Scientists: The Lives and Works of 150 Scientists (Volume 2)

Another useful reference source from Gale's UXL imprint for young adults, Scientists provides three-to seven-page profiles on 150 scientists and highlights an additional 120. Arranged alphabetically, each entry covers early life, formative experiences, inspirations, an "Impact" box explaining the scientist's best-known achievements and their effect on science and society, and further reading. Most entries include a black-and-white photograph or portrait. Many include an additional black-and-white illustration, bringing the number of illustrations to more than 300. Most entries also feature a boxed description of an additional scientist who either influenced the main entry or conducted similar research. Names in bold within an entry indicate a separate entry.

Each volume includes as a table of contents the complete list of main entries with the additional scientist, if any, sublisted. Each volume's front matter also provides a list of scientists by field of specialization with volume and page number; a timetable of scientific breakthroughs; and a glossary. Each volume ends with an index. The fields represent a true A^-Z of scientific endeavor: aeronautical engineering to oceanography to zoology. The timeline lists scientific breakthroughs from 1730 through 1993. Across the bottom of the page runs a timeline of historical events occurring during the same period. The further reading includes references to accessible works, e.g., Current Biography, Science, and Omni.

The layout makes for easy reading, and the cover design attracts the eye. The scientists chosen basically fit within the timeline's 1730^-1993 span. Although white males--dead or alive--have an edge, there is a real effort to include women and minorities, many of whom may be new to readers, e.g., Ernest Everett Just and Shirley Ann Jackson. The twentieth-century entries overlap with Gale's larger work, Notable Twentieth Century Scientists [RBB F 1 95]. Although Scientists covers fewer scientists than Larousse Dictionary of Scientists [RBB F 1 95], each scientist receives more coverage here.

Of course, any biographical reference work, especially one limiting itself to 150 people, opens itself to questions of inclusion and exclusion. Although Carver, Einstein, Edison, and Bell are here, those who merited only a mention in a box include Carl Sagan, Dian Fossey, Seymour Cray, Galileo, Copernicus, and Kepler. These latter three may have rated such treatment because they predate the apparent 1730 starting date. An illustration caption dates the Loma Prieta earthquake (San Francisco) to 1994; it occurred in 1989.

Students in grades 5 and up and their teachers and librarians will love this set at research-the-scientist time. Teachers may find "new" scientists to introduce to their students. The set begs to be browsed. School and public libraries under siege for scientist information would do well to invest in this reasonably priced treasure trove.