Synopses & Reviews
The critically acclaimed Scientist in the Field book about how one boyand#8217;s interest in backyard science inspired a career in scientific discovery.
When Tyrone Hayes was growing up in South Carolina, he didnand#8217;t worry about pesticides. He just liked to collect frogs. Tyroneand#8217;s interest in science led him to Harvard University, and though he struggled at first, he found his calling in the research lab of an amphibian scientist.
Meanwhile, scientists discovered that all around the globe, frogs were dying. The decline has many causes, including habitat loss and disease. Tyrone discovered that the most commonly used pesticide in the United States, atrazine, may also play a role. Tyrone tested atrazine on frogs in his lab at Berkeley. He found that the chemical caused some of the male frogs to develop into bizarre half-male, half-female frogs. What was going on? Thatand#8217;s what Tyrone wants to find out.
Review
"Hayes comes across as both a dedicated scientist and a regular person, willing to work hard in pursuit of his scientific work yet quick to laugh and joke with his family and the graduate students he mentors. The result is one of the most compelling portraits of a scientific career the series has produced. Sharp, vivid photographs alternate between portrayals of the scientistsand#8212;at work in field and laboratory settings, as well as relaxing at lab picnics and at homeand#8212;and the frogs they study. The abundant images of many different frog species allow readers to observe in detail each animaland#8217;s characteristics, including size, anatomy, and habitat."--
Horn Book, starred review
and#160; ". . . lively volume . . . Well organized and clearly written, the text goes into detail about the process of analyzing the chemicaland#8217;s affects on the frogs, but pulls back from specifics to show how the experiment fits into the larger picture . . . Excellent color photos offer clear pictures of frogs and of this scientific team at work in the field and in the lab . . . Throughout the book, Turner portrays Hayes as both a colorful personality and a dedicated scientist: the final chapter opens with a discussion of his four ear piercings and concludes with an overview of his research. A vivid, realistic view of one scientist at work."--Booklist,and#160;starred review
". . . a nifty narrative that conveys science in action, offers some insight into environmental damage, and provides a vivid portrait of an energetic and charismatic (and hunky) young scientist who's clearly inspiring students to take an interest in the field. The visually appealing layout is thick with images of people, making it easy to envision the realities of biological work, and of frogs, from hopping to undergoing dissection . . . useful as an introduction to the creation and execution of an experiment, and it will therefore be invaluable in science classes."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,and#160;starred review
"Of the same sterling quality as Sy Montgomery's engaging The Tarantula Scientist (2004) or her exciting Quest for the Tree Kangaroo (2006, both Houghton), this new addition to a stellar series opens an upbeat window to the adult application of youthful enthusiasms."--School Library Journal, starred review and#160;
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Review
"This intriguing volume from the Scientists in the Field series will interest readers." --
Booklist "The many color photographs, predominantly from the Namibian field sites, capture the majestic elder elephants, their always-appealing offspring, and the dusty, rugged landscapes in which the scientists and research assistants camp and work."--
Horn Bookand#160; "This amazing presentation is a must-have for all collections." --
School Library Journal, starred review
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Synopsis
In this captivating Scientists in the Field entry, follow scientists as they scan the vast Alaskan wilderness for polar bearsand#8212;the amazing creatures that have become the face of global warmingand#8212;but encounter more water and less ice than theyand#8217;ve ever seen before.
Synopsis
It is springtime in Alaska, and the U.S. Geological Survey team is gearing up for polar bear capturing. The scientists locate bears from a helicopter, tranquilize them, give them tattoo ID numbers and tags, and collect data such as height, weight, and body fat measurements and samples such as blood, hair, feces, and even teeth. For more than fortyand#160;years, scientists have been capturing bears in order to get information. What has this information been telling scientistsand#160;about polar bears and our changing global climate? Find out in this fascinating entry in the Scientists in the Fieldand#160;series!and#160;
Synopsis
A capitivating and beautifully photographed Scientists in the Field title about a man trying to discover the effects pesticides have on frogs and, in turn, on us.
Synopsis
In this beautifully designed addition to the Scientists in the Field series, journey to the Namibian desert and witness one of natureand#39;s largest, most complex, and most intelligent mammals through the eyes of an exacting and innovative scientist.
Synopsis
In the sprawling African scrub desert of Etosha National Park in Namibia, they call her "the mother of all elephants." Holding binoculars closely to her eyes, American scientist Caitlin Oand#8217;Connell could not believe what she was seeing from these African elephants: as the mighty matriarch scanned the horizon, the other elephants followed suit, stopped midstride, and stood as still as statues.
This observation would guide the scientist to a groundbreaking discovery about elephant communication: elephants actually listen with their limbs.
The Elephant Scientist was named a 2012 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book.
About the Author
The photographers Caitlin Oand#8217;Connell, Ph.D., and Timothy Rodwell, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., are scientists and professional photographers that have blended art and science to help make science more accessible and engaging. Their photography has appeared in National Geographic, National Wildlife Magazine, Discover, Science News, Africa Geographic, and many other international magazines, scientific journals, and newspapers. More of their elephant photography will appear in their forthcoming photography book An Elephant's Life, which will feature every aspect of an elephant's life in rich detail. Caitlin is on the faculty in the Stanford School of Medicine and Timothy is an assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.