One of IFIS'
most ambitious developments to date is the launch, in October
2001, of a new web site called Food Science CentralTM.
Designed for the food science, food technology &
food-nutrition community, the site will be a platform for an
exciting mix of new scientific information products &
services. Registration will be simple and free with
unrestricted access to many resources, including information,
training, and demonstrations on the FSTA database.
FSTA direct from IFIS for the first time
The foundation
of Food Science Central will be a web implementation of the
complete Food Science and Technology Abstracts (FSTA)
database, provided directly from IFIS for the first time. This
implementation will deliver new features and services,
including a powerful, easy-to-use search interface; links from
FSTA records to the online scientific literature and to a
document delivery service; an online thesaurus and dictionary;
and weekly alerting services notifying users of the
latest additions to FSTA.
The alerting
services are a new development for IFIS Publishing and for the
first time customers will be able to sign up to weekly alerts
based on their custom search requirements or to notifications
of papers selected for FSTA from the journals we scan every
month. These services are being made available to
non-subscribers to FSTA as well as being an option for
subscribers to FSTA direct from IFIS Publishing. Food Science
Central will also be an important independent resource for
information on what is happening in food science and
technology. Registered users will have free access to a new
web journal, FoodInfo Online, an informative and
frequently updated online magazine publishing reports and
articles of interest to specialists and non-specialists alike.
As well as more general feature articles, there will be a
daily report on key scientific papers spotted by IFIS'
specialist staff in the process of compiling the FSTA
database. These FSTA Reports
will describe the background and implications of published
research in addition to linking to the FSTA record that
describes the scientific results. Food Science
Central will host a newsfeed dedicated to food science - the
feed will provide headline links to articles of interest on
source Websites. Discussion groups will also be provided
allowing scientists to exchange views or seek opinions on
issues of topical importance, providing access to a network of
focused advice and expertise for users to contribute to and to
draw from. Related to this will be the hosting of and linking
to important resources (position papers, scientific reports,
bulletins) for the food sciences community. Registered users
will also be able to sign up for a free alerting service based
on scientific papers selected for FSTA from key journals.
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Food Science Central will host a
newsfeed dedicated to food science - the feed will provide
headline links to articles of interest on source Websites.
Discussion groups will also be provided allowing scientists to
exchange views or seek opinions on issues of topical
importance, providing access to a network of focused advice
and expertise for users to contribute to and to draw from.
Related to this will be the hosting of and linking to
important resources (position papers, scientific reports,
bulletins) for the food sciences community. Registered users
will also be able to sign up for a free alerting service based
on scientific papers selected for FSTA from key
journals.
Links to a database of over 2,200
Websites
IFIS staff will also be involved in
compiling frequent WebWatch articles highlighting web sites of
relevance and interest to the food science community. This
will be intimately linked to Internet Resources section of
Food Science Central - a database of over 2,200 Websites. This
is an editorially maintained database (sites are assessed for
quality and relevance) and registered users will have full
browsing and searching access to the resource.
Progress in food science is also
reported in areas other than the primary scientific
literature. FSTA harvests a wide range of data, including
details of patents, standards, legislation, conference
proceedings, theses, books and reviews. Food Science Central
will host some freely accessible datafeeds from the FSTA
database showing the range of sources we cover and also
enabling the registered user to keep up to date in what is new
in these areas.
New online review
journal
Food Science
Central will also host a new online review journal from IFIS
Publishing, the FSTA Bulletin
. Starting in 2002 this new journal will publish
concise reviews surveying developments in key areas of food
science and technology, including functional foods, new
technology, and food safety. The online format allows readers
to follow reference citations to corresponding records in the
FSTA database and from there to the online version of the
source article or direct to a document delivery service to
order the selected article for delivery direct to the
customer’s desktop. Customers will be able to purchase review
articles either singly or on an annual subscription
basis.
Prices for the different options
available in Food Science Central will be announced later this
year. For further information on Food Science Central or on
FSTA and related services direct from IFIS Publishing please
contact: Polly Catchpole, Head of Marketing and Sales,
International Food Information Service, Lane End House,
Shinfield Road, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9BB, UK. Telephone +44
(0)118 988 3895; Fax +44 (0)118 988 5065; Email p.catchpole@ifis.org.
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