Social science sites of the week 7th January



Here is the latest update of new and interesting sites of the week


Post Brexit


In the post Brexit transition period we are continuing to update our blog. This includes links to some postings from key twitter accounts on Brexit day

The Uk government department has closed

The EU has set up a new website with information on the task force negotiating the future partnership with the UK

The EU exit archive from the National Archives preserved the legislation on the day the Uk left the EU

Corona virus update

Euromonitor has produced a brief economic analysis of the possible impact on global supply chains

Ministry of Foreign Affairs China English language news and press releases

Our blog has updates with places where you can get free academic journal articles

LGBT History Month


During LGBT history month time to revisit the marvellous free British Library resources.

LGBTQ histories
The British Library website exploring the development of LGBTQ identities and communities in the UK. it has a timeline for students, academic articles, biographies of key individuals and digitised copies of key works . They include this account of the trial of Oscar Wilde from the popular press as well and oral history recordings from activists

American Federation of Labor records now online

Available to researchers from the Library of Congress Website. This collection of original manuscripts covers the period 1883-1925 and includes the correspondence of such key figures as Samuel Gompers. It provides insight into the development of trade unions in the USA, relations with the government, industrial action and more. Special emphasis upon railways and mining. It also includes supporting essays setting the materials in their historical contexts and teacher’s classroom materials

Open Research Library (ORL)
Now formally launched this great website which plans to provide a gateway to free open access books online . It is created by Knowledge Unlatched with input from major academic publishers . Browse by genre or search. users can download annotate and share links . there should also be option for kindle versions.

Other great free ebook sites include:

Directory of Open Access Books
Online books webpage. Excellent index to over 2 million free ebooks which is maintained by Penn University. It includes links to both individual titles and large ebook directories


What is HS2 and will it cost the earth? selected academic resources.


The cost of the HS2 high speed rail link has filled the newspapers recently.
But what are the academic facts?

Get started with this basic BBC primer on the route

Basic information and maps of the route can be found on the UK government website
the site also includes reports, legislation and policy documents
The Lord's Economic committee also called for a rethink in may 2019
A government review is ongoing.
A recent report
Review of High Speed 2 – Dissenting Report by Lord Tony Berkeley concluded that. "HS2 is the wrong and expensive solution to ‘making it faster and easier to travel for work and leisure"

In October 2019 the free market think tank Adam Smith Institute called for a rethink
other opponents setting out the case against on economic and social terms are the HS2 Action Alliance who argue any benefits in terms of jobs will be for London not elsewhere.
Stop HS2 has links to other critiques plus polls of the poll against the scheme

Good summaries on the background to the proposals can be found on the House of Commons website.
High Speed 2: the business case, costs and spending is from June 2019 High Speed 2 (HS2) Phase 2a July 2019 provides general information on the proposed high-speed rail line between London and the North of England (HS2). Specifically the West Midlands and Crewe. It gives a brief overview of the scheme, its costs, compensation arrangements and the Bill which would give statutory and planning authority for the construction of Phase 2a of the scheme

Recent academic articles and discussion on this topic can be found on the Conversation blog
The Engineer also publishes discussion on this topic

Sound of the trenches: music in WW1

New from Europeana, the web portal with online content form Europe's major national libraries- a new online exhibition focusing on the nature and role of music during the first world war. It includes sections on military instruments as well as wartime entertainments. There are audiofile examples, photographs and an essay putting them into context.

George III Military maps online

George III's collection of military maps has been made available online by the Royal Collections. It comprises several thousand maps all with contextual descriptions. They are truly beautiful prints paintings and prints of battles and encampments. The oldest is the Ottoman-Habsurg wars from 1521 Other key conflicts covered include: the American War of Independence (1775–83), and the French and Napoleonic Wars (1792–1815).There is also a chronological guide and introduction to the scales and production of the maps. Really worth exploring

AI Governance Map – Nesta

Over 255 entries mapping worldwide global governance activities relating to artificial intelligence which has been compiled by Nesta. They include national and local bills, legislation and regulations. See more links relating to AI in our free scoop.it page where you can also find a recent article on the possible impact of AI on libraries.

On this theme

Free access to the Data Privacy Dictionary

from Integris. Provides basic definitions of over 60 terms using definitions derived form official sources (American based) including Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the European Commission (EC), the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Sites of the week 29th August 2020

June 1st 2023