Biological and Environmental Research (BER) Abstracts Database
From the webpage:
Since 1995, OSTI has provided assistance and support to the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) by developing and maintaining a database of BER research project information. Called the BER Abstracts Database (http://www.osti.gov/oberabstracts/index.jsp), it contains summaries of research projects supported by the program. Made up of two divisions, Biological Systems Science Division and Climate and Environmental Sciences Division, BER is responsible for world-class biological and environmental research programs and scientific user facilities. BER’s research program is closely aligned with DOE’s mission goals and focuses on two main areas: the Nation’s Energy Security (developing cost-effective cellulosic biofuels) and the Nation’s Environmental Future (improving the ability to understand, predict, and mitigate the impacts of energy production and use on climate change).
The BER Abstracts Database is publicly available to scientists, researchers, and interested citizens. Each BER research project is represented in the database, including both current/active projects and historical projects dating back to 1995. The information available on each research project includes: project title, abstract, principal investigator, research institution, research area, project term, and funding. Users may conduct basic or advanced searches, and various sorting and downloading options are available.
The BER Abstracts Database serves as a tool for BER program managers and a valuable resource for the public. The database also meets the Department’s strategic goals to disseminate research information and results. Over the past 16 years, over 6,000 project records have been created for the database, offering a fascinating look into the BER research program and how it has evolved. BER played a major role in the development of genomics-based systems biology and in the biotechnology revolution occurring over this period, while also supporting ground-breaking research on the impacts of energy production and use on the environment. The BER Abstracts Database, made available through the collaborative partnership between BER and OSTI, highlights these scientific advancements and maximizes the public value of BER’s research.
Particularly if this is an area of interest for you, take some time to become familiar with the interface.
- What do you think about the basic vs. advanced search?
- Does the advanced search offer any substantial advantages or do you have to start off with more complete information?
- What advantages (if any) does the use of abstracts offer over full text searching?