Begin Here - Basic Database Searching

Databases to Guide Your Research:

Encyclopedia Britannica

Britannica Science packs

EBSCO's Middle Search

Biological Sciences Review Visit first to register your account
Biological Sciences Review  After creating your account, read your magazines here.

 

Popular Sources - Current Science Topics

Popular magazines and news sources

Browse the resources below for popular magazines.

Citation Generator

Zotero

Zotero is a powerful and user-friendly tool for storing your citation information as well as for citing in Word. If you are using Google Docs, download them into word to start using Zotero for your intext citations and your bibliography.

 

To use Zotero, download:

  1. Download Zotero
  2. Zotero Connector for your browser

Besides Zotero help, this Youtube Intro to Zotero video will get you started.

Google Scholar & Free Websites

Google Scholar

Google Scholar   To explore Google Scholar, click on this link in your Course Guide and keep the page open so that you can see if we own an article that you find on Google Scholar.  

Free Websites to Explore

ACS.org - An Interactive Periodic Table for High School Students

Science Buddies - Grade 9: Energy and Power

ThoughtCo - Examples of Chemical Energy

Using AI in ESS

AI Use Guide:

In this course, we may sometimes use generative AI (GenAI) to support our learning. The AI Use Guide (blue and white graphic below) shows when and how AI may be used, depending on our learning goals. GenAI can create new content, but it may also reflect bias or errors. Always keep your own voice and ideas at the center, and check with your teacher if you’re unsure about using AI for an assignment.

AI Use Guide

When do we cite AI?

Your teacher will guide when and how AI tools may be used - from not at all, to use with attribution. If AI assists your work, you must credit it as you would any source. When in doubt, ask your teacher. Here’s a quick overview of when to cite AI

  • We cite AI when it contributes ideas for your work and you use those ideas in your research (The AI acts as your thought partner).  
  • We cite AI when it contributes content to your work. This is called non-retrievable algorithm-generated content  (when you prompt GenAI & others cannot search for your answer).
  • We do not cite AI when we use it to edit our work unless the revision is significantly different and incoporates ideas from the AI.  The most ethical use of AI for revision is with an editing tool like Grammarly, which supports you without contributing news ideas, altering your tone, or changing your voice.
  • We do not cite AI for common knowledge. E.g., there are 365 days in a year. 
Formatting a GenAI Citation in APA Style - Simulated Example
How to cite GenAI Conversations in APA Style:
Use this format to cite non-retrievable algorithm-generated content  (when you prompt a GenAI app, and you use the answer in your research). 
  • Example of a Reference List Entry: 
OpenAI. (2025, August 5). ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
 
Notes: 
  • Italicize the title of the work: ChatGPT, GPT-4o
  • Include a description in square brackets, not parentheses: [Large language mode]
  • Parentheses around model version (GPT-4o) if part of the title or required for disambiguation (e.g., version numbers in software).
  • Remove the hyperlink in the URL before submitting your work  (the website link should not be active).
 
In-Text Citation (in the body of your paper):

  • Example of a Narrative Entry:

According to OpenAI (2025), ChatGPT can suggest activity ideas tailored to learning goals in almost all subjects. 

  • Example of a Parenthetical Entry:
(OpenAI, 2025)

 

Summary Table

Formatting an AI citation in APA Style - Simulated Example

AI Use Attribution: The content for the Summary Table above was generated with AI assistance and thereafter subjected to human evaluation for accuracy.
Scholarly Sources of Scientific Articles

IB and Research students should review the below resources for academic papers.
Can't find the entire (full-text) of an article? Request the article under our Services tab or here.

WOS - Web of Science (Clarivate)
Examine research trends in science by looking at citations. Research both the authors and their topics through citations. Includes links to free full-text articles (i.e. not just descriptions of the article).

PLOS
Articles by scientists and researchers.

Science Reference Center
Hundreds of full text science magazines, journals, and reference books. Also includes Science experiments, curriculum-aligned lesson plans, videos and a vast image collection. 

Biological Sciences Review Register
Visit to view the magazine: Biological Sciences Review (Hodder Education)

Academic Search Complete
1000s open access academic journals, reports, and conference proceedings from most disciplines including science.

JSTOR
Scholarly full-text journal articles, e-books, and primary sources/historical texts, from the 16th century to 2019 including science. Click here to see general science publications in JSTOR. Note: Select Content I Can Access (it will NOT be underlined if selected).

Not sure if we have an article or journal?

Check our Journal Finder to find out what journals and years we have. Also under our menu eResources -> Journal Finder.  

Citation Generator

Zotero is a powerful and user-friendly tool for storing your citation information as well as for citing in Word. If you are using Google Docs, download them into word to start using Zotero for your intext citations and your bibliography.

To use Zotero, download:

  1. Download Zotero
  2. Zotero Connector for your browser

Besides Zotero help, this Youtube Intro to Zotero video will get you started.

Popular Sources of Current Science Topics

Popular magazines and news sources

Browse the resources below for popular magazines.

Freely Available Sources

ACS.org - Interactive Period Table Activities

ThoughtCo - Examples of Chemical Energy

Sweetsearch - a search engine for students - use keyword searching to find articles and more in the internet.  

 

 

 

Searching USIC Search or Google Scholar

To find articles from Scientific Journals you can search our USIC Search and Google Scholar as well as search specific resources. You need to understand how to search these resources. Check out search tips on our Search Page.

Pro tip: Once you know how to use USIC Search, you will be able to search almost any academic online resources.

Remember: If the article is not available through TAS or online, request that we purchase it under our Services tab or here.

Preferred Resources and How to Access

Preferred Journals for Health Sciences

Some of these journals have paid content so you might not be able to access the article, but you can request it. If you read the abstract/summary, and want the article,

  • Google the title in quotes first to see if it's available elsewhere for free.
  •  If the article is not available for free, request that we purchase it. We can usually get the article within 48 hours. Request the article under our Services tab or here.

Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise  Search for articles. Request an article if it is not free (open access).

European Journal of Sport Science Search for articles and read for free (open access).

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports Search thfor articles. Request an article if it is not free (open access).

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (IJSPP) Search the contents of only this journal. Request an article if it is not free (open access).

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Search for articles and read for free (open access).

Searching for Academic Journal Articles in Databases

WOS - Web of Science (Clarivate)
Examines research trends in science by looking at citations, and a great place for to find abstracts/summaries and some full text (entire) of science articles. Research both the authors and their topics through citations. Includes links to free full-text articles (i.e. not just descriptions of the article).

PubMed
The PubMed database contains more than 34 million citations and abstracts of biomedical literature. It does not include the entire text for many articles; however, links to the full text of the article it's available.

PLOS ONE
Publishes multidisciplinary and, often, interdisciplinary free online academic research articles in more than 200 areas across science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities. 

Citing Sources

 

  • Sports and Health Sciences uses MLA style for citations. Purdue OWL's website is a great resource for citing sources.
  • Always grab the citation from the article when you find it. There is usually an option on the screen that will give you the full citation you need in MLA format.
  • If you can't find the citation, try using the Zotero extension (or Zbib online) or Noodle Tools (sign in with Microsoft).
  • Make an appointment with Dr. Warrick or Ms. Wile under the Services Tab for help.
Searching for Academic Journal Articles Using AI

Generative AI can be a useful tool for research. However, it's important to know what is acceptable use and what would be a violation of the academic integrity policy. For IB, you MUST cite any AI tool you consult.  You should never turn in anything copied directly from AI as a finished product. 

For a literature review, try Elicit.org. Use it to brainstorm more specific research questions, and find related journal articles on your topic.

To cite AI Tools in MLA Style:

    • "Exact text of your prompt." prompt. AI Tool used, version, Publisher of the tool, date accessed, link.