The Internet and the nutritional scientist

The Internet provides many opportunities to learn, to educate, and to communicate new ideas. This article introduces concepts and terms that will facilitate the use of electronic information media by nutritional scientists. A vast array of sites on the Internet are relevant to the nutritional scientist, including those developed by government, industry, and educational sources, professional societies, and individuals. Using the wide variety of electronic sources that make up the Internet in an efficient and effective manner is an important skill not only for locating specific information, but also for keeping abreast of novel developments and new concepts as they are introduced and discussed. Uncritical acceptance of information appearing in the electronic media, however, is problematic; electronic publishing may occur without the rigorous peer-review process common for publishing in scientific journals. Those intending to publish material electronically must accept responsibility for the veracity of the information, realizing that anyone, from the lay consumer to the professional, may have access to that information. The Internet and its electronic relatives (eg, the World Wide Web and newsgroups) can become invaluable tools for nutritional scientists, extending beyond traditional sources of information (eg, the library) to support research and educational efforts, but use of this new technology must be tempered with knowledge of its limitations as well as potentials.