In practical laboratory classes students traditionally receive data by reading from a measurement device (ruler, clock, voltmeter, etc.) or digitally as files in exchange formats such as CSV (comma separated value). In many cases these data have to be processed later using non-linear regression, here referred to as curve fitting. Therefore, analog data first have to be digitalised and imported to a data analysis and visualisation program, which is often commercial and requires installation. In this paper we present an alternative concept fusing open-source community tools into a single page web application facilitating data acquisition, visualisation, analysis via non-linear regression and further post processing usable for error calculations. We demonstrate the e-learning potential of this web application accessible at curvefit.tu-chemnitz.de in the context of acquired data as typically obtained in physical laboratory classes from undergraduate studies. A prototype workflow for the topic 'specific electric resistance determination' is presented along with a technical description of the basic web technology used behind. Restrictions, such as limited portability or cumbersome ways to share results electronically between student and supervisor as occurring in traditional software applications are overcome by enabling export via URL. The discussion is complemented by thorough comparison of curve fitting web applications with focus on their capability to be adaptable to user-specific models (equations) as faced by (undergraduate) students in the context of their education in laboratory classes in natural and life sciences, such as physics, biology and chemistry.

Im Juli und August 2014 habe ich im Rahmen meines Bibliotheksreferendariats fünf Wochen an der SLUB Dresden verbracht. Schwerpunkte des Praktikums waren die Themen „Open Access“ und „Digitalisierung“, Zentrum die AG „Elektronisches Publizieren“, die sich mit unterschiedlichsten Aspekten der Problematik beschäftigt — von Fragen der bibliometrischen Analyse über die Betreuung des Dokumentenservers „Qucosa“ bis hin zu Rechtsfragen bei Open Access-Veröffentlichungen. Neben der Mitarbeit in der Gruppe und dem Kennenlernen anderer Abteilungen der SLUB, die sich im Umfeld von Digitalisierung und elektronischem Publizieren bewegen, habe ich während des fünfwöchigen Aufenthalts in Dresden auch ein eigenes Projekt bearbeitet: es ging um die Bewertung von Open Access- Monographien im Bereich der Geistes- und speziell der Geschichtswissenschaften.

Im Juli und August 2014 habe ich im Rahmen meines Bibliotheksreferendariats fünf Wochen an der SLUB Dresden verbracht. Schwerpunkte des Praktikums waren die Themen „Open Access“ und „Digitalisierung“, Zentrum die AG „Elektronisches Publizieren“, die sich mit unterschiedlichsten Aspekten der Problematik beschäftigt — von Fragen der bibliometrischen Analyse über die Betreuung des Dokumentenservers „Qucosa“ bis hin zu Rechtsfragen bei Open Access-Veröffentlichungen. Neben der Mitarbeit in der Gruppe und dem Kennenlernen anderer Abteilungen der SLUB, die sich im Umfeld von Digitalisierung und elektronischem Publizieren bewegen, habe ich während des fünfwöchigen Aufenthalts in Dresden auch ein eigenes Projekt bearbeitet: es ging um die Bewertung von Open Access- Monographien im Bereich der Geistes- und speziell der Geschichtswissenschaften.

In this study, the historical peculiarities and the site conditions of the forest of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany, are surveyed. Results from an extended forest inventory, which includes students' contributions, are summarized. Guidelines for current and future forest management are also discussed. The university forest supply manifold opportunities for teaching and training. In addition, they can be utilized efficiently for corresponding research projects. These forests bridge the gap between academic educational targets and actual practice. Interdisciplinary issues, research networking and links to the job market are significant requirements as well. Direct ownership by the respective university or by any other educational institution helps substantially to realize objectives in teaching and research. In the case of extemal ownership, long-lasting contracts and flexible management regulations, which grant scientific and educational liberties, are essential.

The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) is one of the leading Asian universities. The University of Tokyo Forests (UTF) was established in 1894 as the first university forest in Asia. To date, UTF owns seven forests and has accumulated long-term data regarding forest ecosystems, conifer plantations, and selection cutting with natural regeneration, in addition to data regarding meteorology and hydrology. In terms of quantity and quality, this longitudinal dataset is among the best available in the world of forest science. A teaching staff of 26 people belongs to UTF. The advantages of studying under the supervision of UTF staff members are as follows. First, students have the opportunity to gain broad disciplinary knowledge from the 26 members of the teaching staff. Second, they can use UTF as a context for their research fieldwork, relying on good research facilities supported by a 50-strong technical staff. Third, they can utilize longitudinal data accumulated by UTF over a period of more than 100 years. Students from at least ten countries have been supervised at UTF. Students are selected, in particular, from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. UTF has also provided fieldwork classes for students of foreign universities, such as Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the National Taiwan University. These students gain experience in disciplines such as forest vegetation and forest management, where Japanese practice differs from that of their own countries. Students can stay at UTF lodges for a modest fee. Students from European universities are also welcome to undertake fieldwork courses at UTF. We accept interns from overseas. Recently, interns from European universities have been increasing in number. The unique culture of Japan - with its traditional features and more modern ones, like the Japanese comics manga - are fascinating to European students. UTF provides the best environment for forest education in Asia.