Kids Get Science Project Ideas from NAL

Elementary to high school students who need science project ideas in a hurry now have on-line access to a list of 140 publications chock full of project ideas, most related to the agricultural sciences.

The bibliography Projects and Experiments for Young Scientists was created by the National Agricultural Library’s (NAL) Technology Transfer Information Center (TTIC). The project is part of an effort by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), NAL’s parent agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to interest young people in science and scientific research. NAL staff will use the bibliography to respond to students who contact the library for ideas on science projects and research.

Literally hundreds of science project ideas are listed in the publications, on subjects ranging from Christmas tree farming to Samoan fruits and vegetables, according to TTIC Coordinator Kate Hayes. Every child should be able to find at least one experiment or project that catches the imagination. Many of the titles listed should be available at local public libraries and school libraries.

The bibliography is available on the NAL home page at:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/ttic/misc/juvag.htm

Copies are also available by contacting the Technology Transfer Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 10301 Baltimore Avenue, 4th floor, Beltsville, MD 20705-235, telephone (301) 504-5372, [email protected].

TTIC compiled the bibliography from a search of the NAL bibliographic database AGRICOLA (AGRICultural OnLine Access), which contains over 3.5 million citations to the literature of agriculture. TTIC staffer Mary Stevanus produced the bibliography.

ARS has also created a Web site, called Science for Kids, that highlights the agency’s research in simple language geared for students ages 8 to 13. Science for Kids can be found at:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids

NAL is the largest agricultural library in the world and has been serving the agricultural community since 1862. It is one of four national libraries of the United States.

Contact: Kate Hayes, Technology Transfer Information Center, ARS National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Md., phone (301) 504-6875, fax (301) 504-7098, [email protected].