Literature Search Strategies for Interdisciplinary Research: A Sourcebook For Scientists and Engineers

A timely, informative introduction to the process of doing research across disciplines. Very few current guides to interdisciplinary research of any kind are available, much less in science and engineering….This work is a fine selection for any research library, but is particularly fitting for science and engineering collections.

Ackerson (library science, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) edits this guide designed to help scientists and engineers plan a successful strategy for the often harrowing task of interdisciplinary research. Each chapter tackles a specific discipline in physical science, mathematics, life science, applied science, and social science, informing the reader how the majority of literature in that discipline is arranged and how to access the best publications, both print and electronic, for interdisciplinary interests. Chapters also provide a brief history of each subject and an overview of the unique characteristics of its literature and research. Specifically, the ten chapters cover the following disciplines: paleontology, crystallography, quaternary research, human factors engineering, nanotechnology, atmospheric chemistry, bioethics, computational biology, engineering entrepreneurship, and machine learning.

This small, readable volume would be very useful to library staff working in the disciplines discussed….This is an interesting book and a most useful guide, recommended for the collection of any library providing information services in these interdisciplinary fields, as well as to individuals working in these research disciplines.