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Complete sources for authoritative, foundational knowledge
Researchers and students of all levels need trustworthy fundamental information to support emerging interdisciplinary research and strong learning outcomes.
New Major Reference Works in 2024 cover a wide range of topics, from sustainable technologies to adolescence to mathematical physics.
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All Major Reference Works (MRWs) published by Elsevier and available on ScienceDirect are reviewed and vetted to rigorous standards by experts in their fields.
260 Major Reference Works
115,000 chapters written by world-renowned authors
20 new MRWs publish each year
No DRM restrictions on downloads and printing
Unlimited, concurrent access for multiple users
MRWs are included in our Reference Collections
Agricultural, Biological & Food Sciences
Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Science
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Earth & Planetary Sciences
Energy
Engineering
Environmental Science
Immunology & Microbiology
Materials Science
Mathematics & Computing
Neuroscience & Psychology
Pharmacology, Toxicology & Pharmaceutical Science
Physics
Social Sciences
* Based on an analysis of ScienceDirect usage, 2023
The most comprehensive overview of a field, covering all the fundamental knowledge in one authoritative resource
Exclusive access to chapters-in-press for forthcoming Major Reference Works, allowing users to get the most up-to-date information
Fundamental overviews for interdisciplinary researchers and students exploring new and unfamiliar fields
Aligned with other literature types on ScienceDirect, ensuring users get the full picture of a subject area
Reference Collections are available in 8 subject areas:
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Get a global perspective from students, academics, researchers and librarians about the value of books in achieving educational excellence and employability.
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Major Reference Works can be purchased with a one-time fee for perpetual access or as a Reference Collections offering all Major Reference Works in a subject. For more details about purchasing options, please visit our ScienceDirect book purchasing options page.
The list of Major Reference Works and their publishing dates is available in the attached PDF opens in new tab/window.
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