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Chasing Science at Sea: Racing Hurricanes, Stalking Sharks, and Living Undersea with Ocean...
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Chasing Science at Sea: Racing Hurricanes, Stalking Sharks, and Living Undersea with Ocean...
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by Ellen Prager
Sales Rank : 18974
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Hardcover: 178 pages
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition September 15, 2008
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0226678709
ISBN-13: 978-0226678702
Product Dimensions:
9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
From Publishers Weekly
The sea has always inspired tales of adventure and discovery in the face of a vast, unpredictable unknown. Prager, chief scientist at the undersea research station Aquarius Reef Base, in the Florida Keys, uses adventure to frame this collection of firsthand accounts about the challenges faced by marine scientists. But adventure is a far cry from glamour: research often means close quarters on a small ship, usually with bad food, infrequent showers and changeable weather, as well as long days of collecting data. With tongue only slightly in cheek, Prager offers advice for any field scientist: always bring spare pencils and be prepared for things to go wrong, from pirates to valuable equipment getting lost or damaged. In exchange, scientists look forward to the sense-of-wonder moments: swimming with whale sharks, seeing St. Elmo's Fire dance along the rigging. Focused on adventure rather than in-depth science, this entertaining book will appeal most to casual and younger readers. 4 color and 28 b&w illus. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Review
"The sea has always inspired tales of adventure and discovery in the face of a vast, unpredictable unknown. Prager, chief scientist at the undersea research station Aquarius Reef Base, in the Florida Keys, uses adventure to frame this collection of firsthand accounts about the challenges faced by marine scientists. But adventure is a far cry from glamour: research often means close quarters on a small ship, usually with bad food, infrequent showers and changeable weather, as well as long days of collecting data. With tongue only slightly in cheek, Prager offers advice for any field scientist: always bring spare pencils and be prepared for things to go wrong, from pirates to valuable equipment getting lost or damaged. In exchange, scientists look forward to the sense-of-wonder moments: swimming with whale sharks, seeing St. Elmo''s Fire dance along the rigging. Focused on adventure rather than in-depth science, this entertaining book will appeal most to casual and younger readers."-Publisher''s Weekly (Publishers Weekly 20080901)
"`Going into the field is an exciting, challenging, and inspiring part of doing ocean science; it is also essential,' writes Prager, currently chief scientist of the undersea research station Aquarius Reef Base. Using anecdotes from colleagues and from her own career, she succeeds in showing the reader that doing science can be both fun and thrilling, especially when it involves work in and on the ocean. She also reminds us that field research is important to doing good science and that learning more about the world's oceans is essential to our future."-Library Journal (Library Journal )
"In Chasing Science at Sea, Ellen Prager tells amazing stories about her experiences on the water, as well as those of other researchers who have dared face its known and unknown dangers. Through these tales, and from the passion with which she writes about the creatures of the sea, the reader will understand how important the oceans are to our lives."-Jim Fowler, Honorary President of the Explorers Club and cohost of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (Jim Fowler )
"Dr. Prager's book captures the thrilling personal and professional experiences of being at sea and observing how the ocean works firsthand. Oceanography is a contact science, so it is essential to be out there to understand what is going on in this fast-changing, dynamic environment. Her collection of experiences does an excellent job visualizing the excitement of ocean exploration and discovery. It brought back many fond memories and is just delightful to read."- Robert B. Gagosian, President and CEO, Consortium for Ocean Leadership (Robert B. Gagosian )
Thank you, Ellen Prager, for your salute to the ocean and the wild and wonderful people who explore the sea. I laughed out loud while absorbing serious insights about the state of the ocean and what it really takes for scientists to extract deep knowledge from the deep blue. Science fiction is really tame compared to the reality you have captured in this saga of ocean science."-Sylvia A. Earle, Explorer in Residence, National Geographic Society (Sylvia A. Earle )
"Prager, chief scientist of the world''s only undersea station, in Florida, presents a well-organized introduction to marine science enlivened by the story of her own personal path into the profession. Through dozens of anecdotes of wave scientists, marine geologists, tsunami researchers, underwater archaeologists, and many others, Prager casually reveals the vast number and variety of interests pursued in the sea. She speaks to one expert about tumor viruses affecting undersea creatures and another whose specialty is bioluminescence. Everyone has a story of discovery to share, and Prager''s ability to zero in on astonishing facts makes for an enormously appealing book. The heavy emphasis on fieldwork allows scientists to stress the more exciting aspects of the professions (from watching whale sharks feed to skirting the edges of a hurricane). As an unorthodox handbook for would-be ocean scientists, this title is invaluable. Pair it with William Sargent''s Writing Naturally (2006) to reveal the way to a personally fulfilling scientific career."-Booklist (Booklist )
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