Science book ruins Cambridge professor’s weekend

Science book ruins Cambridge professor’s weekend
 
A new book that tells the stories of breakthrough discoveries by NZ scientists has received high praise from Prof. Gerry Gilmore of Cambridge University’s Institute of Astronomy.

Prof. Gilmore, who was born and raised in Christchurch, and became the first NZer to receive a doctorate in astronomy, said receiving an advance copy of The Awa Book of New Zealand Science from the publisher had ruined his weekend.

“I could not put down this wonderful collection of writings by remarkable people, many heroes and several geniuses.”

The Awa Book of New Zealand Science is a gripping read. Consisting largely of eyewitness accounts by scientists themselves, it tells the stories of widely varying scientific discoveries, from colonial naturalists describing NZ’s unique bird life, to physicists unveiling the structure of the atom and DNA, and today’s medical researchers finding new links between environment, genetics and disease.

The editor, science writer and historian Rebecca Priestley, said all pieces had been carefully chosen to be accessible to the general reader.

“Lots of people think of science as too hard. They’ll be amazed when they read this book – lots of the pieces are as thrilling as a good detective story.”

The publisher says it has been overwhelmed by the positive response.

Bernard Beckett, author of best-seller Genesis and Falling for Science, calls the book “an eloquent collection that reminds us of the range and intensity of intellectual obsession, and the sheer hard graft of dragging us to new understandings.”

Paul Callaghan, Alan MacDiarmid professor of physical sciences at Victoria University and a well-known science commentator on Radio NZ, applauded it as highly readable and valuable.

“It shows how NZ’s history is interwoven with both scientific achievement and insight – not only about our country’s unique environment, but about the universe of knowledge that belongs to all humanity.”