Real World Math and Science Databases

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Real World Math and Science Databases
Presented by Carolyn D. OBrien and Mark
Whitmer for Dr. Barrett and ELED
415 November 22, 2005
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Databases Defined

• A database is
• an organized collection of data
• a collection of records stored in a systematic
  way
• a way to provide shared access by a community of
  users

Source Wikipedia online
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REAL WORLD DATA BASES IN MATH AND SCIENCE

• This presentation will cover the various
  databases that are available for real world math
  and science. The number of databases is
  voluminous. We will give you an overview of what
  is out there, highlight some specific databases
  and then, do an on line activity using these
  databases.

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Selection of Search Materials

• Directories and Portals
• Invisible or Deep Web (searchable sites and
  databases).
• Search Engines

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Directory and Portals

• To be used when
• You have a broad topic
• You want access to selected, evaluated, and
  annotated collections
• You prefer quality over quantity
• You want to locate Web sites rather than
  individual pages within these sites.

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Invisible Web Searchable Sites

• To be used
• When you are looking for information that is
  likely to be stored in a database
• When you are looking for information that is
  dynamically changing in content

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Search Engines

• Use when
• You have a narrow target
• You Are looking for a specific site
• You want to gather a large a large number of
  results
• You want to take advantage of the newer retrieval
  technologies.

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What is Out There?

• A search for these real world databases yielded
  overwhelming results.
• The focus of this presentation will be to present
  information on some important databases and give
  you a list of other databases with brief
  descriptions.

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Looking for the right Databases

• Define what you are looking for, what question do
  you want to ask?

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Real World Mathematics

• Under Score Mathematics Real World Mathematics,
  there are several worthwhile databases. Here are
  some examples.

1) Fermi Questions 2) The Chance Database 3)
NASA K-12 Internet Interactive Online
Interactive Projects
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Fermi Questions Score (from Score Mathematics -
Real World Mathematics

• Fermi Questions Library
• features classic Fermi questions with annotated
  solutions.
• Fermi questions emphasize estimation, numerical
  reasoning, communicating in mathematics, and
  questioning skills.
• Students often believe that word problems have
  one exact answer and that the answer is derived
  in a unique method. Fermi questions encourage
  the multiple approach, emphasize on process
  rather that the answer, and promote
  nontraditional problem solving strategies.

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The Chance Database

• AIM IS TO MAKE STUDENTS MORE INFORMED AND
  CRITICAL READERS OF CURRENT NEWS THAT USE
  STATISTICS AND PROBABILLTY

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NASA K-12 Internet InteractiveOnline Interactive
Projects

• Contains projects which are called Sharing NASA
  and allows students to share in the excitement of
  authentic scientific and engineering pursuits
  like high altitude astronomy, spacecraft
  exploration of distant planets, and space-based
  life sciences research, all of which can be
  integrated with mathematics.

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SCI-MATH WORLD

• SCI-Math World is an interactive web workshop
  which is designed for teachers and librarians who
  wish to expand their knowledge of math and
  science.
• Resources of the following 1) Directories and
  Portals 2) Invisible or Deep Websites and
  3)Interactive Science on the Web, and 4)
  Interactive Math on the Web.

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More from Sci-Math World - (directories and
portals)

• Librarians Internet Index searchable and
  browsable collection of over ten of thousands
  of quality website, maintained by librarians and
  organized into 14 main topics and nearly 300
  related topics. To quickly find sites on
  Science and Math, click on the Science link and
  choose from a subtopic.
• SciCentral Impressive gateway to the best
  scientific research news sources (biosciences,
  health sciences, physics chemistry, earth and
  space, and engineering fields).

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More from Sci-Math World - (Invisible Web
searchable sites)

• DirectSearch http//www.freepint.com/gary/direct.h
  tm
• direct search is a growing compilation of links
  to the search interfaces of resources that
  contain data not easily or entirely
  searchable/accessible from general search tools
  like Alta Vista, Google, or Hotbot. Although
  these "general" tools are essential for the
  retrieval of Internet based data, searchers often
  fail to realize that a massive amount of
  information is not easily or entirely
  searchable/accessible via these search tools. 
  Material "hidden" from the general search tools
  is said to reside on the Invisible Web.
• The Invisible Web Directory http//www.invisible-w
  eb.net

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Interactive Science on The WebInteractive Math
on the Web

• Eric Weissteins World of Science
  (http//scienceworld.wolfram.com/)
• Comprehensive and interactive science and math
  encyclopedia.
• Math baseball (http//www.funbrain.com/math/index/
  html)

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Databases can be found in various areas
Government, University, and Private

• Earthquakes(MSTE) John Meseke University of
  Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• graphing earthquake sat and using the
  information for decision making
• Mega Mathematics! Los Alamos National Lab
• Us Census Bureau
• Education World The Educator's Best Friend
• (http//www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr148.sh
  tml
• Wikipedia.com
• search petroleum
• NEIU specialized math and science databases.

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http//earth.google.com/
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http//www.unep-wcmc.org/

• UNEP-WCMCUnited Nations Environment Programme
  World Conservation Monitoring Centre
• Home About UNEP-WCMC Latest News Publications The
  UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
  provides information for policy and action to
  conserve the living world. Our programmes
  concentrate on species, forests, protected areas,
  marine, mountains and freshwaters plus habitats
  affected by climate change such as polar regions.
  We also address the relationship between trade
  and the environment and the wider aspects of
  biodiversity assessment.UNEP-WCMC, in
  partnership with the public and private sector,
  has commenced work on Project Proteus to develop
  a knowledge management system that will enable
  easy access to wide-ranging information and
  analytical services about the environment and the
  living world.

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• Websites Versus Databases
• Websites are often more transitory than databases
  
• Databases are more likely to under go more
  quality control measures.
• As a rule, databases are rigorously checked by
  professional editors.

Databases vs- free websites
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it-isac.orginformation sharing analysis council

• There are isac centers for
• The electricity sector
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Health Care
• Highways
• Communication
• Public Transit
• Water

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Other Database UsesControl, Modeling,
Simulation in

• Aerospace
• Air Traffic control
• Automotive Systems
• Biomedical engineering
• Business Applications