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First-Year Seminar: Discovering Research: Home

Welcome!

Welcome to the UI Libraries!

Our names are Cathy Cranston and Jenay Dougherty. We are both librarians at the UI Libraries. Cathy and Jenay are Undergraduate Engagement Librarians at the Main Library. We're happy to answer any and all questions you have about research and the Libraries. Our emails and contact information are on this guide. 

Laurie Neuerburg is a Science Librarian and she'd be happy to help with any questions you have about resources for your Science research assignments. 

Cranston, Cathy

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Cathy Cranston
she/her/hers
Contact:
2013 Main Library
319-384-2090

Jenay Dougherty

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Jenay Dougherty
she, her, hers
Contact:
2013 Main Library
319-467-0385

Contact a Sciences Librarian.

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Laurie Neuerburg
she, her, hers
Contact:
Office: 450 VAN
Phone: 319-467-0216
Website

Today's Session

Today's agenda
  1. Welcome and brief orientation to The SEAM and the UI Libraries
  2. Discuss the process of scientific research
  3. Comparing academic articles to popular non-academic science articles
  4. How to read a scientific article
  5. Learn how to fact-check articles and media sources for credibility
  6. Group research time using UI Library resources and tools
  7. Answer any questions and how to find help

InfoHawk+

Infohawk+ Logo

What can InfoHawk+ help me find?

InfoHawk+ searches our physical materials (books, DVDs, etc.). It's the tool you need to use to find a book on the shelf, or an e-book online. Books are only part of what it can find.

It will also search a wide range of electronic resources, including Iowa Research Online, selected major databases in a diverse set of academic disciplines, and items unique to the UI Libraries like those in our Iowa Digital Collections.

InfoHawk+ Tutorials

Your friendly University of Iowa Librarians created these tutorials to help you learn how to use InfoHawk+ like a pro. If you have any questions, please ask a librarian.

Library Databases

Other relevant resources

Help & Assistance

HELP AND ASSISTANCE

                            LIVE CHAT with a Librarian. 

Go to: lib.uiowa.edu/contact/chat/ and ask a question!

                            ONE-ON-ONE research consultations with a librarian!

Go to lib.uiowa.edu/research/consultations/

                            NEED HELP AFTER business hours?

The SEAM can help! 

The SEAM is a specialized resource designed for undergraduates to get research help and assistance. We're open Sunday - Thursday, 5PM-9PM. 

Go to lib.uiowa.edu/seam/ to schedule an appointment online.

Group Activity

Trace a Popular Article Back to the Original Research

Scan the popular news article with your group. Consider the following:

  • Are there links or references to a study that was done?
  • What are some main concepts or terms that stand out? 
  • Create a list of these concepts or terms that you can use to conduct research on similar studies through the UI Library resources.

Find the original research article. Using the worksheet, conduct the following:

  • Find the authors and title of the article and journal it comes from.
  • Read the abstract and discover the main purpose of the study. 
  • Are there any figures, graphs, or tables? What do you think the value of these are?

Group 1

Help Your Dog Adapt to a Post-Pandemic World

Group 2

Cancer Is One Worry Elephants Can Feel Free to Forget

Group 3

Will it be safe for humans to fly to Mars?

Group 4

Is something burping methane on Saturn’s ocean moon?

Group 5

Listening to Nature Gives You a Real Rocky Mountain High