 NEWS BLOGS SCIENCE & EVOLUTION FORUMS EDUCTAIONAL WEBSITES
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FOSSIL HUNTING MUSEUMS ASSOCIATIONS & FOUNDATIONS ARCHIVES & RESOURCES |
NEWS
These links cover all aspects of science, though of course you will find things about biology on the regularly. Sadly, few newspapers even have a 'Science' section, and reporting is often left to non-experts which can lead confusing reports.
BBC Science
The BBC's online science website. Up-to-date reports on all kinds on science news.
CBBC Animals
The Children’s BBC news site all about animals. Great for younger readers.
New Scientist
Perhaps the world’s leading science magazine, New Scientist is fantastic for repackaging difficult and dense scientific papers into easily readable articles. A must for any serious science enthusiast.
Pop Sci
What's hot in the world of science and technology.
Science Daily
Just that, your daily dose of science news.
The Telegraph - Digital Life
Check out the ‘View from the Lab’ by our own Steve Jones. Steve regularly talks about how science is done and recent advancements in biology as well as science in the modern world.
The Seed
This is an online magazine bringing all kinds of reports and articles on science. It is also the home of the ‘Science Blogs’ (see below).
BLOGS
Blogs (short for Weblog) are fast becoming popular and influential methods of reaching the public. Ask a Biologist started as a kind of Blog. Below are just a small sample of the many excellent science blogs that are out there.
PZ Myers: Pharyngula
PZ Myers runs one of the most popular blogs in science and is a delightful mixture of serious research and irreverence. He has won a number of awards for his efforts and makes for compelling reading, especially if you love cephalopods, and hey, who doesn't?
Darren Naish: Tetrapod Zoology
'Tetrapod Zoology’ is a highly eclectic mix of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Darren’s interested in just about everything alive and is happy to bring it to a wide audience. Wolf-hunting eagles (yes, really), giant dinosaurs, big cats in Britain, speciation in lizards, and monkey evolution. Darren has just moved to scienceblogs, but all his old stuff is available here.
Mike Ryan: Palaeoblog
Mike Ryan’s blog on all things fossil-y. Well worth some of your time if like anything to do with palaeontology.
Sarda Sahney: Fish Feet
Sarda Sahney brings palaeontology, biodiversity and current controversies to a wide audience. Read about Cretaceous Crime Scene Investigation, White Tigers, and Living Fossils.
Carl Zimmer: The Loom
This is the blog of member Carl Zimmer and focuses on new discoveries in biology and evolution. Carl is a successful science writer and often writes from the New York Times, National Geographic and Time, as well as writing books on evolution.
10000 Birds
This is a blog dedicated to the biology and evolution of birds. The title refers to the number of species of bird currently though to exist, though only around 8000 have been described by science. There's lots of work still to do!
Oekologie
This is a 'travelling' blog, so it is a collection of links to posts on other blogs, all of them about ecology.
The Hairy Museum of Natural History
A fun blog covering all kinds of natural history and especially fossil discoveries.
Science Blogs
Home of a huge number of science-based blogs. It’s well worth exploring, not just for the information content, but to find a blogger whose style of writing suits you. Its easy to find a ‘favourite’ and to follow them keenly. They do have specific sections for ‘Biology’ and ‘Brain and Behaviour’
SCIENCE & EVOLUTION FORUMS
Forums are places where people can come to learn more about evolution and biology or to discuss current scientific issues.
Panda's Thumb
This is the 'virtual university' home of scientists worldwide. It consists of reposts from various blogs and new articles on the world of biology and evolution. It can get very technical, but there is always something of interest available.
Talk Origins
The legendary resource that is Talk Origins! Biology and palaeontology are far too frequently the subject of highly inaccurate criticism. Talk Origins provides both a forum for discussion and an archive of misconceptions about evolution and explanations for them.
Evolution Wikipedia
Unlike the main wikipedia source, this one is almost exclusively written by professional scientists and provides a great resource on all aspects of evolutionary theory.
Archives of the Dinosaur Mailing List
The DML is used by professionals and amateurs alike to keep track of friends and colleagues and discuss the world of the dinosaurs (and some of their closer relatives). The language can get very technical and detailed, but it can be well worth browsing the archives. When big discoveries hit the press, you can be sure it has already been analysed in great depth here.
Palaeo Links Collection
Palaeontologist Michael Fastnach created this awesome list of palaeontology and biology based links while at Mainz University. It is a massive resource with links to the websites of all kinds of science journals, biological and palaeontological societies and museums.
EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES
This is collection of various databases and resources covering a wide variety of subjects.
Basic Concepts in Science
This is a new project being collectively compiled by the members of Scienceblogs. Various members are creating some (often lengthy and very detailed) concepts in science that often go missed by the public. Essentially this is huge resource of links to various blogs, but with enormous educational value and a chance to discover some new blogs for your entertainment. Keep checking back for updates as new essays are added.
Berkeley's Palaeo Education Site
This is the University of California Museum of Paleontology's web project on public education in evolution.
DinoBase
Currently the most comprehensive list of dinosaurs on the Internet. This database is revised on a regular basis.
The Fossil Museum
A new online resource aimed at making fossils more accessible. Their history of the Earth sections are fantastic miniature guides.
Geology Rocks
This site covers all aspects of geology. It is aimed mostly at A-level and undergraduate students of geology but there is information and tutorials for all ages and levels of experience on geology and palaeontology.
The Palaeofiles
Crazy about dinosaurs, fossils, and the history of life? Read more about current research topics. The articles here have all been prepared by undergraduate and Masters students on our palaeobiology programmes in Bristol.
Science in Schools
One for the teachers. Keep up to date with science news with lots of advice and resources for science teachers.
Show Me
One for our younger guests. Lots of facts and games on natural history and all manner of other things. Enjoy!
FOSSIL HUNTING
Sites about looking for fossils.
Discovering Fossils
A site dedicated to fossils. In includes a discussion forum, and there is great guide to fossil collecting site in the UK.
UK Fossils
Another good site for amateur fossil collectors and enthusiasts.
MUSEUMS
Homepages for many of the worlds best museums and online resources for museums.
Musée National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris
On of the great museums. Incredible collection, especially their hall of skeletons.
Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt Universität
One of the worlds oldest and best dinosaur exhibits has undergone a colossal renovation and will reopen this year!
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
This is the home page of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
The Natural History Museum, London
One of the great homes of science and natural history. In addition to holding one of the worlds great research collections, it also runs a pretty nifty website. Enjoy.
UK Safari Museums
A list of many of the Natural History museums in the UK so you can find
one close to where you live. The main site also contains some good
stuff about UK wildlife.
ASSOCIATIONS & FOUNDATIONS
This is a selection of some societies and associations (both national and international) that you can join to become more involved in biology and science.
Durrel Wildlife
Home to the conservation societies founded by legendary conservationist and author Gerald Durrell. Here you can keep up to date with all the work carried out here preserving and protecting species, based out of the famous Jersey Zoo.
The Forestry Commission
The Uk government branch devoted to both research and protection of out forests and woodlands.
The National Trust
Perhaps more famous for conserving historic buildings but they also work to protect parks, gardens and farms and have lots of places to visit and enjoy wildlife and livestock.
RichardDawkins.net
Home of the Richard Dawkins foundation. This group is dedicated to the promotion of science and rational thought. Keeps an up-to-the-minute list of articles about science and evolution from around the world, plus editorials and reports.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Home of the RSPCA, dedicated to animal welfare.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The RSPB is one of the best known conservation societies around and one of the best. This is their homepage.
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
Britain's biggest conservation group for birds, founded by Sir Peter Scott. They conserve many bird watching sites around the UK.
The World Wildlife Federation (WWF)
Home of the World Wildlife Fund, one of the biggest and most influential conservation group worldwide.
The Zoological Society of London
Founded in 1826 this has to be the oldest conservation foundation. Owner of London Zoo as well as an established research institute in its own right.
ARCHIVES & RESOURCES
Various databases of information about biology, fossils and texts.
ARKive
One of the great biology sites on the web. ARKive houses pictures, videos and sound clips of many of the animals on Earth. They have a long, long way to go to catch up with the estimated 15 – 20 million species alive today, but they do have several thousand already and are growing all the time.
BBC Motion Gallery
There’s tons more here besides animals, but you can see hundreds of clips of animals in action here. (Requires registration to use, but that is free).
The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online
The complete works of Charles Darwin – letters, books, notes and papers, all scanned and made available for free on the internet. This is a an impressive collection of works and is of global significance.
Richard Dawkins: Online Writings
Richard Dawkins is a prolific author of popular articles as well as books and scientific papers. Here is an extensive collection of his previous popular works on all manner of subjects, though of course focusing on biology.
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