Accessing Technical Science

The two key elements of Scripture Based Scientific Research are consistent, powerful Scripture Study and real, scholarly continuing education. Whether we reach out into higher learning through the university system, or approach the vigor of true scholarship on our own, we can all begin now to add to our knowledge and understanding of the glory of God.

Our society has become very specialized. Even within a single field there are multiple specializations which are so technical that even scholars and professionals in the same field struggle to understand the technical literature of their peers with a different specialization. My field of specialty is engineering. I got a masters degree in civil engineering from a highly accredited university. I chose a profession in structural engineering which is one of many specializations in civil engineering. Yet, even as an engineer, reading technical literature in electrical engineering or chemical engineering is like reading a foreign language. The same is true in all fields. Whether biology or chemistry, physics or medicine, each field has become so specialized that reading the technical literature in another field is very difficult. Yet, at the same time, multidisciplinary studies are becoming very important in every field as scholars and professionals are seeing how interconnected everything on this planet really is and the power that diverse professional viewpoints can bring in truly understanding observations, behaviors and problems. Thus, in our ever increasing specializations there is also a greater need for being able to access technical literature in more diverse subjects.

As I have sought to understand and master diverse technical fields I have found that a few basic tools make all the difference. One such tool is a good dictionary or glossary. We are not talking about a simple Webster's Dictionary, however, though having one of those around is always a good idea, too. We are talking about a professional dictionary with highly technical terms explained in plain english you and I can understand. Another important tool is a database of good peer-reviewed archival journals designed to help you find the group of professional publications most relevant to your topic of study. Even more basic is a list of good textbooks to get started in a new field. Generally, the goal is to build bridges between lay reading and highly technical literature with a series of tools that can help us take the basic steps from a high school understanding of a new subject through a college level understanding to real, scholarly journals. Herein can we hope to truly access technical science. And herein is our mission: to produce web tools to help students and persons of diverse backgrounds truly access technical literature in new fields.