Start with Background Sources
Background sources are meant to help you get a basic understanding of a topic and are often presented in the form of encyclopedias or dictionaries. They will help you:
- gain insight and introductory knowledge on topics you may be unfamiliar with
- identify key terms and vocabulary associated with a topic you’re investigating
- connect you with additional readings/information sources on your topic
Recommended:
Encyclopedia of Applied Plant SciencesPublication Date: 2016Information on plants used by humans as sources of food, raw materials, and amenity purposes, highlighting the role of applied science in agricultural production.
Encyclopedia of BiodiversityPublication Date: 2013Major themes of the work include the evolution of biodiversity, systems for classifying and defining biodiversity, ecological patterns and theories of biodiversity, and an assessment of contemporary patterns and trends in biodiversity.
Climate Change: an Encyclopedia of Science, Society, and SolutionsPublication Date: 2017Researchers will benefit from detailed explanations of scientific topics such as thermal inertia, feedbacks, and tipping points; and receive invaluable context on the role of energy use in climate change, the widespread effects of climate change on agriculture, and debates regarding potential solutions, from wind power and solar power to geo-engineering.
