Research guide to chemistry and life sciences resources

Biomedical and biotechnological databases

Name	Content	Guide
CAB Abstracts via Ovid via CABI Digital Library	Subjects: Agriculture and environment, nutrition, life sciences Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, some only abstracts	Ovid video tutorial
European Pharmacopeia Online	Subjects: Medicines, pharmacy Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Pharmacopoeia standards Special feature: Official regulatory framework for medicines in Europe Access restricted to ZHAW members after initial registration. For the registration link, send an email to e-medien.hsb@zhaw.ch	-
LIVIVO	Subjects: Medicine, health, nutrition, environmental and agricultural sciences Coverage: International, mostly German and English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, research reports, some only abstracts Special feature: Integrates various specialist libraries	Guides Further information
MEDLINE via PubMed	Subjects: Medicine, biomedicine, health sciences Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, other literature, some only abstracts Special feature: Freely accessible via PubMed Licensed access to MEDLINE MEDLINE via Ovid MEDLINE via ProQuest MEDLINE via Web of Science	PubMed videos PubMed user guide Differences between MEDLINE and PubMed MEDLINE Ovid videos
Scientific.net	Subjects: Materials science, nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, manufacturing technology, as well as physics and biology Coverage: International, English Content: Journal articles and other publications from Trans Tech Publications	-
SciFinder-n	Subjects: Chemistry, biochemistry, process engineering Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, patents, some only abstracts Special feature: Extensive substance and reaction database	Guides
Scopus	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Tutorials
Web of Science Core Collection	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: AI-supported search possible for literature reviews, research trends or topic explorations. Enables citation and impact analysis.	Guides

Chemistry databases

Name	Content	Guide
CAB Abstracts via Ovid via CABI Digital Library	Subjects: Agriculture and environment, nutrition, life sciences Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, some only abstracts	Ovid video tutorial
ChemSpider	Subjects: Chemistry, chemicals, medicinal compounds Coverage: International, English Content: Descriptions of chemical substances, molecular structures Special feature: Searches across various other databases	Guides
European Pharmacopeia Online	Subjects: Medicines, pharmacy Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Pharmacopoeia standards Special feature: Official regulatory framework for medicines in Europe Access restricted to ZHAW members after initial registration. For the registration link, send an email to e-medien.hsb@zhaw.ch	-
Journal of Visualized Experiments JoVE: Chemistry	Subject: Chemistry Coverage: International, English Content: Educational videos Special feature: Teaching of fundamental concepts through animations and experiments	Guide Video: How to create a JoVE Account Video: How to embed JoVE videos in Moodle
MATREC Circular Materials Circular Trends	Subjects: Materials science, recycling, waste management Coverage: German and Italian Content: Sustainable material use and recycling technologies in industry	-
MEDLINE via PubMed	Subjects: Medicine, biomedicine, health sciences Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, other literature, some only abstracts Special feature: Freely accessible via PubMed Licensed access to MEDLINE MEDLINE via Ovid MEDLINE via ProQuest MEDLINE via Web of Science	PubMed videos PubMed user guide Differences between MEDLINE and PubMed MEDLINE Ovid videos
Reaxys	Subjects: Chemistry Coverage: International, English Content: Information on chemical compounds, substances, reactions, as well as patents	Video tutorials Further information
RSC Gold - Royal Society of Chemistry	Subjects: Chemistry, materials science, biochemistry Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles Special feature: Collection of scientific publications from the Royal Society of Chemistry	-
Scientific.net	Subjects: Materials science, nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, manufacturing technology, as well as physics and biology Coverage: International, English Content: Journal articles and other publications from Trans Tech Publications	-
SciFinder-n	Subjects: Chemistry, biochemistry, process engineering Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, patents, some only abstracts Special feature: Extensive substance and reaction database	Guides
Scopus	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Tutorials
Springer Materials	Subjects: Materials science, physics, chemistry, engineering Coverage: International, English Content: Collection of materials, property types and applications Special feature: Supported by interactive tools for materials research and analysis	Guides
Web of Science Core Collection	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: AI-supported search possible for literature reviews, research trends or topic explorations. Enables citation and impact analysis.	Guides

Food science databases

Name	Content	Guide
AACC Approved Methods of Analysis	Subjects: Food science, quality control Coverage: International, English Content: Standardised methods Special feature: Freely accessible; official reference methods of the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) for research and industry
Agricola	Subjects: Agriculture, forestry, agricultural sciences, animal husbandry, fisheries, food science Coverage: International, USA focus, English Content: Journal articles, reports, conference proceedings, some only abstracts	-
Agris	Subjects: Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, food science Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Journal articles, books, conference papers, reports, some only abstracts	-
Archives of Rural History (AfA)	Subjects: Agricultural, food, environmental history Coverage: International, German Content: Focus on archival holdings such as texts, photos, films	-
Bloomsbury Food Library	Subjects: Nutrition science, food science and history Coverage: International, English Content: Books, encyclopaedias, journal articles, podcasts, images Special feature: Original content from Bloomsbury and licensed content from partner publishers with specially commissioned research and learning tools	-
CAB Abstracts via Ovid via CABI Digital Library	Subjects: Agriculture and environment, nutrition, life sciences Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, some only abstracts	Ovid video tutorial
FSTA - Food Science and Technology Abstracts	Subjects: Food science, food technology, nutrition Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, standards, some only abstracts	Using FSTA on Ovid Best Practice Guide
LIVIVO	Subjects: Medicine, health, nutrition, environmental and agricultural sciences Coverage: International, mostly German and English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, research reports, some only abstracts Special feature: Integrates various specialist libraries	Guides Further information
Mintel	Subjects: Beauty and personal care, drink, food Coverage: International, English and German Content: Product database, industry reports Special feature: Integrated AI tool Accessible to ZHAW members only.	Video tutorial: Mintel platform Video tutorial: Mintel report
PubMed	Subjects: Medicine, biomedicine, biology, biochemistry, microbiology Coverage: International, mainly English Content: Focus on journal articles Special feature: Freely accessible	PubMed Videos PubMed User Guide
Swiss Nutrient Database	Subjects: Nutrition Coverage: Switzerland, German Content: Nutrient data, food composition	-
Scopus	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Tutorials
VCF	Subjects: Food Coverage: International, English Content: Data on flavouring substances and their chemical properties in foods Special feature: Also includes FEMA GRAS and EU Flavis data	Guide
Web of Science Core Collection	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: AI-supported search possible for literature reviews, research trends or topic explorations. Enables citation and impact analysis.	Guides

Natural resource sciences databases

Name	Content	Guide
Agricola	Subjects: Agriculture, forestry, agricultural sciences, animal husbandry, fisheries, food science Coverage: International, focus USA, English Content: Journal articles, reports, conference proceedings, some abstracts only	-
Agris	Subjects: Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, food science Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Journal articles, books, conference papers, some abstracts only	-
Archive for Agricultural History (AfA)	Subjects: Agricultural, nutrition, environmental history Coverage: International, German Content: Focus on archive holdings such as texts, photos, films	-
CAB Abstracts via Ovid via CABI Digital Library	Subjects: Agriculture and environment, nutrition, life sciences Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, some abstracts only	Ovid video tutorial
GreenFILE	Subjects: Environment, sustainability, climate change Coverage: International, mostly English Content: Focus on journal articles, some abstracts only; reports, government documents	-
hortigate	Subjects: Horticulture, agriculture, landscape management Coverage: Germany, mostly German Content: Trial reports, research findings, market analyses Special feature: Practical information for professional horticulture Login details on the intranet (ZHAW login required)	-
Journal of Visualized Experiments JoVE: Environmental Sciences	Subject: Environmental sciences Coverage: International, English Content: Educational videos Special feature: Conveying basic concepts through animations and experiments	Guide Video: How to create a JoVE Account Video: How to embed JoVE videos in Moodle
LIVIVO	Subjects: Medicine, health, nutrition, environmental and agricultural sciences Coverage: International, mostly German and English Content: Journal articles, conference proceedings, research reports, some abstracts only Special feature: Integrates various specialist libraries	Guides Further information
MATREC Circular Materials Circular Trends	Subjects: Materials science, recycling, waste management Coverage: German and Italian Content: Sustainable material use and recycling technologies in industry	-
OECD	Subjects: Economics, politics, social sciences Coverage: OECD countries, multilingual Content: Reports, statistics, studies Special feature: Official data collection of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and other institutions such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)	-
Scopus	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, multilingual Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Tutorials
Web of Science Core Collection	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some abstracts only Special feature: AI-supported search possible for literature reviews, research trends or topic explorations. Enables citation and impact analysis.	Guides