August 1, 2012 (Vol. 32, No. 14)
URL:
http://undsci.berkeley.edu
Rating:
Strong Points: Nice site design, easy to navigate
Weak Points: None
Summary:
The word “science” can be intimidating to those who don’t understand what it entails. With the goals of demystifying the process of scientific investigation and getting students excited about science, the University of California Museum of Paleontology has created the Understanding Science website. With inviting graphics and site design, Understanding Science contains eight topics within its “Understanding Science 101,” including “science in a nutshell,” “what is science?” and “why science matters.” On each page there are comments in the sidebar that include misconceptions about science, as well as links to outside websites for further information. The “science toolkit” teaches how one can take a scientific approach to life by discussing, for instance, how to parse science in the popular media. The website also includes a section devoted to resources for teachers of all grades, from kindergarten to college.
