Choosing research topics? Stumped by unfamiliar jargon?
Use dictionaries & encyclopedias
for background information.
Magill's Survey of Science. Physical Science Series
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed.
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, 10th ed.
Dictionary of Physics
Encyclopedia of Applied Physics
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 5th ed.
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics
The Penguin Dictionary of Physics, 3rd ed.Use LibrarySerarch for UMaine items (encyclop* OR dictionar*) AND more specific topic
Example: LibrarySearch for Fogler Library encyclopedias or dictionaries about biophysics
to find items like
Dekker Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 3rd ed.
Encyclopedia of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry
Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Science
