Science dictionaries, encyclopaedias
and data sources

These dictionaries, encyclopaedias, data sources and conversion tables cover all areas of science. There are many more data sources and dictionaries for specific subjects in the relevant subject guides.

Encyclopaedias and dictionaries

Encyclopaedias with long articles surveying topics include:

• McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of science and technology. 9th ed. 20 vols. and supplements. McGraw-Hill, 2002. Reference collection 503 M14.8. - the main general science encyclopaedia.
• Encyclopedia of physical science and technology. 15 vols. Academic Press, 1987. Reference collection 503 M613e
• The encyclopedia of science, technology, and society. 3 vols. Fitzroy Dearborn, 1999. Reference collection 503 V937e
• Encyclopedia of human biology. 2nd ed. 9 vols. Academic Press, 1997. Reference collection 612.003 D879e.2
• Magill's survey of science: life science series. 16 vols. Salem Press, 1991 Reference collection 574 M194s
• Encyclopedia of molecular biology and molecular medicine. Ed. R.A. Meyers. 6 vols. VCH Publishers, c1996-1997. Reference collection 611.01816 M613e
• Encyclopedia of environmental biology. 3 vols. Academic Press, 1995. Reference collection 574.503 N675e
• Encyclopedia of environmental science and engineering. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, 1998. Reference collection 628.03 P523e
• Encyclopedia of earth sciences series. R.W. Fairbridge. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1966-. Reference collection 550.3 E56
• Magill's survey of science: earth science series. Salem Press, 1990. Reference collection 550 M194m.
• Encyclopedia of astronomy and astrophysics. Macmillan Reference, 2000. Reference collection 520.3 M974e.
• Encyclopedia of applied physics. VCH, 1991-1998. Reference collection 530.3 T828e
• Macmillan encyclopedia of chemistry. Macmillan Reference, 1997. Reference collection 540.3 L177m
• Encyclopaedias and dictionaries concentrating on specific areas of science are listed in individual science guides or search the Library catalogue for subject headings such as: Environmental sciences - Encyclopedias.

Useful for the meaning of scientific terms and abbreviations and quotations are:

• Online dictionaries and glossaries - subject and language dictionaries in science.
• Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology - can be searched by term or browsed by subject category.
• Scientific and technical acronyms, symbols and abbreviations, Wiley
• McGraw-Hill dictionary of scientific and technical terms. 6th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2003. Reference collection 503 M139.6
• Scientifically speaking : a dictionary of quotations. Institute of Physics Pub., c2000. Reference collection 503 G144s
• To find other science dictionaries, search the Library catalogue under subject headings such as: Botany - Dictionaries; Fungi - Dictionaries

For the translation of scientific terms:

• Russian-English translators dictionary: a guide to scientific and technical usage. Plenum Press, 1967. Main collection 503 T882 and 3rd ed, 1991 in Waite Reference collection 503 Z72
• Russian-English dictionary of scientific and technical usage. Pergamon Press, 1986. Reference collection 503 K97r
• Dictionary of science and technology: English-French and French-English. 2 vols. Elsevier, 1979/80. Reference collection 503 D696d
• The compact dictionary of exact science and technology English-German and German-English. 2 vols. Brandstetter, 1980/82. Main collection 503.31 K95c
• Japanese/English - English/Japanese glossary of scientific and technical terms. Wiley, 1993. Reference collection 503 T926j

Data handbooks and conversion tables

See subject guides for data sources in particular subjects. For those that cover science more generally, see:

• Chemical data collections and Physics handbooks, data and tables - these lists include some comprehensive science sources such as Landolt-Börnstein.
• Constants and Equations page- has values, symbols and brief descriptions of each.
• How many? A dictionary of units of measurement, Russ Rowlett - has common, esoteric, current and historical units.
• Handbooks and tables in science and technology. Ed. R.H. Powell. 3rd ed. Oryx Press, 1994. Main collection 502.12 P885h.3 - an annotated list of published handbooks.
• Handbook of mathematical functions with formulas, graphs and mathematical tables. National Bureau of Standards, 1972. Reference collection 518.2 A161

Conversion factors are in many quick reference handbooks in chemistry and physics and in:

• Guide for the use of the International System of Units, NIST Special publication SP811; section B.8
• Links to on-line unit conversions through NIST
• SI Units conversion table, TechExpo
• Conversion factors
• Conversions, Constants and Equations page