Research guide to chemistry and life sciences resources

Be efficient in your research and use the various databases, reference works and additional literature in the field of chemistry and life sciences.

Databases

Standards, patents

Reference works

Bachelor's and master's theses

Databases

We recommend that you search the databases in order to research and review up-to-date and discipline-specific content on a topic. They mostly contain references to resources as well as full text articles from journals. Depending on the database, additional types of publications such as conference reports, book chapters, pictures, videos and much more are included.

Biomedicine and biotechnology

Chemistry

Food science

Natural resource sciences

Biomedical and biotechnological databases

Name	Conent	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	-
GMP-Berater	Subjects: Quality management and assurance in the pharmaceutical industry Coverage: International, German Content: Guidelines, practical instructions, commentaries Special feature: Focus on the practical implementation of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Limited to one simultaneous user, log out after use	-
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, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Tutorials
USP-NF - United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary	Subjects: Medicines, pharmacy Coverage: USA, English Content: Pharmacopoeia standards Special feature: Regulatory framework for medicines in the USA, internationally recognised for quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry Limited to 20 simultaneous users. Access restricted to ZHAW members after initial registration. For the registration link, send an email to e-medien.hsb@zhaw.ch	-
Web of Science Core Collection	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	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	-
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, English 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
USP-NF - United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary	Subjects: Medicines, pharmacy Coverage: USA, English Content: Pharmacopoeia standards Special feature: Regulatory framework for medicines in the USA, internationally recognised for quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry Limited to 20 simultaneous users. Access restricted to ZHAW members after initial registration. For the registration link, send an email to e-medien.hsb@zhaw.ch	-
Web of Science Core Collection	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some only abstracts Special feature: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Guides

Food science databases

Name	Content	Guide
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
OECD	Subjects: Economy, 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)	-
Swiss Nutrient Database	Subjects: Nutrition Coverage: Switzerland, German Content: Nutrient data, food composition	-
Scopus	Subjects: Multidisciplinary Coverage: International, English 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: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Guides

Natural resource sciences databases

Name	Conent	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	-
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	-
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, English Content: Focus on journal articles, some abstracts only 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: Enables citation and impact analysis; AI component integrated into search	Guides

Standards, patents

Use our standards and patent databases for a targeted search. You will find details on the page with the multidisciplinary information resources.

Reference works

Reference works are the ideal starting point for your research. In addition to defining concepts, they help you to gain an overview of a topic, narrow down a topic and find key concepts for future work.

All electronic reference works can be found and searched in ZHAW swisscovery. The selection of titles below provides you with a quick introduction to your specialist area. General reference works can also be found with the monolingual (in German) and multilingual dictionaries (in German).

Title	Additional information
A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation	There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of environmental technology.
A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition	There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of food sciences and nutrition.
A Dictionary of Plant Sciences	There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of life sciences
Comprehensive Renewable Energy	-
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics	-
Encyclopedia of Food and Health	-
Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology	There are further reference works from ScienceDirect on the topic of life sciences
Encyclopedia of Industrial Biotechnology: Bioprocess, Bioseparation, and Cell Technology	-
Food Composition and Nutrition Tables: Die Zusammensetzung der Lebensmittel - Nährwert-Tabellen	-
Handbook of Clean Energy Systems	-
Handbuch der Bodenkunde	-
Handbuch Lebensmittelhygiene	Registration free of charge required. Then it can be found in the table of contents: QM /QS, Hygiene & Mikrobiologie
Römpp Online	-
Schweizerische Lebensmittelgesetzgebung	-
The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts	-
The New Encyclopedia of Insects and their Allies	There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of life sciences.
The Prokaryotes	-
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry	-
VDI-Wärmeatlas	-

Bachelor's and master's theses

Selected bachelor's and master's theses from the School of Life Sciences and Facility Management are available in the ZHAW digitalcollection.

The Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology and the Institute of Food and Beverage Innovation present the bachelor's theses in an annual publication (in German).

Bachelor's theses Biotechnology (in German)
Bachelor's theses Chemistry (in German)
Bachelor's theses Food and Beverage Innovation (in German)