Library Lab Notes: The Science Library Podcast

In this episode we discuss Open Science. We provide a basic definition of what it is, and provide an example of what it looks like in practice by reviewing the controversy around a 2010 publication by a NASA astrobiology research fellow called “A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus,” which NASA used to claim the existence of ALIENS.

REFERENCES 

GFAJ-1. (2023, Jan 17). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFAJ-1#Criticism

Nair-Bedouelle, Shamila. (2023, Feb 10). Can science be more equitable so that everyone enjoys the benefits? Open science is the answer. UNESCO. 

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/can-science-be-more-equitable-so-everyone-enjoys-benefits-open-science-answer?hub=686

NASA. (2010, Nov. 29). Media advisory : m10-167. NASA. Archived at Wayback Machine

https://web.archive.org/web/20101213183945/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-167_Astrobiology.html

Open Science. (2023, Feb 6). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_science

Overbye, D. (2010, December 14). Poisoned debate encircles a microbe study’s result. The New York Times, D4. 

https://go-gale-com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA244255616&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZEES-MOD1&prodId=GRNR&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA244255616&searchId=R1&userGroupName=edmo69826&inPS=true

Pennisi, Elizabeth. (2010, Dec.8). Author of Controversial Arsenic Paper Speaks. ScienceInsider

.https://web.archive.org/web/20101212234229/http://news.sciencemag.org/scien

ceinsider/2010/12/author-of-controversial-arsenic-.html

Redfield, Rosie. (2010 Dec 4). Arsenic-associated bacteria (NASA's claims). RRResearch.

http://rrresearch.fieldofscience.com/2010/12/arsenic-associated-bacteria-nasas.html

Ryan, Jackson. (2023, Feb 5). A Scientific Investigation of 'The Last of Us' Fungal Pandemic. CNET. 

https://www.cnet.com/science/biology/features/a-scientific-investigation-of-the-last-of-us-fungal-pandemic/

Wolfe-Simon, F., Blum, J. S., Kulp, T. R., Gordon, G. W., Hoeft, S. E., Pett-Ridge, J., Stolz, J. F., Webb, S. M., Weber, P. K., Davies, P. C. W., Anbar, A. D., & Oremland, R. S. (2011). A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus. Science, 332(6034), 1163–1166. https://doi.org.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/10.1126/science.1197258

In this episode, we talk about the terrible price of textbooks and how to avoid them, including Open Educational Resources. Sharing their experience with Open Educational Resources, you’ll hear from three special guests, Gurleen Kaur, UASU Vice President Academic, and Sarah Shaughnessy and Patti Sherbaniuk, UofA Librarians.

Links from the episode:

Open Educational Resources at the University of Alberta Library:

https://www.library.ualberta.ca/open-educational-resources

Be Book Smart:

https://www.su.ualberta.ca/services/bebooksmart/instructors/

Course Materials at the University of Alberta Library:

https://www.library.ualberta.ca/course-materials/reserve-course-materials

Hanson, Melanie. “Average Cost of College Textbooks” EducationData.org, July 15, 2022,

https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college-textbooks

Brown, Mark. (2017). What Canadian university students can expect to pay for books. Macleans. Retrieved from:

https://www.macleans.ca/education/most-expensive-books/

As the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, this episode covers some general library tips, including the key to using Google scholar and the best toilets on campus at the University of Alberta. We also cover what primary and secondary sources in the Sciences look like.

Links from the episode:

Booking library study spaces: https://library.ualberta.ca/services/book-study-spaces

More info on primary and secondary sources in the Sciences: https://guides.library.vcu.edu/science-primary-sources

Fun Fact article: Wiltschko, R., Wiltschko, W. The discovery of the use of magnetic navigational information. J Comp Physiol A 208, 9–18 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-021-01507-0

Quote from Wikipedia pulled from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_source

In this episode, we review some of our favorite databases in the Sciences and Business with a playful, "romantic" twist. What database sounds most datable to you?

In this episode we celebrate Black History Month. We discuss some of the library’s unfortunate history with anti-Black racism, talk about a few brilliant Black scientists and inventors, and finish it off with a reading from one of our favourite Sci-Fi authors (tune in to find out who).

Resources used or noted during the episode:

Beckman, M., & Dahms, M., & Bruce, L. (2015). Libraries. In The Canadian Encyclopedia.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/libraries

BCALA. (2022). About BCALA. https://www.bcala.org/about-bcala

Bintrim, L. (n.d).Colored Reading Society.

https://africanamericanlibraryhistory.wordpress.com/readingroomsociety/

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusivity: Library Resources, Black Studies:

https://guides.library.ualberta.ca/edi/black-studies

Gooding-Call, A. (2021, March). A history of racism in American public libraries.

https://bookriot.com/racism-in-american-public-libraries/

Jemisin, N.K. (2015). The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth: Book One). Orbit.

Li, Y. (2021). Racial Pay Gap: An Analysis of CARL Libraries. College & Research Libraries, 82(3),436–454.https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1046&context=lib_pub

Maurice Wheeler, Debbie Johnson-Houston, & Billie E. Walker. (2004). A Brief History of Library Service to African Americans. American Libraries, 35(2), 42–45.

https://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.25649066&site=eds-live&scope=site

Pankey, T. (2020, Dec.). Culturally-responsive mentorship in STEMM (the extra M is for medicine).

https://medium.com/stem-and-culture-chronicle/culturally-responsive-mentorship-in-stemm-the-extra-m-is-for-medicine-9e0db9630a38

Pankey, T. L., Heredia, D., Vencill, J. A., & Gonzalez, C. A. (2021). Gender-Affirming Telepsychology During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations for Adult Transgender and Gender Diverse Populations. J Health Serv Psychol, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42843-021-00048-z

University of Toronto. (2022). The New Normal.

https://www.utoronto.ca/news/tags/covid-19-new-normal?page=2

See full list here: https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/librarylabnotes/season-one

In this episode, three library staff members are interviewed about their work, demystifying some of what happens behind the scenes when you work in an academic library;*hint* it's not all shelving books.

Our website: https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/librarylabnotes/home

Mentioned in the episode:

In this episode, we cover all things scary in honor of the spooky season: October. We review some citation basics to keep in mind when stressing about writing papers, interview guests around a fascinating and macabre library item, share more spooky books, and tell a ghost story from the stacks of a *certain* Library at the University of Alberta.

Spooky books mentioned in episode:

Welcome back to campus with the *new* Cameron Library podcast. In this episode, you will meet the folx behind the creation of this podcast, and hear our hosts talk about their thoughts and perspectives around the new academic year and the past 18 months. They also share information about what to expect for those coming on campus *physically* to the library.

Podcast website

Library reopening plan