Using the Internet in Conservation Research

Example On-line Research Scenario:

"???" [please suggest one!]

1. Decide on relevant topics/keywords from existing knowledge:: e.g. ??? ...
adding to and refining this list as you proceed of course (e.g. search for relevant authors)

2. Search for relevant bibliographic references:

Local library catalogue: e.g.
    Cardiff: http://library.cf.ac.uk/
    Durham: http://library.dur.ac.uk/
    UCL: http://library.ucl.ac.uk/

Wider search:
    COPAC - http://copac.ac.uk/copac/wzgw
    BCIN (Conservation Information Network Bibliographic Database) -
    http://www.bcin.ca
    AATA - http://aata.getty.edu/NPS/
    JSTOR - http://www.jstor.org
    Periodicals Archive Online - http://pao.chadwyck.co.uk/
    Index to Theses - http://www.theses.com/
    zetoc - http://etoc.mimas.ac.uk/zetoc/
    ISI Web of knowledge - http://portal.isiknowledge.com/portal.cgi
    Google Books - http://books.google.co.uk/
    Google Scholar - http://scholar.google.com/
    Scirus - http://www.scirus.com/
    etc
    Email alerts from these services - example 1   example 2

3. Search for relevant Web-based resources:

General search engines: e.g.
    Google
    Yahoo! UK & Ireland
    etc

Specialised search engines, Web-based datasets and encyclopedias: e.g.
    ICON's Chantry Library bookmarks on del.icio.us
    ICON's Heritage Conservation Search Engine (a Google custom search engine)
    Cultural Heritage Search Engine
    CAMEO
    NISS Directory of Network Resources (Username & password required)
    Mimas Beilstein CrossFire (Username & password and client software required)
    Chemfinder (Username & password required after a trial period)
    Wikipedia

Museums e.g.
    IWM Collections Database - http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/
    Swiss Museum of Transport - http://www.verkehrshaus.org/en/museum/sammlung/
    List of transport museums - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_transport_museums
    British Trolleybus database - http://www.trolleybus.co.uk/

Chemical companies: e.g.
VWR International (Merck/BDH) (Username & password required for full functionality)

4. Search for relevant newsgroups, check archives, send enquiries

Use Google Groups or a dedicated newsreader programme
e.g. Could try the following groups:
    rec.aviation.restoration
    uk.transport.*
    sci.chem.coatings
    sci.chem.electrochem
    sci.engr.metallurgy
    sci.materials

5. Search for relevant discussion lists, check archives, subscribe, send enquiries

Search JISCmail
Search TileNet
Search Liszt

6. Search for useful people, send enquiries, etc

Search CoOL

7. Integrate your results with those obtained from other lines of research

Don't become an Internet addict. It is a useful tool, not the answer to life, the universe and everything.

"A two-year study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has concluded that surfing the Internet can cause a slow decline in mental health. Social psychologist Robert Kraut says Internet use results in isolation, loneliness and depression."

New Scientist - 12 September 1998

Return