Brill Trivia Question of the Month

March - Vegetation Geography, or Whowas A.W. Küchler

2010-03-08T05:59:00.000-08:00

If you're bored over spring break, or need a break from studying afterward, give these questions a try! You may just win a $10 gift certificate to somewhere like the bookstore or Koffenya.

A.W. Küchler is the author of several materials in the Brill Science Library collections. He was a geographer who studied how and why plants, or groups of them, grow in particular places. This includes the effects of climate (temperature, rainfall, and sunlight), soil chemistry, and geographic location, on plants. It also looks at communities of plants and where they appear. This area of study is commonly called vegetation geography.

1. This book is regarded as a major work on the subject of vegetation mapping. Find this book in the catalog (title is: Vegetation Mapping, call number is: QK911 .H3 pt.10). Give the second subject heading listed for it. (Hint: it is based on Greek words.)

2. Use the main word of the subject heading (leave off the ‘Maps’) to find another book on this subject in the library collection. What is the title of the book?

3. In addition to a major book on this topic, A.W. Küchler also created several vegetation maps showing various areas. Find a listing for a map by him in the library collection. OR Find a map created by a different author.

Get your answer in by the end of March to qualify. You can submit your answers to mulibrarytrivia@gmail.com, or in person at the Brill Science Library. The winner will be chosen randomly from all correct submissions.

February Question

2010-02-11T18:39:00.000-08:00

We are beginning to get very excited for construction to begin at Laws Hall. The old occupants have moved out and we can't wait to see who moves in!
Give these questions a try:

1. What is Samuel Spahr Laws famous for inventing?
2. What do Samuel Laws and Thomas Edison have to do with each other?
3. In 2010 construction is beginning for Laws Hall, what is going into the building in 2011?

Get your correct answer in by February 28th for your chance to win a $10 gift certificate to one of several local Oxford vendors. You can submit your answer by email to mulibrarytrivia@gmail.com or come into the library and check out our display and submit your answer at the circulation desk.

January's Question

2010-01-11T11:20:00.000-08:00

Welcome back! We hope you had a good break, we sure did.

Give these questions a try...

Each of these figures picture three interconnected rings (topological circles). The rings are inseparable -- none of the rings can be removed from the figure, except by breaking one of the rings. However, once any one of the rings is broken and removed, the remaining two are disjoined from each other as well.

1. What is this figure commonly called?
2. What Medieval Italian family used the symbol in their family crest?
3. This symbol has been used historically in the symbology of multiple religions. Name one example of its use as a religious symbol. -- OR -- The symbol has been used to describe a quantum mechanics problem/theorem. What is the problem? (Hint: a paper on this was released in the journal Science in December 2009, and got some mention in popular press.)

Answer these questions and submit your answers in person at the circulation desk, or by email to mulibrarytrivia@gmail.com.

Good luck!

Take a break, try December's questions!

2009-12-08T06:14:00.001-08:00

Do you need a break from studying??? Give these questions a try!

1. What are these pictures of? Who coined the term?
2. Find a picture of these occurring naturally.
3. Find a book that we own on the topic. What is the call number and who is the publisher?

Get your correct answers for a chance to win a $10 gift card to one of several vendors in Oxford (your choice). You can submit your entry by email to mulibrarytrivia@gmail.com or in person at the Brill Science Library. Make sure it's in by December 31st.

Thanks to Flickr users docman and davidamadore for the pictures used int his post.

November's Question of the Month

2009-11-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for it? Well here it is!

What is the "rule of three" in awarding the Nobel Prize?
What are the three kinds of RNA (riboncleic acid) involved in the biochemical process of translation?
Provide a citation for a research paper about ribosomes which was:

written by a Miami faculty member
OR written by the 2009 Chemistry Nobel Laureate who earned his PhD in Ohio

Make sure you get your answers in by November 30th to be eligible for the $10 gift certificate to anywhere in Oxford (your choice)! To submit your answers, come on in to the Brill Science Library or fill in the form here and submit your responses to mulibrarytrivia@gmail.com.

October Question of the Month

2009-10-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

September was a busy month... so we skipped it! Sorry to all who were looking forward to the question. Here is Octobers question.
1. What kind of chemical compounds are derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as methanol?

2. What kind of fuel can Lipid Transesterification be used to produce?
3. Can you find an article that relates to the topic of question #2 and the EPA? Use one of the science literature databases (like IEEE Explore, Web of Science, or Compendex) to find an article and write down the name of the database & article citation as your answer.
Good luck!

Summer Questions

2009-06-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

These questions require you to view the display case at the Science Library.

1. Three of the specimens in the display are NOT insects - which three (give either a common or a taxonomic name)? (Hint - two of the non-insects are the same species).

2. One of the critters in the display is known as a "tarantula hawk". One species of tarantula hawk is the State insect of New Mexico. Give the genus-species name of this predatory insect, and also indicate what taxonomic order it belongs to.

3. The iridescence of the wings of the Morpho butterflies in the upper right of the case is due not to pigments, but to what fine structures in the wings?

4. One of these insects is sometimes considered to be an Orthopteran (the grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts), but is considered by some as its own order, Phasmatodea. Give a common name for this insect.

You only need to answer 3 of the 4 questions this summer. Get your answer in by the end of the day on August 31st, 2009.

Here is the submission form.

Good luck!

April Question

2009-04-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

1. What is the relationship between lunar distance and Greenwich time? What kind of person would care about such a thing, and why did almanacs play a vital role for such a person?

2. What is mean solar time? and how is longitude calculated from it?

3. Cite an article with the use of a literature database about measuring lunar distance, and identify what database you used to obtain the citation.

Make sure you get your answers in by the end of the day on April 30th, 2009.

Here is the answer submission form.

Good luck!

March Question

2009-03-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

1. Which of the following is most likely to use “genetic algorithms” in their work?

A) a molecular biologist
B) a computer programmer
C) a genetic counselor
D) a rhythmic gymnast

2. What do genetic algorithms have to do with biological evolution? (In 50 words or less, please)

3. Cite a journal article written by a Miami faculty member which mentions or is about “genetic algorithms.”

Make sure you get your answers in by the end of the day on March 31st, 2009.

Here is the answer submission form.

Update: Congratulations to John Lowrey for correctly answering the questions and winning the draw!

February's question

2009-02-03T06:31:00.000-08:00

1. What is the common name for this molecule?

2. Find an MSDS for this molecule online and please provide us with the URL. You can find MSDS resources on the Research by Subject page for Chemistry.

3. Find a journal article that studies the toxicology of this molecule. To answer this question, please tell us which database you used, and the article you found.

Make sure you get your answers in by the end of the day on February 28th.

Here is the answer submission form.

Have fun!

Update: Congratulations to Aaron Nash for winning the draw! Thanks to all who participated.

January's question

2009-01-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

1. What does a horologist measure and why does oscillation matter to one?

2. What mineral is used to measure vibrations within horological devices, and why? How and why are 'jewels' used in horological processes? Can you use too many 'jewels'?

3. Use an engineering database to find a journal article on oscillation and 'jewels' or minerals. Access the engineering databases by going to the library homepage, clicking on 'Research by Subject', then 'Engineering'. To answer this question, please tell us which database you used, and the article you found.

Make sure you get your answers in by the end of the day on the 31st!

Here is the answer submission form.

Good luck!

Update: Congratulations to Chris Feran for being the lucky winner!

The rules!

2009-01-06T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

We welcome all students from Miami to participate! If you have some free time, we're sure you need a break from school work, give our trivia questions a try. There will be a winner chosen at random from correct submissions. The winner will receive a nice gift certificate from a local Oxford vendor.

We have a display in the library too! If you want some hints come on by and check it out.

Here's what you need to do:

Answer the questions using the answer submission form provided.
Submit your correct answers by email to mulibrarytrivia@gmail.com or by submitting a paper copy to the Brill Library circulation desk by the last day of the month.
Wait to see if you are the lucky winner! Winners will be notified by email within a week of the end of the month.