In a new series on the MHL blog, I’m going to be putting together a semi-regular series on other collections and tools that you might find useful. If you think there’s something I missed — something that should have a home on our “Tools for Digital Research” page, maybe? — please let me know! The email is medicalheritage (one word) at gmail dot com.
This week, I want to point out the Embryo Project Encyclopedia. I discovered this great project link-surfing for something completely different — serendipity is a wonderful thing. The Encyclopedia is a project of Arizona State University, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Max Planck Institute among others. The aim of the project is to “identify and understand the agents of change shaping embryo research and its multiple contexts.” Project staff provide a transparent, informative look at how the history of the Encyclopedia as a project; the discussion of how articles are put together may be of particular interest to researchers.
The Encyclopedia is easy to use as a source, offering simple and advanced search options with rich cross-references and links in individual articles. The site offers current information and historical overviews, making it a great resource for those who need quick references to embryology topics or are looking for an in-depth introduction.
The MHL also offers resources on embryology (with subdivisions on “human embryology,” and “embryonic structures,” and “embryonic and fetal development.”) The Encyclopedia would make a great reference resource to have open while using our titles.
As always, for more from the Medical Heritage Library, please visit our full collection!