Science Reference Guides
Earth Day: Selected Resources

General

Living and working sustainably

Ecosystems: climatology and weather

Ecosystems: flora and fauna

Geography and geology

For Students

American Memory

• Conservation Movement ~ Multiformat ~ 1850-1920 - The Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920.
• Ecology and the American Environment - Describes important steps taken by American ecologists in studying plants, ecological zones, and environments, which are documented in the American Environmental Photographs Collection.
• American Environmental Photographs 1891-1936 - Images from the University of Chicago Library.
• Reclaiming the Everglades: South Florida's Natural History, 1884-1934 - Personal correspondence, essays, typescripts, reports, memos, photographs, maps, postcards, etc., about the establishment of the Everglades National Park. Also includes the evolution of the conservation movement, the growing role of women, and the treatment of native Americans.
• Mapping the National Parks - This collection documents the history, cultural aspects and geological formations of areas that eventually became National Parks. It consists of approximately 200 maps dating from the 17th century to the present.

Webcasts

• "Astrobiology: Life in Space." - Dr. Daniel (Danny) Glavin, Astrobiologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
• "Avoiding the Fate of the Mayans." The Maya civilization, was one of the most densely populated and culturally dynamic societies in the world. After flourishing for a thousand years, it abruptly disappeared. Thanks to Landsat satellite data and climate models, NASA archaeologist Tom Sever has gained insights into the event known as the Maya Collapse.
• Bob Ryan - The Chief Meteorologist at NBC4 since 1980 spoke about weather forecasting.
• "Color in the Herb Garden" - A webcast with Jim Adams, curator of the National Herb Garden at the National Arboretum.
• “Dinosaurs Along the Silk Road.” - James Clark, Ph.D., the Ronald Weintraub Professor of Biology at George Washington U, and a co-leader of expeditions that discovered the bones of small dinosaurs mired in mud, in China, near the ancient Silk Road. More information: http://www.gwu.edu/~newsctr/newscenter/research/dinosaur/
• "Earth’s Water Cycle in a Changing Climate" - Peter Hildebrand, chief, Hydrospheric & Biospheric Sciences Lab, NASA.
• "Farming, Food Security, and Climate Change." - Molly Brown, Senior Research Scientist, Science Systems and Applications, Inc. at NASA.
• "The Folklore Behind Ecology, or Why Scientists in Ecology Need Help from Folklorists" - Dr. Daniel B. Botkin is a Research Professor at the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Botkin's Web site: http://www.danielbbotkin.com/
• "Food Politics: What to Eat in Today's Era of Food Anxiety" - Dr. Marion Nestle, NYU professor, author and food industry critic, offered guidance on healthful food selections.
• "Galileo: 400 Years of the Telescope." - Dr. Michelle Thaller, NASA astrophysicist, looked at the real Galileo, his intriguing daughter Virginia, and the personalities and politics that led to his imprisonment.
• "Herbs in the Garden" - A webcast with Holly Shimizu, the executive director of the United States Botanic Garden.
• “Honey Bees, Satellites, and Climate Change.” - Wayne Esaias, Ocean Sciences Branch, NASA GSFC.
• "Hope for Animals and Their Worlds: How Endangered Animals are Being Rescued from the Brink." - Jane Goodall spoke about her latest book, Co-sponsored with the Center for the Book.
• "Hubble: A New Beginning.Dave Leckrone." - Dave Leckrone, astrophysicist with the NASA Hubble Space Program.
• "Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology" - A Webcast with Dr. Eric Grissell.
• "Observing, Fighting, and Mitigating Damage from Fires" - Compton Tucker, Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA GSFC, spoke on fire fighting and prevention using satellite imagery.
• "On Thin Ice: The Changing Ice Cover on Polar Oceans." - Thorsten Markus, Head of the Cryospheric Sciences Branch at NASA Goddard.
• "Our Sun: Its Influence on Life and Climate." - Edward F. Guinan, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Villanova U.
• "The Parking Garage and Its Impact on Urban Planning" - Shannon McDonald, A.I.A., Senior Architect at the architectural firm of Shannon Sanders McDonald on Parking, transportation, environment, architecture, and urban planning.
• "Peering Into the Storm: NASA's Exploration of Hurricanes." - Dr. Scott A. Braun, research meteorologist,NASA Goddard.
• "Preserving Africa's Threatened Wildlife: Forest Peoples and Indigenous Knowledge" - Alden Almquist, anthropologist, 2003-2004 Kluge Staff Fellow, and Albert Lokasola, President, Vie Sauvage, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• "School Gardens with Constance Carter" - A multimedia presentation with the Head of the Science Research Section at the Library of Congress. Part of the Journeys and Crossings series at the Library of Congress.
• "The Seashell on the Mountaintop" - Dr. Alan Cutler discusses his book on Nicholaus Steno, founder of modern geology.
• "Social Justice, the Environment & the Ethics of Collaboration" - Various speakers. American Folklife Center, sponsors..
• "Sustainable Organic Agriculture, Family Farming, Direct Marketing of Foods" - Jim Crawford, of New Morning Farm, and Sam Fromartz, author of Organic Inc.: Natural Foods and How They Grew.
• "A Tale of Two Gardens" - Dr. James A. Duke, noted ethnobotanist, expert on medicinal plants, and author.
• "Who Left the Freezer Door Open? What the Poles Are Telling Us about Climate Change" - Bob Bindschadler, Chief Scientist, Hydrospheric and Biospheric Sciences Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

Links to other organizations

• Earth Day 2011: What are you doing this year?
  http://wilderness.org/content/earth-day-2011-what-are-you-doing-year
  This page from the Wilderness Society has a form to submit your local or national Earth Day event. It also links to these informative pages: Learn about the history of Earth Day, Resources for kids, parents, and teachers, and Earth Day heroes.
  
• An ‘Earth Day” in the Life of NOAA
  http://www.noaa.gov/earthday/anearthdayinthelifeofnoaa.html
  Every hour of every day, NOAA is engaged in monitoring and preserving our planet. From satellites in space to observations in the deep ocean, NOAA provides science, service, and stewardship of our Earth.
• Arbor Day Foundation
  http://www.arborday.org/
  Seeks to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. National Arbor Day is April 30th.
• Department of Energy (DOE)
  http://www.eere.energy.gov/earthday/
  Includes DSIRE - The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency, established in 1995. An ongoing project of the North Carolina Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Also, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Earth Day Page - The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy works to enhance energy efficiency & productivity, and to make available clean, reliable and affordable energy technologies.
• The Federal Energy Management Program
  http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/services/earthday.html
  The Federal Energy Management Program's annual Earth Day program includes resources that encourage everyone to look at energy efficiency as a pathway to "new energy for America." The campaign includes posters, computer monitor calendars, bookmarks and magnets.
• Earth Day National Library of Medicine
  http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/resources/EarthDayFlier.pdf
  Online resources for teachers and students at the high school and college level. National Library of Medicine resources with student-friendly information on human health and the environment, plus pollution and toxic chemicals. (PDF 238 KB)
  
• Earth Day Network - Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide.
• EarthDay.gov
  http://www.earthday.org/
  The portal for U.S. Government Events & Information on Earth Day.
• Electronic Green Journal( EGJl) Volume 1, Issue 30, 2010
  http://escholarship.org/uc/search?entity=uclalib_egj;volume=1;issue=30
  Professional, peer-reviewed journal on environmental protection, conservation, management of natural resources, -balanced regional development. Several articles on Earth Day, and related subjects. This issue has articles, Earth Day 2010: 40th Anniversary Poster & posters from before & during the 1970s.
• Environmental Protection Agency
  http://www.epa.gov/
  Current environmental issues, science and technology, laws and regulations.
• U.S. EPA Celebrates Earth Day
  http://www.epa.gov/earthday/
  EPA's Earth Day Web site offers you many tips and fun ways to protect the environment and your health every day. Learn about the History of Earth Day. Más información en español.
• FuelEconomy.gov
  http://www.fueleconomy.gov/index.htm
  EPA's site on types of fuel, improving fuel economy, comparisons of vehicles, new & future technology.
• Healthy Building Network
  http://www.healthybuilding.net/healthcare/index.html
  Founded in 2000, this organization works to " ... advance the best environmental, health and social practices in order to decrease, and even begin to reverse, some of the profound negative impacts ... "of the contemporary building industry on the environment, human health and society."
• The Home Energy Saver
  http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/
  An Internet-based tool for calculating energy use in residential buildings.
• NASA Earth Day: Leading the Greening
  http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/earthday/
  NASA's work on global warming, polar caps, natural disasters. News, activities, games &satellite views of the Earth and space. Astronaut Photography of Earth - a huge online collection of photographs. NASA's Glenn Research Center Earth Day Committee - Has a page of very informative "ecolinks."
• Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)
  http://www.huduser.org/about/pdr_path.html
  PATH is a voluntary partnership of leaders in insurance & finance, homebuilding, manufacturing, Federal agencies. Partners improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, & affordability of housing. Coordinated by HUD's Policy Development and Research (PD&R).
• The Pharos Project
  http://www.pharosproject.net/
  Web tool with health/environmental data on the manufacture, use & end of life of building materials."
• RecyclingCenters.org
  http://www.recyclingcenters.org
  A central location for recycling information, news and community. Has a national directory of local recycling centers, information on recycling & tips on conservation. Its blog promotes information sharing and connections
• U.S Green Building Council (USGBC)
  http://www.usgbc.org/Default.aspx
  USGBC has more than 13,500 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.
• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
  http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=51
  Sponsored by the USGBC, the LEED Green Building Rating System™ rates buildings for their environmental impact according to universally understood criteria.
• U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
  http://naturalresources.house.gov/
  Jurisdiction includes energy and mineral resources; fisheries, wildlife and oceans; national parks, forests and public lands; water and power; insular affairs (U.S. territories), and relations with Native Americans and Native American tribes.
• U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  http://energy.senate.gov/index.cfm
  Jurisdiction includes energy resources and development: regulation, conservation, strategic petroleum reserves, appliance standards; nuclear energy; Indian affairs; public lands and their renewable resources; surface mining, federal coal, oil, and gas, other mineral leasing; territories & water resources.

Compiled by MJ Cavallo, Updated April, 2011