Hope that everyone had a great finish to March and is looking forward to April! In the Public Lab community newsletter this week, check out the new Grassroots Mapping Forum, hear updates on tools in development and new spectrometer projects and learn about events in your area. Enjoy!

Hot off the Press. Public Lab just launched the third regular subscription issue of the Grassroots Mapping Forum, our community research journal/archive/zine/map, where we share ideas, techniques and stories from the community. This issue focuses on community organizing and includes pieces from individuals who spend a great deal of time thinking about how to get people active in science. Please help support Public Lab by purchasing a subscription to the forum or buying individual issues.

Thermal Fishing Bob. If you haven't seen the notes, Public Labbers have been working on a new direction for the thermal flashlight-- the thermal fishing bob. Check out the project notes and comment if you're interested in getting involved.

Reminder: Spectral Challenge. Please continue to help spread the word about the Spectral Challenge as we progress towards the end of Stage 1 on June 1st.

Vermont kite training. Join Toxics Action Center and Public Lab in Montpelier, VT this upcoming Saturday, April 6th for a kite training and mapping session.

Boston area meet-up. Also next Saturday, join others in the Boston area for a meet-up at Pavilion Beach in Ipswich for skill sharing and... a potluck!

NYTECH Citizen Science panel. On April 4th, head out to learn more about both new technologies in citizen science and the NASA International Space Apps Challenge. Location is still TBD, but you can read more information here.

New maps in the archive. A number of different maps were published this past week. Check out imagery from Asheville, Mexico City, Kronshagen (Germany), Livermore (California) and Brno (Czech Republic) as well as a video from Swamp Stomp in Louisiana.

Research notes Dealing with Parallax (posted by nedhorning) Qualitative comparison of percent transmittance of three energy drinks (posted by natalie.orms) Fabry-Perot effect (posted by sonofaquark) The comparison of DVD and CD using halogen, incandescent and flourescent lamps (posted by chem350vsap) Uncovering a historic stream flowing into the Gowanus (posted by Jeff) Photosynq- measuring plant health across the world (posted by gbathree) Attempt at quantitative analysis for desktop spectrometer (posted by ben.alley43) Adjustable camera mount (posted by sonofaquark) Does coffee obey beer's law? A spectrometric investigation (posted by akjeff91) Weeks Bay kite training (posted by eustatic) Community aerial maps on uni' posters (posted by hagitkeysar) Making a HgAr source (posted by sonofaquark)

Have a great week everyone, if anything was missed please post a note, email the list or send a message to shannon@publiclaboratory.org for inclusion in the newsletter next week.