

Collect references for articles, books, websites, and other sources using Google Scholar, InfoHawk+, and popular databases like Web of Science and Scopus;
Organize your references into groups and share your reference library with collaborators;
Use the Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word to insert citations into your papers and format them into thousands of different styles.

EndNote Web is available for free to all members of the University of Iowa community. EndNote Desktop is available for free to all UI graduate students, faculty, and staff.

If you’re interested, but unable to attend these workshops, private appointments and webinars can be arranged. If you have any questions or if you’d like to request a workshop for your class or group, please contact Laurie Neuerburg (319-467-0216 or laurie-neuerburg@uiowa.edu) for more information.

CubeSats deployed from International Space Station

May 21 2019

Space Flight Exhibit at the Sciences Library!

Posted on May 21, 2019May 21, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

As the HaloSat satellite flies hundreds of miles above us orbiting the Earth, it’s a short trip to the Sciences Library to see a life-sized model of the HaloSat in our new exhibit! In addition to the 3D model of the HaloSat satellite, there are two gold boxes that have traveled into space and a prototype of the plasma wave instrument that operates on the Geotail mission!

After being released into orbit from the International Space Station, HaloSat takes measurements of the Milky Way’s halo that will help scientists find out if it contains the missing matter expected from observations of the early universe. The gold boxes on display actually flew on the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger, and these flight sensors were the first objects to be moved around in space by a robotic arm. The plasma wave instrument that is based on the prototype shown in our exhibit traveled into space on Geotail in 1992 over 27 years ago and continues to send back valuable data from space to this day!

HaloSat and another CubeSat released from the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Image of gold flight hardware — Flight sensor (one of two gold boxes) that traveled into space

Image of plasma wave instrument prototype — Prototype of the plasma wave instrument

Thank you to the Physics and Astronomy Department for loaning us their models, prototypes, and flight hardware!

Learn more about space exploration, physics, and astronomy at the University of Iowa Libraries. We have numerous books, articles, videos, and even Manga comics! If you would like to find out more, contact Laurie Neuerburg (laurie-neuerburg@uiowa.edu or 319-467-0216) or Leo Clougherty (leo-clougherty@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3083) for help.

May 02 2019

Free Coffee, Compliments, & Brownie Bites: Study for Finals at the Sciences Library!

Posted on May 2, 2019May 30, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

Find your way to the Sciences Library to study for finals week! Fuel up with free refreshments: homemade brownie bites, cookies, coffee, and tea! Refresh with coloring, origami, and games. Give a friend a boost, or rejuvenate yourself with tear-off compliments! Choose from a variety of study spots: bean bag chairs, study carrels, computer stations, and large tables. Get last minute research help from your librarians. Good luck on your finals, Hawkeyes!

Image of various science symbols flying up from book on laptop screen

Mar 25 2019

Citizen Science Day 2019

Posted on March 25, 2019April 3, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

Science is for everyone! Citizen science projects give people from all walks of life the opportunity to participate in scientific research. According to CitizenScience.org, “Citizen Science Day is an annual event to celebrate and promote all things citizen science: amazing discoveries, incredible volunteers, hardworking practitioners, inspiring projects, and anything else citizen science-related!”

Celebrate Citizen Science Day 2019 at the Sciences Library! Join us Monday and Tuesday, April 8-9 from 12-2 PM on the 3rd floor of the Sciences Library. Enjoy free pizza and drinks while making a contribution to scientific knowledge! These events are free and open to all.

CITIZEN SCIENCE DAY: STALL CATCHERS MEGATHON
Play an online game called Stall Catchers to advance Alzheimer’s research! Join our team HawkeyesOnALZ!
Monday, April 8, 2019, 12-2 PM
Facebook event

CITIZEN SCIENCE DAY: [CITATION NEEDED]
Enhance Wikipedia articles about science!
Tuesday, April 9, 2019, 12-2 PM
Facebook event

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Laurie Neuerburg in advance at 319-467-0216 or laurie-neuerburg@uiowa.edu.

Image of bismuth crystals in multiple colors

Mar 08 2019

Celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table

Posted on March 8, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

Colored bismuth crystals, bright copper, silicon circuits, and more shine in our new exhibit celebrating 2019: The International Year of the Periodic Table! One hundred and fifty years ago, Dmitri Mendeleev published a draft of the first Periodic Table. Mendeleev also wrote “Knowing how contented, free and joyful is life in the realms of science, one fervently wishes that many would enter their portals” in his text Principles of Chemistry. Enter the portal to the Sciences Library to test your knowledge of the elements present in household items, to view our humorous periodic tables, and to see several elements in their pure form! Thank you to Dr. Lou Messerle for loaning us his collection of element samples!

Mar 01 2019

Scientists Celebrate Earth Day at the Sciences Library!

Posted on March 1, 2019April 9, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

Join us at the Sciences Library on Friday, April 26^th from 2-5 pm as we celebrate Earth Day! Explore climate science through hands-on experiments with Dr. Stone’s chemistry research group, the Iowa City Science Booster Club, and Earth & Environmental scientists!

Did you ever wonder…

Why do some gases warm the atmosphere?
How do particles cool the earth?
How do clouds form?
Why are the oceans becoming more acidic?
What is albedo and how does it affect climate?
What lessens the heat island effect?

Activities for all ages. This is a free event. Bring your questions and join us for refreshments!

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1092145187640366/

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Laurie Neuerburg in advance at 319-467-0216.

Image of Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure book cover

Feb 21 2019

Iowa City Darwin Day 2019

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

Iowa City Darwin Day celebrates science, evolution, and Darwin’s birthday this week! Sharon DeWitte and Ana Duggan will give talks about their research into epidemics and infectious diseases. Jeanne Serb will speak about the evolution of vision in animals, and Nicholas Strausfeld will present on the evolution of insect brains. There will be cake at Darwin’s birthday party on Saturday! The events will wrap up with a screening of the movie Contagion at FilmScene and a discussion led by Black Death expert Sharon DeWitte.

The UI Libraries offers numerous books, movies, and articles pertinent to Iowa City Darwin Day! We have the movie Contagion on DVD/Blu-ray, the Greatest Show on Earth and other works on evolution, the complete works of Charles Darwin and the graphic adaptation of On the Origin of Species, and much more in our Iowa City Darwin Day guide!

Feb 11 2019

Spring 2019 Workshops at the Sciences Library

Posted on February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

The following workshops are open to all students, faculty, and staff. There is no need to register in advance.

EndNote Workshop – Thursday, March 7, 2-3 PM, BB B20

In this workshop you will learn how to use EndNote to:

Collect references for articles, books, websites, and other sources using Google Scholar, InfoHawk+, and popular databases like Web of Science and Scopus;
Organize your references into groups and share your reference library with collaborators;
Use the Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word to insert citations into your papers and format them into thousands of different styles.

EndNote Web is available for free to all members of the University of Iowa community. EndNote Desktop is available for free to all UI graduate students, faculty, and staff.

EndNote Workshop – Wednesday, April 10, 3:30-4:30 PM, CB W238

In this workshop you will learn how to use EndNote to:

Collect references for articles, books, websites, and other sources using Google Scholar, InfoHawk+, and popular databases like Web of Science and Scopus;
Organize your references into groups and share your reference library with collaborators;
Use the Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word to insert citations into your papers and format them into thousands of different styles.

EndNote Web is available for free to all members of the University of Iowa community. EndNote Desktop is available for free to all UI graduate students, faculty, and staff.

Jan 28 2019

Sciences Library closing at 5 PM on Jan 29 & closed on Jan 30

Posted on January 28, 2019January 29, 2019 by Laurie Neuerburg

The Sciences Library will be closing on Tuesday, January 29 at 5 PM due to extremely cold temperatures. We will remain closed all day on Wednesday, January 30. We will re-open at 8:30 AM on Thursday, January 31. Stay warm, everyone!

Dressing for Cold Weather — Image credit: weather.gov/cold

Image of ECS's The 90 natural elements that make up everything

Jan 23 2019

2019: The International Year of the Periodic Table

Posted on January 23, 2019January 28, 2020 by Laurie Neuerburg

In 1869, chemist Dmitri Mendeleev discovered patterns among elements that led him to arrange elements according to their properties into the very first periodic table.

Several years later in 1885, the Periodische Gesetzmässigkeit der Elemente nach Mendeleiff was created, which was recently found at the University of St Andrews. This is thought to be the oldest surviving periodic table in the world!

Now, 150 years later after Mendeleev’s discovery, the UN and UNESCO have declared 2019 to be The International Year of the Periodic Table. Learn about each of the elements through IUPAC’s interactive Periodic Table!

Would you like to read more about the Periodic Table? Check out some of our books:

The Periodic Table and a Missed Nobel Prize

Facilitating Conceptual Change in Students’ Understanding of the Periodic Table

Periodic Table: A Very Short Introduction

Here is a version of the Periodic Table showing endangered elements:

Elements marked with gray are from conflict minerals, all of which are used in smartphones. Elements in red are the most at risk of running out. Would you miss any of these elements if they were gone? Is there more that we can do to recycle and reuse these naturally-occurring elements?

Here is the most up-to-date version of the Periodic Table:

Image of 2018 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements — Image credit: IUPAC. https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/

There are now 118 elements, and the newest elements are nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og). These four new elements were created synthetically.

Interested in a competing for a limited edition Periodic Table signed by a Chemistry Nobel Laureate? Take IUPAC’s Periodic Table Challenge and enter their Nobelium Contest for a chance to win!