There's a wide range of research going on at the University of Rochester, and this specialized website brings together the work of the hundreds of students, professors, and others who work at this institution. Visitors can start by just typing words into the Browse/Search function on the homepage - they might do well to try broad ideas like biology, composition, or anthropology. Further along,...

With more than half of the current congress skeptical about climate change despite overwhelming scientific evidence for rising temperatures, sea levels, and severe weather patterns, it's nice to know that at least the Environmental Protection Agency still has a head on its shoulders. This website offers clear indications of how global warming will impact our food supply, water resources,...

This site from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) features a host of resources about water and water-related issues. With many helpful articles available under categories such as Drinking Water, Education & Training, Laws & Regulations, Our Waters, Pollution Prevention & Control, Science & Technology, Water Infrastructure, and others, the site is a welcome reference for...

For those interested in information on wildfires in the United States, Esri Story Maps offers an intuitive and user-friendly visualization. Here, readers will find an interactive map showing all the active wildfires in the US (including Alaska and Hawaii), with each fire represented by a glowing flame-like symbol sized in proportion to the amount of acreage affected. Users can click on each fire...

The People's Garden was started in 2009 in order to challenge USDA employees to create gardens at USDA facilities. It's a rather neat idea; as the website notes, "the simple act of planting a garden can help unite neighborhoods in a common effort and inspire locally-led solutions to challenges facing our country." On the site, visitors can learn about the various gardens at USDA sites, check out...

The Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) (first mentioned in the February 17, 1999, Scout Report for Science & Engineering) "provides leadership and scientific information for the US Geological Survey by addressing national and international environmental contaminant issues, and assessing effects of habitat alterations on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This includes large-river...

Most people are familiar with the work of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as it relates to describing and analyzing everything from tectonic activity to mineral deposits around the United States. People may be less familiar with their work as it relates to emergency management. This website provides information about their work to support the National Response Framework emergency...

The United States Geological Survey's Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC) was officially created in 1994, but a variety of predecessor organizations had been working on similar projects for several decades before that. With field stations located across the West, FRESC works on a variety of scientific endeavors, including studies related to wildlife ecology, conservation...

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) seeks to "serve the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth." While the agency provides numerous resources of interest to Scout readers, the USGS Multimedia Gallery may be particularly handy for educators looking to use audio and visual aids to galvanize lesson plans and classroom activities. The site is...

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) publishes about 57,000 topographic maps, many of which can be downloaded for free. These maps may be used in a variety of science, math, geography, and history classroom settings, from elementary to college level. Here, educators looking for inspiration can check out a number of ideas about how to utilize these maps as a lesson or classroom activity....