NSTA - Recommends Products

Everyday Science Mysteries: Everyday Earth and Space Science Mysteries: Stories For Inquiry-Based Science Teaching

5/14/2013

Author: Richard Konicek-Moran
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: NSTA Press
Pages: 232
Price: $25.95
ISBN: 9781936959280
Grade: K-8
Reviewer: Kathy Renfrew
Review:

This volume is another winner! Early in my reading of the book I was able to make strong connections between my belief that science needs to accessible for all learners (Appendix D: All Standards, All student) and the author's quote “Science is an equal opportunity field of endeavor, incorporating not only the framework and theories of its various specialties, but also its own structure and history.” This is so important when instructional materials are being created because our classrooms need to be inclusive of all students.

The chapter on science and literacy is vital in current times. Instructional time in elementary science is minimal because many people believe that student learning will improve by spending more time on reading, writing, and mathematics. I do not have that same belief and neither does Richard Konicek–Moran. He shares his ideas that students who are offered quality science instruction as well as quality instruction in literacy and mathematics will have improved achievement in all of the disciplines. He also discusses the need for literacy instruction to be part of science instruction; students need the opportunity to learn how to talk with each other in science. They need to practice making claims, supporting them with evidence, and being open to having their ideas discussed and critiqued. They then need the opportunity to revise those ideas based on the ideas of others. This chapter will help teachers understand how using science as the content for literacy skills will help their students meet the expectations of the Common Core State Standards. Using stories sets the context for exploration and investigation of concepts as well engaging the students. Once the students are “hooked” they are open to new learning.

This book includes eighteen mysteries, all focused on Earth and space science. Some of the concepts in the book are abstract and difficult to instruct because teachers cannot go on a field trip to the moon and the author makes those concepts available to students. One of my favorite stories is "Daylight Savings Time." The misconceptions students bring to this concept as well as the content knowledge needed to instruct students around the concepts of time can be found in the "Don’t be Surprised" section conjunction with the Content Background. This concept is particularly abstract and once again the author has made it possible for students to gain a better understanding of time through a science mystery.

The book is useful for multiple grade levels. For each story, the author includes a section for grades K–4 and also one for grades 5–8. The concepts would also be the same for high school students but the story and the activities would likely need to be adjusted. This book is an excellent resource as we work with our colleagues to unlock the opportunities of the Next Generation Science Standards.

Everyday Science Mysteries: Everyday Physical Science Mysteries: Stories For Inquiry-Based Science Teaching

5/14/2013

Author: Richard Konicek-Moran
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: NSTA Press
Pages: 261
Price: $25.95
ISBN: 9781936959297
Grade: K-8
Reviewer: Janet Acerra
Review:

Seldom is a book's introduction thought of as inspiring, however, in this book, the introduction is truly a “must read,” and it sets the tone for the way every teacher will look at this resource. In addition, the subsequent chapters further enrich the use of this resource and provide excellent information for helping the teacher to make connections to literacy in science and enhance the use of inquiry in lesson plan development. In short, this book can serve as a professional development tool in addition to a formative assessment tool.

The stories included in the book will produce strong opportunities for discussion along with the means for spotting and correcting many common misconceptions students often have in the elementary grades. As a resource in the upper grades it will spark many questions for further discussions and bring life to the content as students take home the ideas they have learned and make connections to the real world. Additionally, all of the stories will inspire students to “try it” themselves, something seldom seen in most resources.

From the physics of motion in Bocce ball, to the understanding of light energy as reflected in a mirror, this book brings the science into our everyday lives. The story about the weight of a St. Bernard puppy brings a whole different approach to how weight is distributed and gravity works, something we will all consider the next time we look to adopt a new pet! Stories about ice and the drinks we sip at home will never let us forget that science is all around us! This book spans the grade levels and will be used differently in every classroom. The common denominator will be the learning…it will happen throughout all of them!

Everyday Science Mysteries: Everyday Life Science Mysteries: Stories For Inquiry-Based Science Teaching

5/14/2013

Author: Richard Konicek-Moran
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: NSTA Press
Pages: 254
Price: $25.95
ISBN: 9781936959303
Grade: K-8
Reviewer: Eloise Farmer
Review:

This book has everything an elementary classroom teacher could ask for, all in one place, when planning and organizing science materials that will engage students while fulfilling the requirements of science standards.

Four chapters at the beginning of the book address the theory behind the book, describing how to use the book by using concrete examples, and explain the links between science and literacy. A useful section in the second chapter explains the organization of each chapter in the book by giving the purpose, related concepts, projections of student response, content background, and related ideas from the National Science Education Standards and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy. This is followed by a description of how to use each story with grades K–4, and 5–8, a Concept Matrix, and a list of references from journals and books. The third chapter explains how to use the book as a content curriculum guide, or in teacher preparation methods courses. How the stories also can be used as interactive inquiry plays is also illustrated. Chapter four is devoted to the use of science notebooks and working with ELL students.

Before beginning with the actual stories, a two–page "Mysteries Matrix" is offered which lists basic concepts covered in each story. Concepts include such things as life cycles, adaptation, energy, cells, etc. Since teachers need to develop lessons around certain concepts, this information can be very useful in writing lesson and unit plans. The following chapters each have a separate short story, about two pages long, followed by materials useful to the teacher. These include the purpose, related concepts, a “don’t be surprised” paragraph, and content background. The content background section will be most useful to the teacher who may not have had the grounding in the science content behind the story. This is followed by related materials from the Standards and Benchmarks along with other reference material, and sections on how to use the story with grades K–4, and 5–8.

An elementary teacher could not go wrong having a copy of this book available when developing lessons to illustrate the big ideas and literacy connections now being required as science is integrated with the Common Core. Hopefully the references will soon be updated with references to the Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Perspectives: Research & Tips to Support Science Education, K-6

5/14/2013

Author: Deborah Hanuscin and Meredith Park Rogers
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: NSTA Press
Pages: 129
Price: $19.95
ISBN: 9781936959426
Grade: K-6
Reviewer: Adah Stock
Review:

For many busy teachers, looking at research about science teaching is something that gets pushed to the bottom of the list of things to do. Yet, educators often wonder if what they are doing in the classroom is the best way to help young students to succeed. This volume supports great science teaching and provides the research–based advice needed to improve teaching in an easily accessible way so that any educator can be the very best at what they do in the science classroom.

This volume contains twenty–seven columns originally published in Science and Children's Perspectives, a journal supports teaching for elementary grades. The columns are grouped into six sections that cover topics that relate to all elementary teachers. The section titles include the following: General Teaching Goals; Strategies to Facilitate Science Learning; Teaching Science and other Disciplines Together; Student Thinking and Misconceptions; Society and Science Learning; and Developing as a Teacher.

Each of the columns starts with a real–life scenario expressed by a teacher. For example, in the section on student thinking and misconceptions, a very important topic, the first column is “Assessing and Addressing Student Science Ideas.” In the scenario in this particular column a colleague is concerned that after teaching a science unit several students still had ‘wacky ideas’ about the concepts. Reading further, one learns what research says about these ‘wacky ideas’ sometimes called alternative conceptions, naive conceptions, or misconceptions. Further reading explains how to identify those ideas, what misconceptions to expect, and concludes with strategies that are useful in addressing these misconceptions. Following this short, four–page column are twelve solid research resources for further reading at the discretion of the reader.

Each chapter is formulated identically so a reader has quick and concise information available to them. Professors of future science educators, teachers both new and experienced, supervisors of groups of teachers, and educators in general will find that this volume supports proof that science in elementary school is necessary. This book also provides the most effective, current, research–based approaches for science in the elementary classroom. I highly recommend this book to all educators.

The Case for STEM Education: Challenges and Opportunities

5/14/2013

Author: Rodger W. Bybee
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: NSTA Press
Pages: 116
Price: $27.95
ISBN: 9781936959259
Grade: K-College
Reviewer: David Tumbarello
Review:

Does anyone disagree that education in the four STEM disciplines is necessary in order for students to develop 21st century skills? In this refreshing book from NSTA Press, Rodger W. Bybee refuses to accept the unquestioned premise of STEM education. Instead, he begins to outline ways in which the U.S. STEM yearly budget of $3.4 billion—less than 1% of annual federal spending on education—should be strategically used to serve our children. While it is incumbent to continually train teachers and improve technology in classrooms, the fundamental imperatives of STEM begin with national and local discussions about STEM imperatives, transition to dialogue regarding effective 21st century curriculum, and finally result in changes in classroom and infrastructure that is sustainable over time.

]The value of STEM education lies not in an appreciation of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, but in an aspiration for something greater. Bybee repeatedly references the Sputnik era and the space race to model how a motivating force creates sustained change. During the decade between Sputnik and landing on the moon, the goal was clear: to invest resources in education and development in order to land people on the moon within ten years. The goal was measurable and time delimited. With the current stem initiative, our students, teachers, and stakeholders need to aspire to something greater, to a common STEM framework with concrete goals. The author proposes specific avenues of development in the areas of health, energy, environment, and the use of natural resources with improvements in a 20 year window.

This text is an amazingly high–level presentation of the "challenges and opportunities" afforded to our children from President Obama to NCLB. A by–product of STEM initiatives should be the raising of test scores so that our international rank rises above mediocre. Additionally, educators should continue to impress upon our children the need for 21st century skills, such as creative problem solving, communication, virtual solutions, and systems thinking so the United States can continue to compete against scientific strongholds such as Singapore, Finland, and Hong Kong, and other countries that are actively developing young minds to lead in these areas in the future.

While the President of the United States can motivate by delivering speeches about STEM initiatives, it is up to state or district agencies to develop the policies, programs, and classroom practices that will help our children. Yet, the goal is greater than knowledge. The goal is the application of knowledge, which will have sustained economic and social benefits. As the title of this book implies, it is an exciting time to be an educator because with this historic challenge, we have a monumental opportunity. The Case for Stem Education is a necessary reference for anyone involved in negotiating the policies and practices that will impact teachers and students into the 21st century.

Scientists in the Field: Stronger Than Steel: Spider Silk DNA and the Quest for Better Bulletproof Vests, Sutures, and Parachute Rope

5/14/2013

Author: Bridget Heos
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 80
Price: $18.99
ISBN: 9780547681269
Grade: 5-9
Reviewer: Lori Cirucci
Review:

In this book a reader learns all about the golden orb weaver spider. These arachnids are the largest spiders to produce silk. From this lesson in natural history, the reader discovers how scientists work in the field trying to create new technologies. In the case of spider silk, the real–life scientist, Randy Lewis, discovers that goats genetically implanted with the golden orb weavers’ DNA produce milk that contains proteins that can be spun into nearly indestructible spider silk.

This is called transgenic research. Other applications could also be created, things like stronger parachute rope, more durable airbags for automobiles, even stronger trip wires to help planes land on aircraft carriers. In the medical field, this stronger type of silk could also be used to mend broken bones and damaged ligaments inside the human body! The first chapter in the book talks about spider silk, stronger than steel, and what it is like to raise these types of spiders.

The golden orb weaver is nicknamed the banana spider for the color and shape. The book discusses transgenic organisms and how they are created; the goats are injected with spider silk genes when they are embryos. When the goats grow up, they may pass these genes onto their young. Potential spider silk products are discussed. Following this, the book discusses experimenting with alfalfa as a potential source for spider silk proteins. Although more difficult and more challenging than working with goats, the hope is that once the alfalfa produces the spider silk protein, the protein will be purified and spun, just like it would be from the goats’ milk. The last discussed candidate for spider silk protein producers is the silkworm. It turns out that the silkworms could produce a thread that is a mixture of spider silk and regular silk, so it would be tougher and stretchier than regular silk. Which one will win out? The research continues as the book goes into different types of silk, the way that Randy’s lab test spider silk genes (which is with bacteria), the ethical concerns, and of course the lifesaving possibilities of transgenic products.

The book concludes with the story of how NASA sent two golden orb weavers into space on the space shuttle Endeavor. Upon the spiders’ return, the silk was sent to Randy’s lab and tested. His tests showed that space spider silk had the same mechanical properties as regular spider silk. Microgravity did not affect the spider silk fibers. Included in the book are wonderfully detailed pictures as well as a glossary at the end. Additional sources and an index were also included.

I would recommend this book for a middle school teachers’ library. It is an interesting story and one that students would love to learn. It goes beyond the traditional definition of engineering that would be familiar to most middle–schoolers, describes cutting–edge science, and helps students understand the reason for genetically–modified organisms.

The Wind at Work: An Activity Guide to Windmills, 2nd ed.

5/14/2013

Author: Gretchen Woelfle
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
Pages: 160
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 9781613741009
Grade: 4-8
Reviewer: Stella Robbins
Review:

This guide stands out among books about windmills and wind energy because of its kid–friendly format, its hands–on activities, and its use of illustration to combine history and technology. I would use it for simple machine units, STEM planning, and integration of reading and history.

This book explains how wind works, how windmills have played a part in producing energy throughout history, and how the wind can be harnessed as a clean, renewable energy source. This process is completed with a unique combination of disciplinary perspectives. Archival photos capture windmills' importance through history. Over 24 engaging activities connect students to exploration of green technology.

Text features including maps, graphs, and scales meet “text complexity” standards for the Common Core. Even recipes are included to engage readers in the historical time period. The Wind at Work would be appropriate for all students ages 9 and up. The Activity Guide is arranged in a kid–friendly format which alternates engaging text with beautiful illustrations and archival photos.

The activities (recipes, songs, and quilts) will interest even the most reluctant reader. As a fourth grade teacher this book would be a “go to” for planning lessons on simple machines, green technology, text features, and energy. In the classroom or school library I’m sure it would be dog–eared and well worn with love.

I recommend The Wind at Work because if far outshines other activity books of its kind. I’ve never seen an activity book that combines stunning researched photos, achievable, hands–on activities, and recipes. I’m sure it will totally mesmerize children.

Show Me What You Know: Exploring Student Representations Across STEM Disciplines

5/14/2013

Author: Barbara M. Brizuela, Brian E. Gravel
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Teachers College Press
Pages: 292
Price: $54.95
ISBN: 9780807754092
Grade: K-College
Reviewer: Thomas Brown
Review:

Teachers who wish to learn more about how their students develop the ability to “represent” the content that they are learning would be well served to examine this book. It examines how students across different ages and disciplines produce and use representations such as graphs, drawings, and other products in order to understand their experiences. The authors use the extensive research that has been done to show the importance of understanding how representations can be crucial in the development of students’ ability to understand all the STEM disciplines.

The book is aimed at all teachers of the STEM disciplines, although it will be especially useful to middle and secondary teachers as they try to build on students' prior experiences. Show Me What You Know is broken into four sections, each discussing a different aspect of representations. The first part shows how learners develop the skills for sharing their experiences and focuses on how young children create symbols to represent quantitative data. This is followed by sections that explain how students become fluent at using different representations, especially graphs and why learners eventually choose certain ones to externalize their experiences. The last part of the book discusses how representations can be used to support students in engaging with new material and challenging themselves to communicate their ideas better. In this section, the authors use the terms “scaffolds and supports” to elaborate on the ways that children begin to manipulate representations.

One of the strengths of the book is the comprehensive nature of the material presented. The authors provide extensive examples of students’ graphs, charts, and drawings to help the reader make sense of this challenging topic. They also provide extensive references at the end of each chapter. Professionals looking to investigate the many ways that students represent their ideas would be well served to make a careful read of this book.

One of the biggest challenges that teachers in the STEM disciplines face daily is helping their students to make sense of concepts. By better understanding how students develop their ability to make representations, whether through graphs, by making drawings, or some other tool, teachers could better gauge how well they are learning.

About Birds: A Guide for Children

5/1/2013

Author: Cathryn Sill
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, Ltd
Price: $16.95
ISBN: 9781561456888
Grade: K-3
Reviewer: Sarah Haines
Review:

This book provides an introduction to birds and their adaptations that is appropriate four our youngest set of budding naturalists. Written for an audience of children from prekindergarten to grade 3, the book provides encounters with many kinds of birds. Readers learn how they are similar and how they differ.

An age–appropriate amount of text on each page is accompanied by beautiful, watercolor illustrations of each bird. More advanced readers and their mentors might appreciate the "Afterword," containing more detailed information on the birds depicted in the main body of the book.

There has been much emphasis placed on environmental education for early childhood over the past few years. There are very few books in the areas of ecology and animal behavior that are appropriate for students of this age. For this reason, I believe that teachers and librarians would be eager to add this book to their collections.

About Habitats: Wetlands

5/1/2013

Author: Cathryn Sill
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, Ltd
Price: $7.95
ISBN: 9781561456895
Grade: K-2
Reviewer: Jacqueline Pfeiffer
Review:

Did you know that there are at least eight types of wetlands, and that each one has significant differences? Each wetland has different plants and animals, but all are vital to help maintain the delicate balance among Earth's environments. This book will answer the questions readers have about fragile and important wetland habitats.

Part of a series on habitats (which includes NSTA/CBC award–winning volumes), this book begins with a description of each type of wetland. On each left–hand page a few sentences describe the habitat—easy, simple language to provide basic information. On the opposite page is a beautiful watercolor illustration of that habitat. At other places the reader can find identification of plants and animals in the illustration.

In an "Afterward" section there are three plates per page that offer further, in–depth information to support the main body of the text. This further information would allow a teacher to add to the basic understanding of the concepts illustrated in the book. A glossary follows this section, as well as a list of books and websites which could be used to further explore wetlands.

There may be other books on wetlands, but they may not be as applicable to the lower grades. Instructors may need more background to supplement their knowledge as they share the book.

On the Move: Mass Migrations

5/1/2013

Author: Scotti Cohn
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95
ISBN: 9781607186168
Grade: K-3
Reviewer: Sarah Haines
Review:

This is a charming book from which young readers can get their first glimpse into the wonders of animal migration. The book does a wonderful job of answering the simple question that might be asked by a youngster in a K–3 classroom: Why do animals gather together each year?

The text begins with an age appropriate definition of migration, then follows with examples from many representatives of the animal kingdom—amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish. Each example is accompanied with an explanation as to why the animal migrates (eg., food source, mating) and beautiful illustrations depicting the animal in its habitat.

The publisher states that the text is "so much more than a picture book" and this is quite true. While it would be fun to read to younger students, it would also be useful as an engagement activity that could lead into a discussion of animal migration. The publisher provides supplemental resources on its website that include teaching activities and interactive quizzes. The text is aligned to Common Core as well.

Ferdinand Fox's First Summer

5/1/2013

Author: Mary Holland
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95
ISBN: 9781607186144
Grade: K-3
Reviewer: Judy Kraus
Review:

An irresistible kit fox greets the reader on the cover of this book and draws one into the world of Ferdinand and his family of red fox. Facts about the kit fox's life cycle, adaptations, and food preferences abound in this exquisite, photographic journey through the first year of life.

During the first year, a kit goes through many changes, beginning in the den where it is born. After approximately five weeks the young fox ventures outside to explore the world. Using all five senses, it makes discoveries ranging from the scents left on leaves by other animals to the taste of sticks versus bugs! It learns to use its pointy ears to locate sounds. Hunting skills are perfected through play with other kits, much like the way puppies learn. The kit fox will need more skills to acquire food and avoid predators like hawks and coyotes.

Mary Holland has captured candid moments as the kit fox grows to illustrate behaviors and adaptations. The book closes with four pages of activities that parents or teachers might share with their child, and there are more activities online on the publisher's website.

Electrified!: What Is a Circuit?

5/1/2013

Author: Ethan Weingarten
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing
Pages: 24
Price: $22.60
ISBN: 9781433984143
Grade: 2-3
Reviewer: Sally Bell
Review:

Do you need a pathway to electrical energy? Ethan Weingarten uses a robot to introduce circuits to young scientists in this book, providing both content and interest.

The Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core anchors are obvious in this book. Informational text and colorful pictures that support and add to "Power Facts” give young readers an easily–understood path to circuits. Electrical safety is the first topic covered in this book. It then explains in detail basic circuits and moves on to enrichment.

The format of the book divides the topics into chunks of information that can be read individually or as a whole. Teaching students to research? The glossary, index, and “for more information” sections can be used for that. As each new word is introduced in the text it is bolded to signal the reader that word is in the glossary.

The “for more information” section lists other books and websites for students. Hand this book to an inquisitive kid and watch their circuits light up!

Electrified!: How Does a Battery Work?

5/1/2013

Author: Roman Wilson
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing
Pages: 24
Price: $22.60
ISBN: 9781433983993
Grade: 2-3
Reviewer: Sally Bell
Review:

Battery power, where does it come from? Your students can explore this colorful book to find the answers. Give this book to students and watch the charge they will receive as they learn how a battery works.

Young readers want their explanations to be quick and easy. This book covers the topic in that manner and so much more. Divided into nine stand–alone chapters, from battery workings to recycling, this informational text is delivered in a way that supports the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core.

This book can be used for general knowledge on batteries but also in teaching second and third graders research. Given a topic on chemical energy or electrolytes for example, students could use the index and glossary as well as the “for more information” section that cites other books and websites. Another plus for this book is as each new word is introduced in the text, it is bolded to signal the reader that word is in the glossary. The general format and color of this book invites students to read it all, focus on the boxed Power Facts, or glean information from the vivid pictures that support the text.

Train Wreck: The Forensics of Rail Disasters

5/1/2013

Author: George Bibel
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Pages: 355
Price: $29.95
ISBN: 9781421405902
Grade: College
Reviewer: Marilyn Cook
Review:

Some trains weigh 15,000 tons or more? Can you imagine the destruction that can be caused by a crash? So many things can go wrong...run away trains, bearing failures, metal fatigue, bad rails. The author has detailed seventeen crashes in which more than 200 people were killed. Forensic scientists try to figure out what happened by sifting through rubble and using the computerized event recorders; the investigators try to piece together an understanding so that additional safety measures can be put in place and collisions may be avoided.

To help the reader understand train wrecks and what happened there are diagrams, photos, and an extensive reference section of notes for each chapter. The reader learns how trains have crashed in the past and the difference in crashes now as well as freight and passenger train collisions, bearing failures, brake failure, broken rails, and buckled tracks. Other chapters include information on avoiding collisions, what part gravity can play in a train wreck, and applying Newton's Law and how moving at the wrong speed can cause a wreck.

Although the material in this book could be put on the web for students to use, the "old school" approach of an actual book does not detract from the information about train wrecks. After reading this it is amazing that there haven't been more train wrecks. What will keep trains on track without wrecks? In the epilogue "Safety in the Modern Area" positive train control which will "address human errors with computer intervention" will help however this will not prevent equipment failures that are the major cause of train derailments.

I would use this book in a high school science class and the book could be used as a supplement in a history class and in a math class. Actually the information presented involves science, technology, engineering, and math; it is a real world way of addressing STEM. The book offers a different way of exploring trains and, throughout the book, problem solving of the why and what to do can interest many students. Although this book is suggested for college level I would use it also with high school students, especially if the students were in advanced science and math classes. With the popularity of many forensic television programs this book could make a good series. I can imagine a student produced video for a project using the information by reading this book. It could keep your students on track in class!

How to Succeed as a Scientist: From Postdoc to Professor

5/1/2013

Author: Barbara J. Gabrys and Jane A. Langdale
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Pages: 211
Price: $36.99
ISBN: 9780521186834
Grade: College
Reviewer: Cary Seidman
Review:

High school or college students planning to pursue any number of careers—teacher, accountant, doctor, lawyer, and many others—will find generally predictable and consistent paths laid out for them. A young person seeking to become a scientist will find a less defined course of action. This book seeks to remedy that uncertainty.

Authors Barbara Gambril and Jane Langdale offer an account of how science careers are likely to unfold in today’s environment. Given the shrinking pool of government support for research and tightening higher education budgets, it will be prudent for future scientists to give this book a serious look. The authors, both on the science faculty at Oxford University, acknowledge that their experience and descriptions involve doing science in Great Britain, but they suggest that their advice applies elsewhere.

An aspiring scientist will find a great variety of tips in this book, ranging from the most mundane (a checklist of technical prerequisites for setting up a laptop for a presentation) to a number of suggestions for presenting one’s work and career goals clearly. They draw from real life experiences as well as a number of hypothetical scenarios regarding applications for postdoctoral positions. They point out the importance of relating one’s ideas and goals to current scientific research. The overarching theme of this book is practicality, offering ideas as to how to recognize and to take advantage of professional opportunities. Given that framework, the writing can be a bit pedantic and prescriptive.

Thankfully, the authors conclude with essays by four prominent British scientists, the most familiar of whom may be Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the discoverer of pulsars. These pieces, which convey some of the excitement of a scientist’s work, express the ways in which each has embraced new challenges.

This book appears at about the same time as a new volume by the great naturalist Edward O. Wilson's "Letters to a Young Scientist." Wilson draws upon his own experiences as he asserts that a passion for looking at problems in creative new ways is key. His writing is inspirational and passionate, terms one would not apply to the nuts–and–bolts, practical tone of How to Succeed as a Scientist. A young scientist will find value in both viewpoints.

A Universe From Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing

5/1/2013

Author: Lawrence M. Krauss
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: Simon And Schuster
Pages: 202
Price: $15.00
ISBN: 9781451624465
Grade: College
Reviewer: David Brock
Review:

The author takes the reader on a tour of how modern cosmology came to its understanding of the origin and nature of the universe. He starts with the basics—the role of the theory of general relativity and the work of Hubble in laying the foundations for the “Big Bang” theory—and explains how discovery of an expanding universe led to the need for the concepts of “dark matter” and “dark energy.” He walks the reader through the evidence for virtual particles and the role they play in our understanding of how the observable universe arose from empty space (i.e., the “nothing” of the title) and he concludes with a discussion of the possibility of “multiverses” and the implications for this universe’s laws of physics.

I like the science writing in this book. It is elegant, well–crafted, and rivals that of Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time” or Greene’s “The Elegant Universe.” However, what keeps this book from being truly on par with these modern masterpieces of physics writing is Krauss’ bad habit of digressing into unnecessary, often glib, attacks on the creationist outlook of most major theistic traditions. While I am both deeply and genuinely sympathetic to his frustration with the anti–scientific outlook increasingly prevailing in our society’s larger culture, I am also aware that “a truly open mind [DOES] mean forcing our imaginations to conform to the evidence of reality, and not vice versa” (p. 139). Fanaticism of any kind—whether secular or religious—is the refusal to acknowledge what Popper wisely observed: that ALL truth claims are falsifiable, and the shame is that Krauss fails to follow his own advice about “a truly open mind.”

I truly do not expect ANY empirical evidence of Divine intervention ANY time for the foreseeable future. But I remain appropriately scientifically skeptical that should such evidence arise someday that I would need to alter my outlook; Krauss, apparently, does not. Therefore, while I still highly recommend this book for anyone of high school age or older who is interested in the wonder that is modern cosmology, please read it knowingly for the secular apologist polemic that it is.

The Whole Story of Climate: What Science Reveals about the Nature of Endless Change

5/1/2013

Author: E. Kirsten Peters
Copyright: 2012
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Pages: 290
Price: $26.00
ISBN: 9781616146726
Grade: College
Reviewer: Marc Zucker
Review:

This book for adult readers takes a different approach than many other climate books currently out there. E. Kristen Peters gives us a wide–lens view of the history of climate science and the people that have been involved with our current state of knowledge.

The book starts with a look at the Ice Age and naturalist Louis Agassiz. As Peters moves through the complexities of building up a picture of our environment, she paints pictures of personalities—who they were, what they were after, and what they accomplished. The writing is engaging, bringing us from one era to the next, with the science behind the findings woven in.

It is in the final chapters that this book differentiates itself from many others, as the author discusses the current state of the climate, whether or not humans had any effect upon it, and the interplay between science and politics. She brings to the fore the hazards of the politics when she sates: “It’s pretty clear we cannot assume studies by major climate scientists are as sound as we would hope.” The book has few images and has very few endnotes. Though it might be aimed at a more casual reader, having a more complete, academic–like, endnote section would definitely have been welcome, especially if this book is used within college classes. It will be a welcome addition to many classes throughout the curriculum, whether a more standard science class or one political in nature focusing on the relation of science to policy–making.

The Enlightenment Vision: Science, Reason, and the Promise of a Better Future

5/1/2013

Author: Stuart Jordan
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Pages: 284
Price: $26.00
ISBN: 9781616146405
Grade: College
Reviewer: Rita Hoots
Review:

The Enlightenment refers to a movement initiated in the mid–17th Century that shifted the medieval mindset to one that focused on human reason and scientific thought aimed to the goal of world improvement. In this thoughtful tome, noted scientist Stuart Jordan examines the evolution of the Enlightenment as the philosophy progressed through the ages.

The primary impediments to the advancement of an improved world continue to reside in ignorance, superstition, and accelerating technology. In looking forward to a more humanistic world, the roles of religion and politics, along with their pros and cons, are discussed. The chief hindrance in improving the state of humanity is termed ‘crippling ignorance’. If the enlightenment goals are to succeed, then better education for everyone is one remedy prescribed. In order to achieve a more humanistic society, then science with its rational reasoning conjoined within an ethical framework is essential. While the author points to the many difficulties inherent in achieving a better world, he remains optimistic that despite threats of overpopulation, wars, nuclear weapons, climate change, and other difficulties, the Enlightenment vision will succeed.

This is a topic that would better suit the philosophically–conditioned reader, it makes for slow reading. It would be a valuable reference for secondary or college classes who research history of science, and require a resource that could parallel the normal chronological approach.

Shaking the Foundation: Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution

5/1/2013

Author: Sylvia A. Johnson
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books
Pages: 88
Price: $33.27
ISBN: 9780761354864
Grade: 6-12
Reviewer: Donald Logsdon Jr.
Review:

Natural selection is the basic model for the mechanism of evolution developed by Charles Darwin. It is hard to imagine trying to understand modern biology without a clear knowledge of how this works. The author has prepared an interesting discussion of natural selection geared towards the budding young scientist, describing how Darwin developed this idea and the roles played by prominent individuals.

The author includes a quote from Darwin as to his realization of this process: ”Although much remains obscure…I can entertain no doubt…that this view which most naturalists until recently entertained and which I formerly entertained–namely that each species has been independently created–is erroneous.” The book includes an introduction, eight chapters, a glossary, a list of sources, suggestions for further reading, an index, and an interesting group activity.

The chapters contain lots of photographs of prominent individuals who played a role in the development of natural selection as an important concept. Each chapter contains sidebars, such as one explaining why a scientific theory is not a guess but based on observed fact and experiments. This well–designed and well–written book can also be enjoyed by adults and deserves a place in the school library.

Food and Society: The History of Agriculture

5/1/2013

Author: Gini Gorlinski
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Pages: 164
Price: $45.00
ISBN: 9781615309191
Grade: 9-12
Reviewer: Richard Lord
Review:

Agriculture, the raising of crops and domestic animals for food and other purposes, originated independently in a variety of places. From southwestern Asia 12,000 years ago to eastern North America 500 years ago, various populations and cultures domesticated plants for food. From the prehistoric to the present, from hunter gatherers to farmers, this concise book uses archaeological and other evidence to present a detailed look at the discoveries and contributions of many cultures around the world in different time periods. Numerous factors have worked together to bring agriculture to where it is today.

The book follows the origin and spread of farms, the evolution of farm tools and implements, varying land arrangements to increase crop production, and the impact of disasters (weather, war, plagues, floods, etc.) in the context of how they have all affected agriculture. Key discoveries and improvements, such as steam power, the internal combustion engine, electric power, and mechanized harvesting are shown as significant factors leading to modern day agriculture. New crops and new techniques have transformed agriculture on a global scale. The science of genetics has been responsible for major changes in agriculture in more recent times. The development of hybrid species and genetic engineering of crops and livestock have resulted in greatly increased agricultural productivity. Also addressed are the impacts of crop pests (insects, fungi, bacteria, etc.), the rise of pesticides, the resulting problems with these chemicals, and biological control techniques. The book ends with a limited discussion of agricultural regulation, economics, and politics.

This short volume, part of Britannica’s Food and Society series, would be a worthwhile addition to a school or classroom library. Packed with valuable historical and scientific information, it would be appropriate for students in advanced or honors high school classes as well as college and adult students. It would be most useful in biology, agri–science, science and society, and history courses. It would be beneficial as a source of information for reports, debates, exhibits, special projects, and other presentations. Supplementary features of the book include sidebars that further explain items discussed in the text, colorful illustrations, a short glossary, a comprehensive bibliography, and a detailed index. Most of us are consumers of agricultural products and this book shows that there is much more to agriculture than meets the eye. This is a one–stop source containing a great deal of information that would require a lot of time and effort to locate otherwise.

Food and Society: The Science of Nutrition

5/1/2013

Author: Kara Rogers
Copyright: 2013
Publisher: Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Pages: 222
Price: $45.00
ISBN: 9781615309207
Grade: 9-12
Reviewer: Jean Worsley
Review:

With the national and international focus on wellness and healthy living, The Science of Nutrition is indeed a timely book. In nine chapters, there are an array of topics aligned with the influence of nutrition in our daily lives. Background information with colorful illustrations and concise biographies of pioneers (nutritionists, biochemists, and physicians) reveal the relationship between food and the human body. In addition, the role that nutrition plays in the prevention and control of diseases is thoroughly explored.

Beginning with a thorough overview, readers embark on a journey that provides factual details on how food is used in the body. Dietary guidelines that have been developed over the years in several countries are reviewed. An interesting discussion deals with nutritional needs during different stages of our life cycle (infancy– childhood–adolescence–adulthood) that affect to a large degree the quality of life.

This journey continues with an in–depth presentation of the composition and sources of six essential food groups (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water). It is of interest to note that water is perhaps the most important nutrient and that some nutrients are needed only in trace amounts. A detailed discussion explains the role that each nutrient plays in vital metabolic processes. Additionally, a classification of foods into nine groups (cereals, starchy roots, legumes, vegetables and fruits, sugars, preserves and syrups, meat, fish, eggs, milk and milk products, fats and oils, and beverages) is depicted. Emphasis is placed on the fact that knowledge of these groups and factors that influence food intake such as culture and religion are crucial in maintaining a balanced diet. Also, nutritional irregularities such as malnutrition, mineral deficiencies/toxicities, and dehydration are brought to the forefront.

Vitamins needed for vital biochemical processes must be obtained from the diet or synthetic sources. A detailed discussion about each vitamin (A, B, C, B complex, D, E, and K) including familiar names such as niacin, ascorbic acid, and riboflavin, is provided. Properties, sources, value, and deficiencies such as scurvy, rickets, and beriberi are also included. It is amazing to learn that the lack of one vitamin can automatically affect how others function. Moreover, it is also important to understand that on the one hand too much can be toxic and on the other hand too little can cause a deficiency. Contributions by Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, Adolf Windaus, and James Lind are highlighted. Additional topics described include vitamin–like substances and methods used to analyze vitamin content. It is interesting to discover how the term “home economics” was adopted.

The correlation of the food we eat to a number of diseases has been well documented. Details explaining how diet affects cardiovascular diseases and many kinds of cancer are presented. Heredity, age, sex, and hormones are additional risk factors that are believed to contribute to these diseases. The exposition on diabetes focuses on diet, obesity, symptoms, causes, and treatment. It is noteworthy to learn that diabetes affects many vital organs and is prevalent among specific ethnic groups. Other disorders described are gastrointestinal disorders, tooth decay, and eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. Additional risk factors explored are sunlight, biological and chemical agents and water pollution. This journey ends with a dialogue on the impact of environmental factors on our food supply. A concise review of initiatives that have been developed and are being developed to prevent food–borne diseases due to contamination by a variety of organisms, agents, and unsanitary conditions is presented. Pertinent facts related to food and drug interactions, food allergies, and toxins are also delineated. In the appendix, readers will find tables on vitamins, a nutrient scoreboard, common food–borne illnesses, a glossary, bibliography, and index. This is a comprehensive resource and is recommended for health professionals and anyone interested in pursuing a healthier lifestyle.