Life Sciences

The sciences of life and of living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution. Biology and its related sciences.

Sub-headings:

Biochemistry

Chemistry of a specific process or art of living organisms.

Biomedicine

Techniques, procedures, and equipment aspects of biology in medicine.

Biotechnology

Cell Biology

The study of cells of organisms.

Genetics

The study of heredity and variation in organisms.

Marine Biology

The study of organisms in marine and fresh-water environments.

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms (microbes).

Molecular Biology

The study of the ultimate physiochemical nature of organisms.

Plant Biology (Botany)

The study of plant life.

Zoology

The study of animal life.

Resources in this category:

Academy of Natural Sciences
http://www.acnatsci.org/

"The Academy of Natural Sciences, an international museum of natural history operating since 1812, undertakes research and public education that focus on the environment and its diverse species. Our mission is to expand knowledge of nature through discovery and to inspire stewardship of the environment." The site provides information on the Academy's many educational programs for families and schools, access to the Academy library catalog and descriptions of the Academy's museum exhibits. The site does contain a search engine.

American Dairy Science Association
http://www.adsa.org/

"The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) is an international organization of educators, scientists and industrialists who are committed to advancing the dairy industry...Together, ADSA members have discovered new methods and technologies that have revolutionized the dairy industry." The site includes membership information, a newsletter, meeting announcements, and access to several of the organizations publications. Abstracts to the Journal of Dairy Science are also available.

American Institute of Biological Sciences
http://www.aibs.org/core/index.html

"The goal of AIBS is to further the advancement of the biological sciences and their application to human welfare, and to foster and encourage research and education in the biological, medical, environmental, and agricultural sciences." This site has a list of affiliated biological societies, and also information on publications, organizational structure, programs, and membership.

American Peptide Society
http://www.chem.umn.edu/orgs/ampepsoc/

"The American Peptide Society (APS), a nonprofit scientific and educational organization founded in 1990, provides a forum for advancing and promoting knowledge of the chemistry and biology of peptides." The society publishes the two scholarly publications, Journal of Peptide Research and Biopolymers (Peptide Science).

This site provides information about membership, employment classified advertisements, information about upcoming meetings, and a list of useful links.

American Quaternary Association
http://www.amqua.org/

The American Quaternary Association (AMQUA) is a professional organization of scientists studying the Quaternary Period, about the last 2 million years of Earth history. This organization brings together scholarship on many areas of science.

American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology
http://asgsb.indstate.edu/

This is an official home page of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology. This site contains "Research" area of this society, "Education" materials for college and university students, "Pubication" of the society, and other related sites, etc.

The American Society of Parasitologists
http://www-museum.unl.edu/asp/

"The American Society of Parasitologists (ASP) is a diverse group of over 1500 scientists from industry, government, and academia who are interested in the study and teaching of Parasitology. Founded in 1924, ASP members have contributed not only to the development of parasitology as a discipline, but also to primary research in systematics, medicine, molecular biology, immunology, physiology, ecology, and biochemistry." Site includes links to related sites, info on future meetings, a searchable membership directory, links to parasite photos, full text of newsletter issues, career descriptions, and an on-line membership application form.

Association for Biology Laboratory Education
http://www.ableweb.org/

The Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) "was founded in 1979 to promote information exchange among university and college educators actively concerned with teaching biology in a laboratory setting." This site provides general information about the association, membership, and its board of directors. It also provides information about upcoming and past workshops and conferences as well as links to biology related sites.

Association for Politics and the Life Sciences
http://www.aplsnet.org/

"Interdisciplinary association of scholars, scientists, and policymakers concerned with evolutionary, genetic, and ecological knowledge and its bearing on political behavior, public policy and ethics." In addition to information about the society, the website offers bibliographies, course syllabi, and links.

Australian Society for Biophysics
http://www.anatomy.usyd.edu.au/ASB/

"The Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) represents researchers, teachers, and others with an interest in the application of physical and physicochemical methods to the study of biological systems." Site contains information about the society and its meetings.

Biophysical Society
http://www.biophysics.org/

This society provides a forum for professionals to discuss aspects of biophysics through its scholarly journal Biophysics Journal, annual conferences, and society newsletters and newsgroups. "The Society's membership includes biochemists, cell biologists, molecular biologists, neuroscientists, animal and plant physiologists, structural biologists, as well as chemists, engineers, mathematicians, physical chemists and physicists."

This site offers information on membership in the society, career placement information, and a list of undergraduate and graduate institutions that offer programs in biophysics.

Coalition for Education in the Life Sciences
http://www.wisc.edu/cels/

"The Coalition for Education in the Life Sciences ("CELS") is a national coalition of professional societies in the biological sciences. The mission of CELS is to improve undergraduate education in the life sciences by bringing the expertise and resources of the life sciences professional societies to bear upon critical issues relating to life science undergraduate education in the United States."
Their website provides Educational Activities Links, which are selected sites describing activities of life sciences professional societies towards improving undergraduate education. Also, Educational Organizations are listed as "Selected sites that link to professional societies in higher education and science education", "Selected sites on undergraduate biology education initiatives", and "Science curriculum recommendations designed for K-12 students but applicable to undergraduate education." A report prepared by CELS further promotes scholarship and learning in the life sciences. Finally, the site provides a curricular framework for introductory biology courses.

Earthwatch Institute
http://www.earthwatch.org/

Service organization providing opportunities for members of the public to participate in scientific research expeditions studying archaeology, endangered animals, natural resource management, and other topics related to environmental change. Website details the organization's volunteer and educational programs.

Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience
http://undergraduateneuroscience.org/

"The international association for the promotion of neuroscience education and research at the undergraduate level. The site contains information about the mission of the organization, how to join, newsletter and resources."

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
http://www.faseb.org/

"The mission of FASEB is to enhance the ability of biomedical and life scientists to improve, through their research, the health, well-being, and productivity of all people. FASEB is a coalition of independent Member Societies that serve the interests of biomedical and life scientists, particularly those related to public policy issues. FASEB facilitates coalition activities among Member Societies and disseminates information on biological research through scientific conferences and publications. FASEB also offers Member Societies headquarters facilities, and operational and logistic support."

Its Web site offers links to varied information, such as member societies, public affairs, career resources, meetings and conferences, the FASEB Journal, minority access to research careers and employment opportunities at FASEB.

Human Behavior and Evolution Society
http://www.hbes.com/

"Interdisciplinary, international society of researchers, primarily from the social and biological sciences, who use modern evolutionary theory to help to discover human nature - including evolved emotional, cognitive and sexual adaptations." Promotes "the exchange of ideas and research findings using evolutionary theory, including studies of animal behavior, to better understand human nature." Features a articles, abstracts, audio files, conference proceedings and membership information.

Linnean Society of London
http://www.linnean.org/

"The Linnean Society of London, which was founded in 1788, is now the oldest extant scientific society in the world devoted to natural history ...the Society promotes all aspects of biology, but particularly those concerning the diversity and interrelationships of organisms. This involves the examination and collation of a wide range of scientific evidence from such fields as genetics, ecology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and palaeontology and impinges on related disciplines in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, geology, medicine, parasitology and veterinary science where accurate identification is essential to any research." The Linnean Society website provides information concerning some of the Society's grants and awards. A search engine for finding current Society publications and a variety of historical information about the society itself.

National Wildlife Federation
http://www.nwf.org/

Check out the status of wolves and the Everglades from the people whose mission is to "educate, inspire and assist individuals and organizations of diverse cultures to conserve wildlife and other natural resources and to protect the Earth's environment in order to achieve a peaceful, equitable and sustainable future."

Natural Environment Research Council
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/

"NERC is the lead organisation within the UK with responsibility for providing funding and support of research, survey and monitoring in the sciences of the natural environment. To fulfil obligations within its mission, NERC supports an integrated science capability that includes funding to universities, its own Centre/Surveys and provision of a scientific services and facilities infrastructure".

NERC offers in its Web site links to their research sites and the units they support, how NERC works, publications, job opportunities, environmental data and scientific projects.

Teratology Society
http://www.teratology.org/

"The Teratology Society is a multidisciplinary scientific society founded in 1960, the members of which study the causes and biological processes leading to abnormal development and birth defects at the fundamental and clinical level, and appropriate measures for prevention."

This site offers information about membership in this organization, upcoming meetings, a webboard to discuss teratology with colleagues, and a section devoted to students.