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Monthly Archives: November 2011
This Week at Hilton Pond: “Costa Rican Abstractions: Color, Shape & Texture In The Neotropics”
We’re finally back from our first-ever autumn hummingbird expedition to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. While waiting for our citizen science group to arrive we faced an unexpected difficulty and spent the better part of a week taking photos of flora and fauna rather than banding hummers. Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Botany, Photography, This Week at Hilton Pond
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The Thrilling Sequel – Why Keep a Laboratory Notebook?
Recently I wrote, “Why Keep a Laboratory or Shop Notebook?” and now it’s time for the exciting sequel. I want to delve into this topic in a little more depth since keeping a notebook is a necessary habit for any scientist, engineer or experimenter. Continue reading
Posted in Best Practices, General Interest, Tools
7 Comments
Citizen Science Musings: The Case for Science Hacker Spaces
An obvious question is whether the time is right to entertain the idea of such spaces for scientists, amateur and otherwise. It isn’t just a question of the market. As most of our readers know, doing science in suburbia, especially things involving microorganisms or home chemistry can draw the attention of nosy neighbors or worse, local law enforcement that has no idea what constitutes a threat and what does not. Continue reading
Books Received: Art & Science in the South Nation Watershed
We’re trying to encourage Citizen Science work to be more focused on hypothesis-testing. We’re planning this book as the first of a series in Ontario, sponsored by local organizations and supported by the sales of paintings done during “Landscape Art & Science” projects in the field. Continue reading
Posted in Biology, CSL News, Reviews
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Holiday Wishes from CSL
We’re still getting back on our feet after some illness that started late last week. Thanks go all who sent their warm wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and a swift recovery. The latter has progress to the point where the former might just work out. Continue reading
Posted in CSL News
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Why Keep a Laboratory or Shop Notebook?
My laboratory notebook contains experiment notes and narratives of related activities intended to support studies in experimental physics. This notebook documents an experiment’s purpose, instrumentation, procedures, data and results/conclusion. Continue reading
Posted in Amateur Science, Best Practices, Research Tools
2 Comments
Ideas about Scientific Creativity
Realistically, there are several common themes I have seen thrown around in the many references on scientific creativity. You could write a book about any of these, and many people have. However, these should serve as a starting point for thoughts or a discussion on scientific creativity. In no specific order. Continue reading
Posted in Best Practices, Research Tools
4 Comments
Tell Us Your Favorite Science Resources
I’m looking for reference sites, but also really good educational sites to help people get started or sharpen their skills. Another useful tool I’d like to feature is something about the many, many free online courses out there. Continue reading
Posted in CSL News, General Interest, Projects
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Scientists as Citizens
Scientists do not believe; they check. And I am not asking you to believe anything I say on a scientific matter; only that there is tested evidence for all of it, and that I know the nature of that evidence and can make a judgment of its worth. Continue reading
Posted in General Interest, Science Education
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“Coffee cup” Thermoelectric Generator
This TEG was designed to demonstrate waste heat energy harvesting, i.e., direct conversion of waste heat to an electrical output. This TEG consists of five thermoelectric modules connected in series around a heat source (coffee cup). Continue reading
Posted in Amateur Science, Electronics, Energy, Physics, Projects
4 Comments