Engineering

Books on Women in STEM

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Women in STEM

photo of whiteboard with written text "I am a chemist, wife, reader, dog lover, woman in science" Photo of whiteboard with written text "I am a Ph.D. student in geology"

Book collection at Rodgers Library for Science & Engineering: With a Concentration on Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). And to support WISE (Women in STEM Experience) on UA campus.

Have a look at the latest additions of books to UA Libraries collection that we think you’ll enjoy, or have a browse to find something you like.

Suggestions for some fun read this summer –  General science reading along with WISE focused books.

Book cover of "Headstrong"

Headstrong: 52 women who changed science – and the world,

TheDiscovery of Jeanne Baret : A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe.

Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet

Eyes on the street : the life of Jane Jacobs

Lab girl

The Manga Guides   is a series of educational Japanese Manga books. Each volume explains a particular subject in STEM areas. https://bit.ly/2JGS95i

Book cover of "A crack in creation"

A crack in the Creation : Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution

Jennifer Doudna, professor and co-inventor of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing  – In her own words about how her interest in science deepened –  “ thanks to a chemistry teacher, Miss Wong, who “taught us kids that science was about solving puzzles — it was about asking questions and figuring out how to answer them.” http://update.lib.berkeley.edu/2017/11/15/doudna/

For more books check out UA Libraries.

Clarivate Analytics Web of Science and Publons

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If you are a Web of Science user, you may have noticed the addition of a Publons tab near the top of the Web of Science interface. Publons is a platform to track, share, and receive recognition for your peer reviews. The Publons platform integrates into ORCID, which allows you then to populate your ORCID scholarly profile with peer review data. Registration for a Publons account is free and if you have an ORCID, you can register with your ORCID credentials. After creating your Publons profile, peer reviews are added and verified various ways depending on the relationship of the publisher to Publons.  For example, some publishers will send peer-review data directly to Publons in an automated workflow, while other publishers require a manual process such as sending Publons the confirmation e-mail you receive after completing a peer-review.

Here are a couple of Publon profiles from faculty members at The University of Alabama:

https://publons.com/author/195591/ian-m-mcdonough#profile

https://publons.com/author/1231001/laura-morett#profile

The review information displayed on the Publon profile varies by publisher. Some publishers allow the actual text of the review to be publicly displayed such as PLOS One, while others like RSC Advances only allow the Journal title to be displayed. You can browse the individual Publon Journal policies here.

Publons is an interesting platform and one certainly worth exploring more as peer review is an activity generally not visible to the public. As more scholars create Publon profiles, we may even start to see integration into information databases.

Take a Journey in Science

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Take a Journey in Science 2018 Welcomes All – 5th in the series

 What:  A series of lightning talks on high-interest topics in science that shape our understanding of the world.

They are short talks on high-interest topics in STEM Disciplines  presented by UA faculty.

When:  February 2018

Where:  Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering

Audience: All UA students.  Faculty welcome too.

How long:  Presentation about 10 minutes, plus Q&A

Schedule of presentations
Speaker Title of Talk Date/Day/Time
Sara Kaylor

Capstone College of Nursing

 “Leadership Characteristics and Attributes of Baccalaureate Nursing” Feb. 01, Thursday,

11:00- 11:15 am
Claudia Mewes

Department of Physics and Astronomy / Center of Materials for Information Technology (MINT)

“Spintronics – let’s spin”

 Feb. 08, Thursday,

2:00 – 2:15  pm
Fred Andrus

Department of Geological Sciences

 “Making skeletons speak: records of climate change from Biominerals” Feb. 13, Tuesday,

11:00 – 11:15  am
         Qiang Huang

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering /Center of Materials for Information Technology (MINT)

 “Nanotechnology – Things Behave Differently Down There” Feb 20, Tuesday,

2:00 – 2:15 pm
Sevgi Gurbuz

Electrical and Computer Engineering

 “Nature-Inspired Bio-mimetic Design of Next-Generation Cognitive Radar” Thursday, Feb 22

3 -3:15  p.m.

Sponsor:  Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering.

Join the fun and learn about science

Contact:  Mangala Krishnamurthy, mkrishna@ua.edu, 205-348-2109

Take a Journey in Science Talks: Past Programs

Research News at UA

UA Research Facilities

Undergraduate Research and creative Activity Conference at UA

3 MT ( Three Minute Thesis)

WISE (Women in STEM Experience)

USA Science & Engineering Festival

AHS Download Technique

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The AHS International (The Vertical Flight Technical Society) database is sort of quirky.  When doing a search and seeking to download a paper, a screen pops up and appears to be asking you to BUY the paper.  But there is no cost.  Note the price is $0.00 since UA has a subscription.  Just click on “ADD TO CART” and “START CHECKOUT” next “CONTINUE” and then “COMPLETE ORDER.” A link will appear to the PDF of the paper.

AHS International

A Short History of 3D Services at Rodgers Library

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Our 3D services started back in November 2012 where we made 3D printing available to the entire UA community. We had one Bits from Bytes 3D Touch Printer. I think we got more use out of that 3D Touch Printer than it was ever designed for! Students and faculty quickly started to fabricate 3D parts for scholarly work and classroom projects. We have seen so many exciting projects from art sculpture to robot parts to laboratory equipment.

Since 2012, we have gone through multiple 3D printers, have trained hundreds of users, and have successfully 3D printed thousands of parts. After the 3D Touch, we purchased a couple of MakerBots, and then two 3D Systems Cube Pros. We quickly outgrew the aforementioned hobbyist level 3D Printers and are now running two professional Stratasys uPrint SE 3D printers. About a year ago, we added a NextEngine 3D scanner and by early next year we will have two 3D stereoscopy workstations to further advance our 3D operations and services for the UA community. A huge thanks to our administration, Rodgers Staff, College of Engineering, and all of our users across campus for making our 3D Studio such a success.

Interestingly, while our 3D printers and training courses have evolved rapidly since our debut in late 2012, our core mission for 3D services has never changed. Rodgers Library 3D services are a self-service operation. We provide the tools and training, and then you do the 3D printing.

We are very proud of the scholarship that has been created across campus using the Rodgers Library 3D Studio. One of the areas that we have been focused on in Rodgers Library is 3D printing molecular structures. Over the past several years, we have had the pleasure of collaborating with numerous researchers on and off campus to help advance molecular visualization with 3D printed molecules, extended solids, and polymeric structures. Check out some of our work below (all open access too!):

Scalfani, V. F.; Williams, A. J.; Tkachenko, V.; Karapetyan, K.; Pshenichnov, A.; Hanson, R. M.; Liddie, J. M.; Bara, J. E. Programmatic conversion of crystal structures into 3D printable files using Jmol. Journal of Cheminformatics 2016, 8, 66. DOI: 10.1186/s13321-016-0181-z

Scalfani, V. F.; Turner, C. H.; Rupar, P. A.; Jenkins, A. H.; Bara, J. E. 3D Printed Block Copolymer Nanostructures. Journal of Chemical Education 2015, 92, 1866-1870. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.5b00375

Scalfani, V. F.; Vaid, T. P. 3D Printed Molecules and Extended Solid Models for Teaching Symmetry and Point Groups. Journal of Chemical Education 2014, 91, 1174-1180. DOI: 10.1021/ed400887t

If you have not visited our 3D Studio in Rodgers Library, I highly encourage you to do so!  You can take a short training course with one of our staff members and then immediately get started fabricating 3D parts independently. Check out our Standard Operating Procedures here for more information:

http://guides.lib.ua.edu/makerspaces

Sharing the Beauty of Science Contest Winners

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Emerging Form: Submitted by Dr. John Yoder Biological Sciences Abdominal expression of the two patterning proteins Wingless (red) and Engrailed (green) during metamorphosis of the fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster). All cell nucleii are stained blue

Title: Emerging Form
Submitted by Dr. John Yoder, Biological Sciences
Description: Abdominal expression of the two patterning proteins Wingless (red) and Engrailed (green) during metamorphosis of the fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster). All cell nucleii are stained blue

 

Title: Single Crystal Up Close and Personal Submitted by Rachel White - Graduate Student Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Description: Single crystal CMSX-8, a nickel based superalloy, etched to reveal the microstructure and examined in a scanning electron microscope

Title: Single Crystal Up Close and Personal
Submitted by Rachel White, Graduate Student Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
Description: Single crystal CMSX-8, a nickel based superalloy, etched to reveal the microstructure and examined in a scanning electron microscope

 

Title: Into the Shell Submitted by Dr.Alberto-Perez Huerta Geological Sciences Cross section of a brachiopod shell, collected in Friday Harbor, Washington State (USA)

 

Title: Into the Shell
Submitted by Dr.Alberto-Perez Huerta, Geological Sciences
Description: Cross section of a brachiopod shell, collected in Friday Harbor, Washington State (USA)

Scientists may not think of themselves as artists, but there are times when science and research activities lead to exceptionally beautiful visual images. This spring Rodgers Library sponsored “Sharing the Beauty of Science” a contest where we invited faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from Science, Engineering and Nursing to share with us the beauty of science by submitting up two images per individual. Our top three winners come from the departments of Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences, and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.

Congratulations to all the winners for generating such high quality images and for sharing with us the beauty of their work!

Enjoy!

Effective Literature Searching

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Before you can make a successful search, analyze your topic.  Decide:

What are the main concepts?

What are the primary keywords related to each concept?

What alternative keywords or synonyms represent each of these concepts?

Normally, this will involve doing some reading about the topic in a source such as a review article or a textbook. If a review article or textbook is not helpful, a quick online search, may help you develop an initial understanding of the topic. The steps outlined below take you through these initial points and the subsequent steps of a literature search:

Literature Searching Tips:

  1. Select and identify your topic. What is the topic of your research?

Example: Grassland management and butterflies. What aspect of this topic are you particularly interested in? Example: Grassland management and butterfly diversity.

State your topic as a question: Does the way in which grassland are managed have an impact on butterfly diversity?

  1. Find Background Information: Once you have identified the key terms or subjects for your topic, look for them in a textbook, general or subject encyclopedia, or subject glossary.
  2. Deciding which databases to use. The most effective way to search journal articles on a topic is to use a database such as PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Google Scholar or Scopus.
  3. Develop a search strategy. Develop an initial list of keywords that can be used to research your topic. Search the Scout Catalog and other databases using those keywords. Revise your keywords as needed to broaden or narrow the search. Use Boolean operators (AND, OR and NOT). Boolean operators allow you to combine your search terms in many different combinations. Databases often contain buttons or drop-down menus that allow you to select for Boolean operators.
  4. Refine your search: If your initial search brought up few results try these tips: Try alternative less specific keywords; check spelling, Use OR to include synonyms, and include more database coverage. If you have too many results try: more specific keywords. Use AND to include additional keywords, and use NOT to exclude certain words.
  5. Saving your Search: The databases may have the option to create a personal account that allows you to save a copy of your search. This is strongly recommended. Always save or print the useful articles that you find. In many databases you can export your articles to reference management software such as EndNote.
  6. Managing your information: EndNote helps you to store and manage your references. EndNote is also built into the Microsoft Word. One can automatically insert citations and create a bibliography using this feature. The University of Alabama maintains a site license agreement for EndNote, which provides unlimited licensing for faculty, staff, and students. http://oit.ua.edu/oit/services/software-licensing/endnote/

In summary here are the 5 key tips for effective literature searches:

  1. Make a start with Scout from UA libraries. http://www.lib.ua.edu/#/home  At Scout you can search the library’s collection in print and online, from manuscripts to books to individual and journal articles.
  2. Follow the Literature searching tips as described above.
  3. See resources for your subject areas. These resources are tailored library guides for each discipline to help you find the key databases and information sources that are relevant to your research area.  http://guides.lib.ua.edu/
  4. Get the full text of an article through many of our databases. http://www.lib.ua.edu/#/databases?page=1
  5. Use the Inter-library Loan services if the University of Alabama Libraries do not have any item you need.  https://ua.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/

Created by Arian Abdulla

Latest on Standards

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Standards are a basic tool of scientists and engineers. At Rodgers Library we use SAI Global to find and order individual standards. SAI Global covers standards from many standards organizations, such as ASME and SAE.  Our approach is to order most standards on demand.  However, since ASTM standards are in high demand, we recently subscribed to ASTM Compass.  In the case of SAI Global users can easily search the database, but the library takes care of the download piece.  ASTM Compass is handled differently.  It is delivered to desktops and users can search and download independently.

Tip 13: 3D Printing

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Tip 13:  3D Printing.  About three years ago we opened a 3D Printing Studio in Rodgers Library.  Services offered include: 3D printing, 3D scanning, training workshops, and do it yourself 3D printing.  Supporting 3D design and conversion software is installed on the workstations within the 3D Studio. The 3D printers are capable of creating a multitude of 3D plastic objects.

GO to Rodgers 3-D printing.

Go to College of Engineering 3-D printing.

Aerospace Book Sparks Innovation

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This year Honda will put a new business jet airplane into service in the U.S., pending FAA approval.  The aircraft is touted for the latest in airplane innovation, specifically the placement of the engines over the wings unlike conventional business jets with the engines near the tail.  What does this development have to do with libraries?  The connection is with books.  According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, in 1986 Honda sent engineer Michimasa Fujino to Mississippi State University to design an experimental aircraft.  While dong his research, he read a 1930’s book on aerodynamics, presumably found in a library.  Fujino said that the principles of aerodynamics detailed in the book became the inspiration for the design of the new Honda jet.  Reading engineering books, even some very old, can change minds and our technology.  Great news for books and libraries! 

 

Searching for Publications from UA Researchers

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Interested in finding publications from researchers at The University of Alabama?  Try the “Organization-Enhanced” search feature from the Web of Science database. Here are a few recent publications from our very own science and engineering faculty:

Jordon, J. B.; Horstemeyer, M. F., Microstructure-Sensitive Fatigue Modeling of AISI 4140 Steel. Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology-Transactions of the Asme 2014, 136 (2). Read it HERE.

Hirschmann, T. C.; Araujo, P. T.; Muramatsu, H.; Rodriguez-Nieva, J. F.; Seifert, M.; Nielsch, K.; Kim, Y. A.; Dresselhaus, M. S., Role of Intertube Interactions in Double- and Triple-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Acs Nano 2014, 8 (2), 1330-1341. Read it HERE

Keel, W. C.; Manning, A. M.; Holwerda, B. W.; Lintott, C. J.; Schawinski, K., The Ultraviolet Attenuation Law in Backlit Spiral Galaxies. Astronomical Journal 2014, 147 (2). Read it HERE

Sayler, F. M.; Grano, A. J.; Smatt, J. H.; Linden, M.; Bakker, M. G., Nanocasting of hierarchically porous Co3O4, Co, NiO, Ni, and Ag, monoliths: Impact of processing conditions on fidelity of replication. Microporous Mesoporous Mat. 2014, 184, 141-150. Read it HERE

Makerspaces on UA Campus

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Over the past year, UA has brought in a tremendous amount of new fabrication resources to help complete your research project. We recently created this Makerspace subject guide to help you learn about topics such as 3D printing, laser cutting, Arduinos, and much more. Check it out here:

http://guides.lib.ua.edu/makerspaces/

If there are any books or other resources we do not have for your project, send a recommendation to Vincent F. Scalfani.

Google Scholar Introduces Scholar Library

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Google Scholar introduced a new feature this week called Scholar Library. This new service is designed to help users of Google scholar develop a personal collection of scholarly materials.  While working in Google Scholar, “you can save articles right from the search page, organize them by topic, and use the power of Scholar’s full-text search & ranking to quickly find  just the one you want – at any time and from anywhere.”  Scholar Library incorporates all the functionality of Google Scholar, such as linking to content, citing articles, and formatting citations.   Check out Google Scholar Blog to learn more.

Books Are Very Helpful Too

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With so many scholarly materials available, some students may overlook the book collection.  Rodgers Library holdings include many intermediate- and advanced-level books in all disciplines in the sciences, engineering and nursing.  Whether you are just starting to learn a new subject or need important background information, books are a great resource.  Books often provide a full treatment of a special subject as well.  Such is the case with the title Physiography of the United States, by Charles B. Hunt.   Print books are housed on the north side of the second floor and are organized by the Library of Congress Classification.   A general guide to the classification scheme is shown in a large poster near the stacks.  Both online and print books are listed in Scout our online discovery system.  Scout offers a quick way to find books on any subject.  After doing a search in Scout, use the facet for “books” in the left-hand column to limit to that format.  Go to Scout.

Don’t forget about Dissertations!

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Published Dissertations/theses are extremely useful when researching a field. They often provide a very nice basic introduction to the subject, a great collection of references, and excellent insights for future work. I have found that many dissertations also provide a level of detail which you will not find in peer-reviewed journals, for example, a worked calculation or sample data analysis. You may also glean information about how you would like to organize your own dissertation/thesis. So don’t forget about searching for your research topic in our ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database!

http://goo.gl/OMBtj

Academic Software Available in Rodgers

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Rodgers Library offers a variety of specialized software on its computers. In addition to the normal suite of library and productivity software, several desktop computers are loaded with Maple, ArcGIS, AutoCAD, ChemBioOffice, MATLAB, Minitab, CHEMCAD, and Microsoft Visual Studio. The academic software is installed on several machines on the 1st floor in an area called “SciTech Software Lab.” And four Dell machines, loaded with academic software, are located on the 2nd floor. Departmental computer labs are still the best option for working on academic computing projects. But with Rodgers Library open more hours than departmental computer labs, students now have a choice of where to go when a class project requries use of specialized software.

More E-Books on the Way

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Publishers are offering more e-books for sale.  Rodgers Library has responded by ordering major collections of science and engineering e-books from Springer and Elsevier for 2010.  As soon as Springer and Elsevier release the e-books, titles will show up in SpringerLink and ScienceDirect.  All new e-books purchased by Rodgers Library are also listed in the UA Libraries online catalog.  So access to e-books is easy and direct.   Quick links to our e-book publishers are on our Web site.     Enjoy!

Kindle Readers Ready Monday

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A new service featuring Kindle e-book readers (from Amazon.com) is set to launch on November 2.  Rodgers Library will circulate Kindles preloaded with a selection of popular reading on a broad range of science, engineering, and nursing topics, plus a few titles of general interest.

Kindle and Kindle DX units will be available for check-out. Kindle units and the titles they contain are listed in the Libraries’ catalog.

• Currently limited to faculty, staff, and students
• Available for check-out from the Circulation Desk
• 2 week check-out period
• No renewals

Look:  http://www.kindle.com.  Enjoy!

Springer E-books

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The library purchased Springer e-books in Chemistry, Engineering and Computer Science last fall.  Records are in the catalog and the books are available on SpringerLink.  If you have used the electronic versions, let us know what you think. Open www.springerlink.com