50 Open Source Applications for Sci-Tech Education: Page 2

Open Source: Chemistry

Kalzium describes itself as "your digital replacement for the periodic table on paper." It displays information from the periodic table in a variety of ways, and it offers a molecular weight calculator, 3D molecule editor, an equation solver for stoichiometric problems and more. (Note that in order to use Kalzium on Windows, you'll need KDE for Windows.) Operating System: Windows, Linux.

15. Jmol

Java-based Jmol gives you a 3D view of molecules with features for chemicals, crystals, materials and biomolecules. In addition to the downloadable version, it's also available as a Web app or in a development tool kit. Operating System: OS Independent.

Open Source: Earth Science

If you're studying recent earthquakes and tremors, this app makes it easier to plot and analyze seismographic data. Note that while the app does run on Windows, it's much faster on Linux. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

Open Source: Electronics

Short for GPL'd Electronic Design Automation tools, gEDA collects several related apps into a single suite. It offers schematic capture, attribute management, bill of materials generation, netlisting, analog and digital simulation and printed circuit board (PCB) layout capabilities. Operating System: Linux, OS X.

Open Source: Flashcards

This memorization tool lets you create "different card types for different purposes," such as maps for geography training, vocabulary cards for learning scientific terms, photo cards, etc. It uses the Leitner System to present cards in an order that will optimize learning without wasting time on cards you already know. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

19. The Mnemosyne Project

This project combines a flashcard app with a scientific research project into the nature of memory. It integrates with LaTeX to display mathematical symbols, as well as supporting pictures and sounds. You can also use pre-built card sets for computers, astronomy, medicine, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X, Android.

20. Pauker

This Java-based flashcard app also uses the Leitner Method to exercise your ultra-short-term, short-term, and long-term memory. Although most of the pre-existing card sets train you in a foreign language, it does offer some STEM-related sets for mathematics, chemistry and nursing. Operating System: OS Independent.

21. Anki

With support for text, graphics, video, audio, or scientific markup, Anki makes it easier to learn almost any subject. In addition to using it on your desktop, you can also use it on your iPhone, Android phone, or even your Nintendo DS. Operating System: OS Independent.

Open Source: Math

Sage combines more than 100 open source math tools into a single package for studying elementary and advanced, pure and applied mathematics. It does offer a GUI, but in order to truly understand and use the software well, you need to know the Python programming language. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

23. Genius

The Genius Math Tool started out as a simple calculator, but offers many more capabilities, including matrix calculations/linear algebra, number theory, calculus, statistics, plotting, and more. It also includes a complete programming language (GEL) and a GUI for researchers or developers who want to create new functions. Operating System: Linux, OS X.

24. GraphCalc

"When in the course of computing events it becomes apparent that not all calculators are created equal, one must turn no further than to GraphCalc," says this app's Web site. It performs all the functions you would typically find on a standalone graphing calculator—and then some. "GraphCalc can be your first, last, and only line of offense against the mathematics that threaten to push you over the brink of insanity. It slices, dices, shreds and purees functions that leave other calculators wondering what hit them." Operating System: Windows, Linux.

25. gnuplot

If you're comfortable working from the command line, this app can help you graph data and functions in 2D or 3D. You can see many examples of how it has been used at WikiMedia. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.