Science: general issues Books

Book SynopsisGalileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, published in Florence in 1632, was the most proximate cause of his being brought to trial before the Inquisition. Using the dialogue form, a genre common in classical philosophical works, Galileo masterfully demonstrates the truth of the Copernican system over the Ptolemaic one, proving, for the first time, that the earth revolves around the sun. Its influence is incalculable. The Dialogue is not only one of the most important scientific treatises ever written, but a work of supreme clarity and accessibility, remaining as readable now as when it was first published. This edition uses the definitive text established by the University of California Press, in Stillman Drake’s translation, and includes a Foreword by Albert Einstein and a new Introduction by J. L. Heilbron.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPart 1: Coronal sections Part 2: Horizontal sections Part 3: Sagittal sections

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Book SynopsisSupport English language skills while improving subject content knowledge with a comprehensive three-level lower secondary programme specifically designed for non-native English speaking students studying Science through the medium of English.- Benefit from a flexible programme that ensures thorough preparation for the IGCSE and equivalent courses and is suitable as a stand-alone course . - Aid understanding and encourage practical application with experiments.- Engage interest with clear text and stimulating activities alongside inspiring illustrations.- Consolidate knowledge with chapter summaries and revision questions.Reinforce the material taught within each lesson with the accompanying Workbook, providing extra practice and homework activities.Make the most of the series with the Teacher''s Guide containing answers to the Coursebook activities, notes on the Workbook activities, guidance on delivering lessons and support for experimentTable of Contents : 1. Measuring in science : 2. Food and digestion : 3. Circulation and breathing : 4. Respiration : 5. Flowering plants : 6. Atoms and elements : 7. Molecules and compounds : 8. More about metals and non-metals : 9. Chemical reactions : 10. Rocks and weathering : 11. Magnetism : 12. Light : 13. Sound and hearing : 14. Energy transformations : 15. Speed, time and distance

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Book SynopsisOne of the most important and consistent voices in the reform of science education over the last thirty years has been that of Peter Fensham. His vision of a democratic and socially responsible science education for all has inspired change in schools and colleges throughout the world. Often moving against the tide, Fensham travelled the world to promote his radical ideology. He was appointed Australia's first Professor of Science Education, and was later made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his work in this new and emerging field of study.In this unique book, leading science educators from around the world examine and discuss Fensham's key ideas. Each describes how his arguments, proposals and recommendations have affected their own practice, and extend and modify his message in light of current issues and trends in science education. The result is a vision for the future of science teaching internationally.Academics, researchers and practitioners in science education around the world will find this book a fascinating insight into the life and work of one of the foremost pioneers in science education. The book will also make inspiring reading for postgraduate students of science education.Trade Review'This is a valuable book, one that I enjoyed reading from cover to cover. The book shows the importance of Fensham's work and illustrates clearly that the key debates in education are recurrent'. - Education ReviewTable of ContentsPart 1 Peter James Fensham (1927–); Chapter 1 Living the dream, Roger Cross; Part 2 Science for all; Chapter 2 Science for all, Cliff Malcolm; Chapter 3 Making science matter, Jonathan Osborne; Chapter 4 'Science for All', Tarsisius Sarkim; Part 3 Science, technology, and society; Chapter 5 STS education, Glen Aikenhead; Chapter 6 The UK and the movement for science, technology, and society (STS) education, Joan Solomon; Part 4 Gender in science teaching; Chapter 7 Science for all? Science for girls? Which girls?, Nancy Brickhouse; Chapter 8 Understanding gender differences in science education, Léonie Rennie; Part 5 The theory and practice of science teaching; Chapter 9 Fensham's lodestar criterion, James Wandersee; Part 6 Politics of the science curriculum; Chapter 10 Part ners or opponents, Harrie Eijkelhof; Chapter 11 Perspectives and possibilities in the politics of science curriculum, Jim Gaskell; Part 7 Peter Fensham's reform agenda; Chapter 12 Visions, research, and school practice, Reinders Duit; Chapter 13 Changing the script for science teaching, Richard White; Part 8 Peter Fensham's impact on science education in Australia and science education research around the world; Chapter 14 Impact of science education now and in the future, Cristina Padolina; Chapter 15 The importance of being able to see 'the big picture', David Treagust;

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Book SynopsisThis book provides researchers in every field of the biological, physical and medical sciences with all the information necessary to prepare, submit for publication, and revise a scientific paper. Trade Review"[Ann Korners' book is...] well written and offers much useful advice... It is rare that Korner's advice does not apply to any potential paper."--British Journal of Educational Technology"This is a brief book with some solid advice for scientists and their editors on how to prepare a successful journal manuscript. I would recommend it for your bookshelf."--Tom Warren, Technical Communication (November 2009), Vol. 56, No. 4:410-411Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Publication of Scientific Papers 2. Before You Start Writing 3. The Title Page 4. The Abstract or Summary 5. The Introduction 6. Materials and Methods 7. Human Subjects 8. Results 9. Discussion 10. Acknowledgements 11. References and Notes 12. Figures and Figure legends 13. Tables 14. Supplementary Information 15. The First Letter to the Editor of Your Target Journal 16. Submission of Your Paper 17. Letter from the Editor and Your Response 18. Second Letter to the Editor with Responses to Reviewers 19. Congratulations, Your Paper Has Been Accepted! Appendix. A Note About Writing Applications for Financial Support. Valedictory

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Book SynopsisIn its eerie likeness to Earth, Mars has long captured our imaginations—both as a destination for humankind and as a possible home to extraterrestrial life. It is our twenty-first century New World; its explorers robots, shipped 350 million miles from Earth to uncover the distant planet’s secrets.Its most recent scout is Curiosity—a one-ton, Jeep-sized nuclear-powered space laboratory—which is now roving the Martian surface to determine whether the red planet has ever been physically capable of supporting life. In Red Rover, geochemist Roger Wiens, the principal investigator for the ChemCam laser instrument on the rover and veteran of numerous robotic NASA missions, tells the unlikely story of his involvement in sending sophisticated hardware into space, culminating in the Curiosity rover''s amazing journey to Mars.In so doing, Wiens paints the portrait of one of the most exciting scientific stories of our time: the new era of robotic space exploration. Starting with NASA’s introduction of the Discovery Program in 1992, scrappier, more nimble missions became the order of the day, as manned missions were confined to Earth orbit, and behemoth projects went extinct. This strategic shift presented huge scientific opportunities, but tight budgets meant that success depended more than ever on creative engineering and human ingenuity. Beginning with the Genesis mission that launched his career, Wiens describes the competitive, DIY spirit of these robotic enterprises, from conception to construction, from launch to heart-stopping crashes and smooth landings.An inspiring account of the real-life challenges of space exploration, Red Rover vividly narrates what goes into answering the question: is there life elsewhere in the universe? Trade ReviewWashington Post "[Wiens] is a good guide through the process of building a space probe... His inside narration of how things go wrong at NASA is the great strength of this book. It is rich with details of how both the ChemCam team in particular and the Curiosity rover in general overcame engineering challenges such as faulty lenses and awkward temperature distributions." BBC Sky At Night "This engaging new book by Roger Wiens whose team built Curiosity's ChemCam instrument, gives a unique insider's view... Wiens's accessible and conversational writing is a major strength of Red Rover, providing a thoroughly human perspective on a complex technological subject." Booklist "An engaging history of robotic space exploration... A remarkable memoir and testament to the ingenuity of the space program's many scientists who build the tools needed to explore our solar system." Scientific American "Wiens offers a backstage tour of the delights and disappointments of working on missions." Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly "Wiens's writing is clear and engaging... A unique contribution... This book reinforces a vision of outer space as emblematic of technological progress, but also nicely encapsulates the external, messy factors that influence, hinder, and help the development of a robotic explorer." Publishers Weekly "This entertaining insider account of Wiens's work on two groundbreaking robotic space explorers - the Genesis and Curiosity Rover - captures all the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of modern space science... Wiens brings his work to life, candidly addressing the inevitable technological and bureaucratic obstacles and failures that compose the frustrating prelude to scientific victory." Kirkus Reviews "The author provides fascinating insight into the struggle to solve scientific problems despite technical constraints and equipment failures... A winning memoir of great achievement." Steve Squyres, Professor of Astronomy, Cornell University, and author of Roving Mars "We live in a new golden age of exploration, as robotic spacecraft fan out across the solar system, extending the human experience to other planets. With Red Rover, Roger Wiens provides a delightful, candid, and highly personal insider's view of this great endeavor." Jim Bell, Professor of Planetary Science, Arizona State University, President of the Planetary Society, and author of Postcards from Mars "Roger Wiens has crafted a delightful and very personal history of planetary exploration that takes us from his boyhood fascination with the Apollo Moon missions to his leading role as a key scientist on the latest Mars rover. His journey from a small prairie town to the laser labs of Los Alamos reminds us that passion, imagination, and perseverance are what propel us to explore the frontiers of space." John L. Phillips, retired NASA astronaut, and former NASA Chair Professor, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School "Red Rover offers an enticing personal look at the exaltations and disappointments of unmanned space exploration. Roger Wiens vividly portrays the genius and perseverance of the dedicated scientists and engineers who have made robotic exploration of the solar system a reality." Laurie Leshin, Dean, School of Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute "In Red Rover, Roger Wiens gets you up close and personal with the highs and lows, the triumphs and disappointments that come with pushing the scientific envelope, and the great persistence required to succeed. A great read for anyone interested in exploring the frontiers of space."

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Book SynopsisAn award-winning journalist investigates how scientists and citizens around the world are re-tooling our senses-and what their discoveries are teaching us about the nature and future of human perception How do we know what''s real? That''s not a trick question: sensory science is increasingly finding that we don''t perceive reality: we create it through perception. In We Have the Technology, science writer Kara Platoni guides us through the latest developments in the science of sensory perception.We Have the Technology introduces us to researchers who are changing the way we experience the world, whether creating scents that stimulate the memories of Alzheimer''s patients, constructing virtual limbs that approximate a sense of touch, or building augmented reality labs that prepare soldiers for the battlefield. These diverse investigations not only explain previously elusive aspects of human experience, but offer tantalizing glimpses into a future when we can expand, control, and enhance our senses as never before. A fascinating tour of human capability and scientific ingenuity, We Have the Technology offers essential insights into the nature and possibilities of human experience.Trade ReviewNew York Magazine, 7 Books You Need to Read This December "Eschewing both the glib hyperbole of techno-futurists and the finger-wagging of neo-Luddites, Platoni takes her notebook on a whistle-stop tour of sensory pioneers: AI developers, VR engineers, pain analysts, flavor enhancers, and even a few people who really are making the world a better place. Her focus on the senses raises smart questions about the pliable boundaries of human perception and the very real limits of technology -- at least in primitive 2015." Los Angeles Times "Oakland journalist Platoni explores new research that shows how sensory perception and human experience are unexpectedly complicated and changeable." San Francisco Chronicle "Platoni is a good match for this fascinating, sometimes fraught subject. She's an industrious gatherer of facts and anecdotes. She has a talent for explaining complex ideas in clear language. And in this book, her first, she's crafted a thought-provoking group portrait of the innovative thinkers who, in ways subtle and not so, are reimagining what the brain and the body can do... She's the antithesis of an armchair reporter." Booklist "[A] fascinating, often mind-boggling report on the fast-growing world of sensory science...Sometimes glowingly optimistic, and sometimes unnerving, Platoni's overview previews a fast-approaching future of widespread sensory manipulation that demonstrates humankind is truly 'on the cusp of tinkering with its own evolution.'" Kirkus "Consistently fascinating, witty, and candid... Engrossing techno-science delivered with gusto and sure to reach a varied audience." Library Journal "All readers will find something in this journalistic text that doesn't shy away from tough issues such as privacy and trauma." City Journal "[A] fine book." East Bay Express "With her rich reporting and narrative writing, Platoni provides readers with an accessible and engaging firsthand account of the inventions that are likely to shape science, technology, and human perception for many years to come." Washington Post "[We Have the Technology is a] scrupulously researched...thought-provoking book...A whirlwind tour of the senses and the ways technology may or may not enhance them through methods both fantastic and mundane...Platoni is a wonderful explicator of technology who weaves memorable and vivid metaphors to illustrate difficult concepts." Bay Area News Group, San Jose Mercury News, Contra Costa Times, and Oakland Tribune "Kara Platoni melds complex concepts of biotech and human sensory enhancement in her new book, We Have the Technology...it shows us just how far modern technology has come -- and how wild and crazy it's going to get." Shelf Awareness for Readers newsletter "[We Have the Technology is] an examination of how the creative world of sensory science is changing our understanding and perceptions of reality." Publishers Weekly, starred review "[An] enthusiastic review of research into human senses and ways they might be improved... [W]holly engrossing... This is a superb account of human perception and the first, clunky but potentially breathtaking efforts to expand it." Joshua Davis, author of Spare Parts: Four Undocumented Teenagers, One Ugly Robot, and the Battle for the American Dream "The cutting edge takes on literal meaning in We Have the Technology, as Kara Platoni introduces us to the biohackers, surgeons, perfumers, chefs, and patients pushing the boundaries of reality by inserting perception-altering technologies inside their bodies. Deeply reported and deftly told, We Have the Technology draws back the curtain on a brave new world in which being a hacker means hacking oneself."Table of ContentsPart One: The Five Senses 1. Taste 2. Smell 3. Vision 4. Hearing 5. Touch Part Two: Metasensory Perception 6. Time 7. Pain 8. Emotion Part Three: Hacking Perception 9. Virtual Reality 10. Augmented Reality 11. New Senses

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