Nature Education Introduces Mobile Version of the Open-Access Science Library Scitable

The mobile version of the open-access science library Scitable has been launched by Nature Education, the educational wing of global science publisher Nature Publishing Group.

Users on a broad range of mobile devices, including the iPad, Android (News - Alert), BlackBerry and basic feature phones, can easily access Scitable’s free library of scientist-authored overviews of key concepts in the life sciences.

“Our mission is to democratize access to science education,” said Vikram Savkar, SVP & Publishing Director at Nature Publishing Group. “Through our website, we’ve grown to reach more than 500,000 life science students in 165 countries. However, we’ve been working to find a way to put our high quality content library in the hands of the millions of students throughout the developing world who don’t have consistent access to personal computers or broadband. With the launch of our mobile site, any student with a cell phone, even a very basic device, has access to a simplified version of the site that includes a wealth of quality, citable information. At the same time, students in the U.S. and similar countries who have feature-rich smartphones or iPads will have access to a more robust version of Scitable, with full video/audio capabilities, built-in glossary, and in some cases full ability to network with thousands of researchers and fellow students.”

In the year 2009, Scitable was launched. It combines a library of science education resources in the life sciences with classroom management tools and a collaborative community of scientists, instructors, and students.

In education related news, InnerPass, a well-known, premium Skype (News - Alert) application used by businesses for online web meetings and collaboration, has recently focused on education; enabling education organizations and schools in order to deliver Distance Learning with greater ease for students and teachers.