Skip to Main Content

Library guide for Physical Sciences

Get started right away! Search here for a specific book title, journal article title, or search by keyword to find quality sources on a topic

Library Search

 

 

Finding journal articles on Library Search

Key Databases

SEARCH THE DATABASES WE RECOMMEND FOR PHYSICS BELOW

Recommended Databases

INSPEC WEB OF SCIENCE SCOPUS

Click on the buttons for access, then login with your DCU username and password

OR

Browse our A-Z list of databases

OA plugins

 Open Access Button searches thousands of sources containing millions of articles to connect you to an article instantly if it is freely available.

They claim their sources include globally aggregated repositories, hybrid articles, open access journals, and those on authors personal pages.

► Unpaywall Data
► Share
CORE
► OpenAIRE
► Dissem.in
► Europe PMC
► BASE

The OA Button also provides a service for requesting an article from the author if you don't have access via subscription and the article isn't yet OA.

Unpaywall searches the Unpaywall database which works by harvesting from Open Access sources to find OA content and then matching that content to the Crossref DOI. For any DOI searched via the plugin, Unpaywall "knows about any OA versions that exist anywhere".

Get the browser extension {here}!


Kopernio
 provides a link to the "best available full-text PDF" of an article and works in the same way as other OA browser extensions; by searching for an OA version on open databases on the Web. Its less common feature is that you can set up Kopernio so that it will provide a link to enable you to first check whether DCU Library provides subscription access via any of our A-Z of Library databases.

A guide to getting the most out of Kopernio and setting up your connection to check your possible subscription access to the PDF, before Kopernio delivers an OA version, is available {here}.

Kopernio is best used when you're not on the DCU campus network - because on-campus subscription access to articles will be automatic and the other plugins on this page will find OA content.


Google Scholar button
 enables you to check if you have access (subscription or Open Access) to an article. When viewing a web page of an article (or select the text of any publication reference), click on the Google Scholar button and it automatically runs a search in Google Scholar and returns the top results in a little popup window on the web page you are on.

The results include links to the full-text. Setup 'Dublin City University' in your Google Scholar settings – this means the links will include DCU's journal subscriptions.

First, go to Google Scholar; choose the menu icon in the top left-hand corner; select Settings; select Library links, search for: Dublin City University; select the ‘Dublin City University’ option; click Save

Tip:
► Run a search in Google, then click the button – and it runs the same search in Google Scholar and brings the results back

Hi! My name is Emma and I am the Subject Librarian for the School of Science & Health.

Should you have any queries about anything in this Subject Guide, about any of our other library research resources, or if you wish to make an appointment for a one-to-one chat, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

CONTACT

 

Email: emma.stapleton@dcu.ie

O'Reilly Library, DCU Glasnevin

 

 

SensusAccess can convert your documents and readings into different formats that are more useful for you. These formats can include MP3 files, E-books, Word files and Digital Braille books.

You can use SensusAccess to convert your:

  • Slides & lecture notes
  • Scanned PDF documents
  • Pictures of text captured with your smartphone
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • Journal articles

Find more information about SensusAccess here