Of course, for in-depth academic research, your best bet is to use the library’s databases to find articles from scholarly journals and other trusted publications.  However, there is valuable information freely available on the web - the trick is finding the good stuff fast.

There are many different kinds of search engines you can use - each with their own strengths and weaknesses.  To help you sort out your options, the library has put together this guide to finding Web Sites.  In addition to popular search engines, you’ll find links to search engines that are science and engineering specific and focus on scholarly literature. You will also find links to subject directories and searching tips.

And don’t forget, anyone can publish a web site!  That is why it is especially important to be critical when evaluating information from the free web.  Here are some guidelines to help you evaluate information you find.

Each series consists of electronic books that synthesize an important research or development topic, authored by an expert contributor to the field.  The e-books (or “lectures” as they are called)  range from 50-275 pages and are available in PDF format.  They provide students and researchers a convenient way to get a better understanding of an area of interest.

The range of content level in Synthesis is intended to be fairly broad, from state-of-the-art research overviews to presentations appropriate for undergraduates or professionals seeking a review.  To find out more about the collection, read this detailed review.

From the site:
“Through a simple, elegant and efficient presentation of resources and information, OS Living aims to highlight small and large OSS projects, to inform and raise awareness to OS ethics, and to reinforce the credibility of OSS as a viable alternative to corporate funded, closed source software.”

As a community-driven site, it continues to expand with more and more resources daily.

Elsevier, a leading publisher of science and health information, developed SciTopics to offer authors a faster, more informal, dynamic, and interactive ways to publish their thinking on issues and highlight their research. The newly released tool takes advantage of the speed and interactivity of sharing information on the web, but it also addresses the problems of data overload and quality and accuracy of information. (more…)

The journals of the APS embody the mission of the Society “to advance and diffuse the knowledge of Physics.”  Read more about the Physical Review Journals.

For more quality resources, visit the Physics Subject Guide.

Wiley InterScience is a leading international resource for quality content in scientific, technical, medical and professional areas. You can easily browse through the available journals either by title or subject area.

• Chemical, Petrochemical and Process Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials
• Electronics and Electrical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering

Each collection includes:

• Handbooks of engineering fundamentals
• Situational reference
• Titles focused on technique and practice
• How to guides
• Highly specialized professional information

To use this expansive collection of e-books, simply click Referex and log in using your last name and student ID number. You can search all the collections at once or select an individual collection to search or browse.