The Center for Non-Verbal Studies in Spokane, Washington, scientifically studies all modes of non-verbal communication including body movement, gesture, facial expression, and adornment to name a few. Visitors to the site should definitely take a look at the "Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs, and Body Language Cues" link, which intriguingly covers everything from the "Adam's-Apple-Jump" to...

Since the rise of investigative journalism in the 20th century, teams of journalists have brought the general public some of the most important stories surrounding the government and its activities. Not surprisingly, a number of organizations and centers have sprung up in order to support such efforts on a full-time and sustained basis in the past few decades. One of the best is The Center for...

Located on Chicago's South Side, the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) is an international consortium of university, college, and independent research libraries. The CRL was founded in 1949, and since then it has expanded its work to include digital preservation and access projects. Visitors with an interest in the world of information sciences can click on the Archiving & Preservation area to...

As more and more baby boomers move into retirement, there is a growing body of scholars who are fascinated with research related to this topic. One such group of scholars exists at Boston College, which serves as the home to the Center for Retirement Research. In a nutshell, their goals are "to promote research on retirement issues, to transmit new findings to a broad audience, to help train new...

Located at the University of Vermont, the Center for Rural Studies draws on the strengths of professors, researchers, and community development experts to address the "social, economic, and resource-based problems of rural people and communities." Visitors to the site are presented with a wide range of ways to access the reports, data tables, and other such information offered here. One of the...

The Center for Science and Technology Policy Research (CSTPR) was created in 2001 and their goal is "to improve how science and technology policies address societal needs, through research, education and service." Part of this goal is accomplished via their well-designed site, which features policy papers, news updates, and highlights from recent conferences and seminars sponsored under their...

India remains a country that fascinates both scholars looking at its historical development and those who are intimately concerned with its role in the global economy. In order to provide a congenial place for people with such interests to interact and exchange ideas, the University of Pennsylvania created the Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) in 1992. Visitors to the CASI site can...

Created in 1984, the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress has been dedicated to creating affiliate centers in the 50 states. These affiliates (and the Center, of course) work together to "sponsor programs that highlight their area's literary heritage and call attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy and libraries." On their website, visitors can learn about the affiliate...

The Center for the Study of the Public Domain (CSPD), part of Duke University Law School, is a pioneer among university centers examining "the contributions of the public domain to speech, culture, science, and innovation." Both casual and academic visitors to their website will find much to capture their attention. Readers may like to start with the Public Domain Day section, where they will...

Despite the hand-wringing over the disappearance of local and regional cultures throughout the United States, many traditions and folkways are very much alive and well. One rather distinctive organization that studies and documents these traditions is the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures at the University of Wisconsin. Drawing on the strengths of the University and their knowledge...