Science Magazine's State of the Planet 2008-2009: with a Special Section on Energy and Sustainability - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1597264067 ISBN 13: 9781597264068

Publisher: Island Press, 2008

Synopsis

Taken from the pages of Science and supplemented by contributions from the magazine’ s editors, State of the Planet 2008-2009 offers contemporary science writing that is sometimes provocative, frequently enlightening, and always authoritative. Published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Science is one of the most respected scientific magazines in the world. With a readership of more than one million people, it offers “ hard science” from top scientists to both educated lay readers and scientists alike.
The articles collected here are arranged thematically and each section is introduced by a prominent scientist or science writer. Donald Kennedy, who was Editor-in-Chief of Science when these articles appeared in the magazine, contributes a preface and several short essays. Focusing on issues of energy and sustainability, sections of the volume are devoted to the prospects of energy-sparing technologies and alternatives to fossil fuel use, including ethanol and cellulosic digestion. Other sections center on climate change, led by a comprehensive essay on the state of scientific knowledge today and followed by contributions about the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, as well as the effects of climate change that have been measured to date, including changes in migration and breeding cycles of birds and flowering in plants, changing patterns of hurricanes and extreme weather events, and alterations in forest fire frequency.
Interspersed throughout the book are Science news pieces that highlight particular issues and cases relevant to the main scientific findings. A glossary of key terms and concepts helps students and nonspecialists better understand the terminology and the issues.

About this title

About the Author:

Donald Kennedy served as editor-in-chief of Science from 2000-2007. A biologist by training, Kennedy is the Bing Professor of Environmental Science emeritus and President emeritus at Stanford University. In the late 1970s he served as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He is the author of many books, including Academic Duty, an overview of American higher education at the end of the twentieth century.

Review:

"If you have a certain affection for our little blue home planet and wonder how it fares, you couldn't do better than by reading this work. From our energy opportunities to our Arctic challenges, it is cutting edge science made readable. I hope all Congressmen read it!"
(Congressman Jay Inslee, coauthor of "Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy")

"This book provides a one-stop shop for the best of Science on energy and environment. Through original research articles and interpretive commentary, it assesses critical issues and explores necessary solutions. It is a great source for teachers, students, and all who care about the future of their planet."
(John Randolph professor of environmental and energy planning, Virginia Tech)

"State of the Planet 2008-2009 brings to the reader a well written and diverse array of information and knowledge recently gained about the influence of human activities on our only home. The information thoughtfully summarized and integrated in State of the Planet makes the case: if we act together, we can succeed in keeping planet earth habitable."
(Dr. John H. Gibbons science advisor to President Clinton 1992-1997)

"The book provides a nice blend of somewhat technical reading with essays that are easily comprehensible for various audiences...great backbone of data from top-rate scientists"
(Natural Areas Journal)

About this edition

• Publisher: Island Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1597264067
• ISBN 13: 9781597264068
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 216
• Editor: Kennedy Donald, The Editors Of Science