Animal Diversity Web (ADW) is an online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology at the University of Michigan. Every day, thousands of classroom students and informal visitors use ADW’s large searchable encyclopedia of the natural history of animals to answer questions. Other sites specialize in local, endangered, or particular kinds of animals. They aim to be as comprehensive as possible. ADW facilitates inquiry-driven learning, that is, teaching about science by leading students to use the methods of science. Their large database is structured, providing consistent information for all species to foster comparisons. Their long-term goal is to create a database rich enough that students can discover for themselves basic concepts in organismal and conservation biology.
Team:
Dr. Phil Myers, PhD
Dr. Tricia Jones, PhD
Roger Espinosa, MS
Dr. Tanya Dewey, PhD
George Hammond, MS
Website: animaldiversity.org