2) Software Used
What is Endnote 4.0?
What kind of search engine is used on the web page?
3) About the author
Are you a creationist or atheist?
What is your educational background?
Why did you build the database?
Aren't you concerned about helping "the other side?"
1) Questions about the database
How was the database compiled?
The database was compiled using a wide variety of sources. The sources include direct entering of references and searching online library catalogues from around the world. Many generous people have also contributed including Glenn Morton and Chris Stass en.
Materials included are books, periodicals, and videos.. However, I do not include everything. I usually do not include letters to the editor, articles about the internal business of organizations, nor anything I might call "fluff." If I regularly inclu ded these materials, the database would be several times its present size. If such material are included, there is usually something unusual or interesting about them.
How is the database keyworded?
I entered all the keywords present in the database. As such, they are somewhat limited and the occasional misspelled word exists.
What is Endnote 4.0?
Endnote is a bibliography database program made by Researchsoft. It's an excellent tool for writing scientific papers and very good for managing CERD.
What kind of search engine is used on the web page?
The current search engine is a very simple program written in PERL by myself. It's a bit clumsy, but it works fine for this application. Anyone interested in the source code may request a copy.
Are you a creationist or atheist?
Neither. Accepting evolution does not make one an atheist. However, I am not an anti-evolution creationist.
What is your educational background?
I have a BS (1990) and a MS (1992) in geological sciences from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio and a PhD from the University of Arizona (1999).
Why did you build the database?
Because I had trouble remembering all the references cited on talk.origins. Once I started, the thing almost had a life of its own.
Aren't you concerned about helping "the other side?"
No. I can't control how people use the information they find by using the database but I hope that people on both sides will read publications by both sides (and not just the publications that are recommeneded by one side or the other). The goal, then, is not to help a side, but actually allow people to inform themselves about this issue - a starting point for research.