1. Dr Adam Gardner Resource Guide Adviser for Geography & the Environment
Online information resources for
research in physical geography
Dr Adam Gardner
Resource Guide Adviser for Geography & the Environment

2. What is the JISC? Joint Information Systems Committee Runs JANET
Funds national data services
Negotiates deals on publications, databases etc.
Provides advice and guidance services
"The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) is a strategic advisory committee working on behalf of the funding bodies for further and higher education (FE and HE) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also works in partnership with the Research Councils."

3. Resource Guides Validated guide of key resources in digestible format
Every resource approved for quality
Operate on the principle ‘free at point of use’
Staffed by a subject specialist
Here to help!
Seven subjects

4. FREE!

5. Seven subjects Arts & Humanities Engineering, Maths & Computing
Geography and the Environment
Health and Life Sciences
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport &Tourism
Physical Sciences
Social Sciences

6. But what's in the Guide….? Bibliographical information
General reference
Publications online
Subject gateways
Data and multimedia resources
Learning & teaching
Support services

7. Resource Guide output Website ð Printed guide ð
Training materials & events
Key conferences & exhibitions

8. Sample resources ISI Web of Knowledge ð GEsource ð NBN Gateway ð
UKBORDERS ð
NASA Global Change Master Directory ð

9. PhD literature & resource search
First steps? How did you start?
"I just used Web of Science"
"I just typed in my keyword to Google to see what I got"

10. Yes, but there are problems with that…
WoS overload
Not exhaustive search
The "Google-plex" search return…..

11. Resource Guide for Geography and the Environment
QUALITY
NOT
QUANTITY

12. Searching checklist Assume nothing – you don’t know it all!
Devise search strategy
Select appropriate resource
Check for access e.g. Athens
Internet Geographer

13. Devise a search strategy
Define your topic in one phrase:
‘wetland habitat conservation strategy’
Split your phrase into concepts
Concept 1: wetland
Concept 2: conservation
For each concept, list alternatives:
Concept 1: wetland, marsh, bog, fen
Concept 2: conservation, management, preservation

14. Gaining worthwhile results
Remember:
Historical (palaeo) or contemporary perspective?
Foreign (US) spellings
Stem words:
geograph* = geography, geographer, geographers, geographical, geographic
Terminology used in other disciplines
Use on line help for specific tips

15. Reflect during your search
Review search results
Refine search terms if necessary
Refer to your search strategy
Keep records of 'good' search terms
Consult help for saving searches
Index saved searches!

16. Dealing with the results
Think about quality - be selective about following links
Scrutinise URLs – expected? credible?
Use bookmarks: don't be distracted, go back later
Impose 'click-limits' when navigating through a site
QC of gateways does not extend far!

17. Further information
To learn how to evaluate internet resources, use the Internet Detective:

18. Contact www.jisc.ac.uk/resourceguides/geoenv Adam Gardner