Introduction
Welcome to the University of Zimbabwe Library Faculty of Science Liaison section. The page has been designed to assist students in the Sciences sector as well as the academics with activities with teaching, learning, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation. The Subject Information Specialist for the Faculty of Science plays a critical role in liaison between the faculty, students, academics and the library. Our fundamental role is to synchronise communication between the faculty and the library to ensure seamless support for faculty endeavours related to the university’s mission and goals. Listed are e-books, e-journals, open access resources, theses and dissertation and referencing ad citation guides. You are welcome to navigate these via the tabs above.
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- Reference Management-referencing, citation and use of electronic reference management software Mendeley and Harvard citation style.
- Literature discovery– identifying research topics; planning and performing a literature review; running effective searches using e-resources and staying up to date with chosen research topic.
- Tools for research Collaboration– using writing collaborative tools such as Google Docs, literature searching collaborative tools like Mendeley, ResearchGate and Academia and using tools for connecting with other researchers.
- Research Impact tracking– Use of citations and alternative metrics to track research impact using tools such as Google Citations and Social Media metrics
- Strategies to increase research visibility and discoverability– how to increase the visibility of research outputs through the use of institutional repositories; sharing preprints, establishing online researcher profiles and using social media for research.
- Publishing in reputable journals– selecting a book publisher and selecting a journal, differentiating predatory, accredited journals, and Open Access routes to getting research output more visible and citable.
- ResearchCommunication-the training equips researchers on how to communicate their research to a broader audience so as to achieve optimum impact of research findings. It also explores the various ways in which research can be shared.
Available trainings can be booked here: https://forms.gle/zkeJRkE1JphNG92f7
e-Theses and Dissertations
How to find Science theses and dissertations in UZ Library.
Masters and doctoral theses from the Faculty of Science are available electronically through the UZ Institutional Repository (UZ eScholar). The UZeScholar is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes scholarly content produced by the University of Zimbabwe community. UZeScholar contains journal articles, book chapters, postgraduate thesis/dissertations, conference papers, pre-prints, working papers, technical reports, progress reports, project reports, among others.
Faculty of Science theses and dissertations can be accessed on the institutional repository using this link: https://ir.uz.ac.zw/
Referencing and citation
Referencing (also known as citation) is the practice used to acknowledge the sources you have used in writing up your assignments or projects. Referencing enables you to refer to, or borrow from, the work of other individuals without being accused of plagiarism. Plagiarism involves the use of someone else’s creative works such as research, writings and ideas and presenting them as your own. This is a dishonest act and considered a serious offence by the University of Zimbabwe. To avoid plagiarism, it is important to provide proper citation and referencing of the sources used in scholarly work.
The Faculty of Science uses the Harvard citation stylefor scholarly writing and acknowledging sources used in an assignment or academic piece of work. The Harvard referencing style is another popular style of using the author-date system for in-text citations. The author, the year, and usually the page number(s) are included in brackets in the main text. Click on the link: Quick guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right) for provided on how to cite using Harvard style.
For individual or group sessions on using the citation style, book an appointment with a Subject Information Specialist on the email provided.
Online Reference Management
There are various software packages that one can use to help compile and manage references into a personal database or library for example, Zotero and Mendeley. These software packages allow you to import your references directly into your own database from many online sources such as electronic journals, electronic books, websites and library catalogues. They also allow you to work with a word processing package to insert in-text citations, your footnotes and bibliography/ references into a document and then automatically format to your preferred style, collaborating with other researchers online, finding relevant papers based on what one is reading and discovering the latest research
For a training session, you can book an appointment with the Subject information Specialist on the email provided.
Featured books in our Print collection
Climate Change in Zimbabwe: A guide for planners and decision makers by Anna Brazier Call Number: QC981.8 BRA
| DNA Fingerprinting in Plants: Principles, methods and applications by Kurt Weising, Hilde Nybom, Markus Pfenninger, Kirsten Wolff, Günter Kahl Call Number: QK981.45 DNA |
Earth surface processes, landforms and sediment deposits by John S. Bridger and Robert V. Demicco Call Number: QE571 BRI |
Probability and queuing theory by P. Kandasamy; K. Thilagavathi; K. Gunavathi Call number: QA274 KAN |
Conservation biology: Foundations, concepts, application by Fred Dyke
Call Number: QH75.V37 DYK
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Principles of Molecular Virology, 5th ed. By Alan J. Cann Call Number: QR389 CAN
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Faculty of Science e-Books and ejournals tab
EBOOKS | EJOURNALS |
5. Bardy, P. (Ed.), The Human Challenge of Telemedicine. Elsevier, pp. 3–17. | |
International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability | |
10. Ram, M. (Ed.), Advances in Mathematics for Industry 4.0. Academic Press | |
11. Grillo, O. ed., 2014. Biodiversity: The Dynamic Balance of the Planet. BoD–Books on Demand. | |
13. Yang, X.-S. (Ed.), Nature-Inspired Computation and Swarm Intelligence. Academic Press | |
Faculty of Science Resources
There are relevant e- journals and e-books available related to Science that are accessible via the UZ website. These e-resources can be accessed using Campus Access or off campus access when you are not within the university campus/ or the university internet network. Below is a selection of databases recommended for topics related to Science.
E-journal Databases | E-book Databases | ||||||
Access To Research for Development and Innovation(ARDI) Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) |
For remote access please log in here: https://uz.remotexs.co
Science Core Textbooks
 | Applied colloid and surface chemistry/ Richard M. Pashley and Marilyn E. Karaman. 2004 Applied Colloid and Surface Chemistry is a broad introduction to this interdisciplinary field. Taking a genuinely applied approach, with applications drawn from a wide range of industries, this book will meet the demands of the student and professional currently working in the field. The text includes keynote sections written by practicing industrial research scientists, bringing to the reader a wealth of real industrial examples. These examples range from water treatment through to soil management as well as examples taken from the coatings and photographic industries. To aid accessibility, some of the more demanding mathematical derivations are separated from the main text, enabling them to be avoided as required. With carefully structured chapters, starting with learning objectives, and containing tutorial questions with answers and explanatory notes, this text is invaluable for undergraduates taking a first course on colloid and surface chemistry. This book will also be suitable to postgraduates and professionals, who need an up-to-date account of the subject.
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 | Applied regression analysis and generalized linear models / John Fox. 2015 Combining a modern, data-analytic perspective with a focus on applications in the social sciences, the Third Edition of Applied Regression Analysis and Generalized Linear Models provides in-depth coverage of regression analysis, generalized linear models, and closely related methods, such as bootstrapping and missing data. Updated throughout, this Third Edition includes new chapters on mixed-effects models for hierarchical and longitudinal data. Although the text is largely accessible to readers with a modest background in statistics and mathematics, author John Fox also presents more advanced material in optional sections and chapters throughout the book.
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 | Basic geological mapping / Richard J. Lisle, Peter J. Brabham, and John Barnes. 2011 Part of The Geological Field Guide Series, Basic Geological Mapping, 5th Edition is an essential basic guide to field techniques in mapping geology. Now completely revised and updated the book retains the concise clarity which has made it an indispensable instant reference in its previous editions. It provides the reader with all the necessary practical information and techniques that they will need while carrying out work in the field, covering a wide spectrum of different conditions, needs and types of countries. This edition covers new developments in technology including Google Earth and the use of GPS. This is an ideal field guide to geological mapping for 2nd/3rd year undergraduates of Geology, Hydrogeology and Geological Engineering.
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 | Biodiversity: an introduction/ Kevin J. Gaston and John I. Spicer. 2004 This concise introductory text provides a complete overview of biodiversity – what it is, how it arose, its distribution, why it is important, human impact upon it, and what should be done to maintain it.
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 | Forensic botany: a practical guide / edited by David W. Hall, Jason Byrd. 2012 Forensic Botany: A Practical Guide is an accessible introduction to the way in which botanical evidence is identified, collected and analysed in criminal cases. Increasingly this form of evidence is becoming more important in forensic investigation and yet there are few trained botanists able to assist in such cases. This book is intended to show how useful simple collection methods and standard plant analysis can be in the course of such investigations and is written in a clear and accessible manner to enhance understanding of the subject for the non-specialist. Clearly structured throughout, this book combines well known collection techniques in a field oriented format that can be used for casework. Collection of evidence differs from formal plant collection in that most professional plant collectors are gathering entire plants or significant portions of a plant for permanent storage and reference. Evidence frequently consists of fragments, sometimes exceedingly tiny. Exemplars (examples of reference plants) are collections of plants made in the manner a botanist would collect them. These collections are necessary to link or exclude evidence to or from a scene. Various methods that allow easy collection, transportation, and preservation of evidence are detailed throughout the book.
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 | The book is published to provide a concise text- book that encompasses important branches like pharmaceutical, biological, polymer, leather and agricultural chemistry. Topics covered include Classification and nomenclature of drugs, Analgesics, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory agents, Diabetes and hypoglycaemic, Polymer chemistry (gigantic molecules), Leather chemistry, Soil chemistry, Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, Fertilizers, Manures, compost and saw dust.
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 | Microphysics of clouds and precipitation / Hans R. Pruppacher and James D. Klett. 2010 Cloud physics has achieved such a voluminous literature over the past few decades that a significant quantitative study of the entire field would prove unwieldy. This book concentrates on one major aspect: cloud microphysics, which involves the processes that lead to the formation of individual cloud and precipitation particles. Common practice has shown that one may distinguish among the following additional major aspects: cloud dynamics, which is concerned with the physics responsible for the macroscopic features of clouds; cloud electricity, which deals with the electrical structure of clouds and the electrification processes of cloud and precipitation particles; and cloud optics and radar meteorology, which describe the effects of electromagnetic waves interacting with clouds and precipitation. Another field intimately related to cloud physics is atmospheric chemistry, which involves the chemical composition of the atmosphere and the life cycle and characteristics of its gaseous and particulate constituents. In view of the natural interdependence of the various aspects of cloud physics, the subject of microphysics cannot be discussed very meaningfully out of context.
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 | Molecular marker systems in plant breeding and crop improvement / edited by H. Leorz and G. Wenzel. 2008 Successful release of new and better crop varieties increasingly requires genomics and molecular biology. This volume presents basic information on plant molecular marker techniques from marker location up to gene cloning. The text includes a description of technical approaches in genome analysis such as comparison of marker systems, positional cloning, and array techniques in 19 crop plants. |
 | Nutritional biochemistry and metabolism : with clinical applications / edited by Maria C. Linder 1991 The editor and collaborating contributors of this revised textbook bring together features that characterize this volume as unique, imaginative, and scientifically holistic. The science of nutrition is covered within the dynamic interrelationships of biological, biochemical and physiological parameters. This enriches the applicability of this textbook to a broad range of scientists: physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, biochemists and physiologists, as well as many others. Discussion of the varied roles of specific nutrients in the biological and bio- chemical functions and structures of the body demonstrate the dynamic interplay of nutrients that occur in the human body. Demonstrations of how these interactions may impact on health and specific disease states are highlighted. These interrelationships make Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism truly “come alive” to the interested reader. Numerous figures are studded throughout the text and these heighten the interest of the reader. Well-designed metabolic pathways that depict the dynamic and sometimes complicated interrelationships of numerous nutrients are especially helpful. |
 | Principles of instrumental analysis / Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Timothy A. Nieman. 2017 Principles of Instrumental Analysis, 7th Edition, places an emphasis on operating principles of each type of instrument, its optimal area of application, its sensitivity, its precision, and its limitations. You’ll also learn about elementary analog and digital electronics, computers, and the treatment of analytical data. |
 | Shriver & Atkins’ inorganic chemistry/ Peter Atkins and Duward Shriver. 2010 This book provides a comprehensive and contemporary introduction to the diverse and fascinating discipline of inorganic chemistry. Inorganic chemistry deals with the properties of all of the elements in the periodic table. These elements range from highly reactive metals, such as sodium, to noble metals, such as gold. The non-metals include solids, liquids, and gases, and range from the aggressive oxidizing agent fluorine to unreactive gases such as helium. Although this variety and diversity are features of any study of inorganic chemistry, there are under-lying patterns and trends which enrich and enhance our understanding of the discipline. These trends in reactivity, structure, and properties of the elements and their compounds provide an insight into the landscape of the periodic table and provide a foundation on which to build understanding |
 | Stern’s Introductory plant biology/ Bidlack, James E; Jansky, Shelley; Stern, Kingsley R. 2013 This introductory text assumes little prior scientific knowledge on the part of the student. It includes sufficient information for some shorter introductory botany courses open to both majors and non-majors, and is arranged so that certain sections can be omitted without disrupting the overall continuity of the course. Stern emphasizes current interests while presenting basic botanical principles. This latest edition incorporates measurable learning outcomes and updated readings. Students will be introduced to the new classification of plants and plant-related species, integration of biotechnology into several chapters and inclusion of new text boxes addressing the areas of ecology, evolution and molecular biology. New photos have replaced older pictures or have been added also.
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