Discovery

The goal of <i>Discovery: Science as a Window to the World</i> is to relay the excitement of sciene by exploring selected topics in biology and medicine in a way that reveals the process of discovery. Each chapter will focus on the curiosity and creativity that drives scientists to wonder, observe, question and experiment. <p>One impetus for this project is the recognition of a growing demand among instructors for a book that departs from fact-stuffed textbooks and instead engages students in the discovery process at a personal level.<br /> </p> <ul> <li style=”list-style: none”><br /> </li> <li>Emphasizes the process of discovery through interviews and key experiments.<br /> </li> <li>Written by a best-selling author.<br /> </li> <li>Provides an in-depth, conversational look at the science behind several “hot topics” in biology.<br /> </li> <li>Each chapter traces the beginnings of the field with stories of how serendipity and scientific inquiry intertwine.<br /> </li> <li>Presents the background to a field by including the scientific literature-so the reader does not have to do a literature search or plow through a review article.<br /> </li> <li>Many essays introduce the work of overlooked scientists or “unsung heroes.” Alexey Olovnikov (telomeres), Leroy Steven (stem cells), to name a few.<br /> </li> <li>Also, well-known scientists are interviewed: Stanley Miller, Carl Woese, John Gearhart, and others.<br /> </li> <li>The essays show how ideas interact and coalesce from different lines of research.<br /> </li> <li>Highlights the role of the media in interpreting science for the public.</li> </ul>