Using SCIENCE.gov As A Resource

 

    Created as a "gateway to U.S. government science information" in 2002, Science.gov offers free access to "research and development results and scientific and technical information from scientific organizations across 13 federal agencies." Science.gov is an important resource for researchers, students, and anyone with an interest in science!

What Is Science.gov?

Science.gov has access to over 60 databases, over 2,200 websites, and over 200 millions pages of federal science information. It also offers education and training opportunities in STEM from the federal government. Science.gov serves anybody with an interest or need in science. The actual website is currently being maintained by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) within the Department of Energy.    

 Science.gov is overseen by the Science.gov Alliance and by CENDI. The Alliance agencies help fund approximately "97% of the federal R&D (research and development) budget." The agencies within the Alliance include:

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Defense
• Department of Education
• Department of Energy
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of the Interior
• Department of Transportation
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Government Publishing Office
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Science Foundation

CENDI is a volunteer membership organization that serves the "U.S. federal scientific and technical information community." Essentially, CENDI helps the organization and supports access to Science.gov. 

Search & Results

To access the federal science information, Science.gov uses a federated search system, which is a system that searches "across multiple disparate content sources that are often below the surface web." Once a search phrase is entered, the top results from all agencies and collections pop up. The intricate algorithm works to bring the top and most relevant results. 

A popular feature from the search system is the "Public Access" tab. This tab filters in "peer-reviewed scholarly publications resulting from federally funded scientific research. It adds extra resources than the regular technical reports and data sets. After inserting your text into the search bar, the "Public Access" tab pops up like pictured below. 

Want to search an international database? Science.gov is the U.S. member of WorldWideScience.org, which is a "global science gateway comprised national and international scientific databases and portals."

STEM Opportunities

Science.gov offers two sites to find federally-sponsored opportunities for students in STEM. They include scholarships, internships, and fellowships. They were made through the White House National Science and Technology Council's Committee on STEM Education and the Science.gov Alliance.

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

• Advanced Technological Education
• Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions 
• Air Force Research Laboratory

Graduate Student Opportunities

• Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
• Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in the Directorate for Biological Sciences
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

OSU Resources

The Edmon Low Library offers access to resources relating to Science.gov through the online catalog. The online articles include:

• Science.gov: FirstGov for Science
• Science.gov: Gateway to Government Science Information

Other Resources

U.S. Federal Science Agencies' Public Access Plans

Read a variety of U.S. Federal Agencies plan to support access to research funded by the Federal government. 

COVID-19 Federal Research

Read federal research regarding COVID-19.