Current awareness is the term used to describe staying informed by keeping up to date with the latest publications, research and news in your field.
The perspective of current awareness is the present and the forthcoming, as opposed to the retrospective.
Current awareness ranges from looking for information on specific topics on a regular basis (and this usually involves the assistance of your Personal Librarian to help you set up your search profile) to embracing a wider, more general, and cross-disciplinary view that brings an element of serendipity into your search for the latest information.
Informally, researchers remain alert in all contexts for useful information and insights that will inform their daily practice, their research and spark off innovative and creative ideas for new avenues of research.
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The year is marked with many special days, weeks, and months dedicated and devoted to raising awareness about important issues.
This monthly post will note special dates and themes, and draw your attention to possibly interesting cross-disciplinary topical references intended to inform and to inspire ideas for research.
Selected Noteworthy Days in December 2014 /January 2015:
The internationally acclaimed exhibition Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures, will run in Krugersdorp from 2 December 2014 to early 2015.
Africa Umoja: The Spirit of Togetherness,
This musical theatre tours the US during December 2014 / January 2015, and tells the tale of South Africa, its people and their song in over 50 countries worldwide. The creators are Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni, who were part of Ipi Ntombi. It includes the Venda Snake Dance, fury of the Traditional Zulu tribal dancing, the story of Sophiatown, the adventure of the gold miners and their intense gumboot dancing, and current sounds and dancing of Kwaito.
1 December: World Aids Day
World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV.
On 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela, the first President of South Africa elected in a fully representative democratic election, died at the age of 95
Bells will be rung and vuvuzelas blown to mark the one year anniversary of former president Nelson Mandela's death, during an official government commemoration at Freedom Park, in Pretoria, on Friday.
16 December: Day of Reconciliation
With the advent of democracy in South Africa 16 December is celebrated as a public holiday with the purpose of fostering reconciliation and national unity.
25 December: Christmas Day
Christmas is an annual religious and cultural holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. Traditions include displaying Christmas decorations and trees in houses and shopping centres, and exchanging gifts and cards.
26 December: Day of Goodwill
In South Africa, the day after Christmas Day, 26 December, every year is designated the Day of Goodwill. It is set aside so that South Africans may extend the spirit of Christmas to all the people in the country.
1 January: New Year's Day
The first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in the Roman Empire since 45 BC.
1 January: The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival
This colourful parade takes to the streets of Cape Town, and here, the Cape Minstrels (Kaapse Klopse), dressed in their finest, colorful costumes, dance to the beats provided by the marching bands.
Malala Yousafzai became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner for her work promoting young people's rights. Watch her Nobel prize speech.
The commemoration of the first anniversary of the death of former president Nelson Mandela will start with a wreath laying ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 5 December.
Aid group closes Afghan office after deadly Taliban attack - The Japan Times
Church mourns pastor and children killed by Taliban suicide ... - ChristianToday
WHO Revises Ebola Death Toll, Lowers Numbers of Deaths In Liberia - The Huffington Post
Namibian presidential election won by Swapo's Hage Geingob The candidate of Namibia's governing party, Prime Minister Hage Geingob, has won the country's presidential elections, taking 87% of the vote - BBC News Africa
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Prospects for space tourism, by DM Ashford, Tourism Management, Vol. 11, Iss. 2, June 1990, pp 99–104
The first manned spaceflight was more than a quarter of a century ago! Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in the spacecraft Vostok 1 in April 1961. Since then, more than 200 men and women have been to low Earth orbit in manned spacecraft.
This article examines the work carried out to date on the prospects for space tourism. The first passenger flights to space could begin 10 years from the start of serious development.