Print Current Issue: Feb/March 2010, Vol. 46 Iss 2&3
SB&F Prize Winners Honored
Children’s science books on how plants bring the Earth to life, on a real-life “frog scientist”– Tyrone Hayes of the University of California, Berkeley – and on the world of microbes earned top honors in the 2009 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize competition, sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.
The prizes, intended to promote science literacy by drawing attention to the importance of good science writing and illustration, this year honored five authors, one nature photographer, and a total of three books. AAAS and Subaru co-sponsor the prizes to recognize recently published works that are scientifically sound and foster an understanding and appreciation of science in readers of all ages.
“These prizes encourage science literacy in children and young adults by recognizing authors who convey the excitement of science in ways that engage young minds,” said Alan I. Leshner, chief executive officer of AAAS and executive publisher of its journal, Science.
Read the entire article and view the winners
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Featured Reviews
Kurpinski, Kyle, and Terry D. Johnson. How to Defeat Your Own Clone: And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution. (Illus.) NY: Bantam, 2010. x+180pp. $14.00. 2009045899. ISBN 9780553385786. C.I.P.
Level: C, T, GA
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| Biotechnology has provided many benefits to societies worldwide by contributing to the advancement of agriculture, industrial processing, and medicine. Equally important are the many societal concerns about the safety and ethical implications of these innovations. This book is a serious assessment of biotechnology developments presented in a lighthearted and humorous manner. It focuses primarily on the issues brought about by human cloning. The authors are two bioengineers with industrial experiences (Kurpinski) and academic research (Johnson). The book begins with a cursory overview of biotechnology advances from the field’s inception. It also provides a background about DNA structure, gene expression, genetic modification technologies, genomics, and mutation. The remaining chapters apply the information presented to build an understanding of human cloning. Coverage is given to the technical status of human cloning and its current limitations. Gene therapy is also discussed in the same manner. The authors do a very good job presenting the popular misconceptions and myths of human cloning portrayed in movies and television shows. One chapter provides an overview and assessment of genetic modification techniques used primarily in agriculture and industry. “Frankenfoods,” Dolly the cloned lamb, and other topics are discussed. In the final chapter, the authors end with humorous approaches to dealing with cloning. The ethical coverage in this book is balanced and does not promote any one viewpoint. In addition, the pros and cons of the genetic technologies are approached in a rational and unbiased way. The book is written for a general audience and is good for building a general awareness of genetic technologies. --Brian R. Shmaefsky, Kingwood College, Kingwood, TX |
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Schwartz, David M., and Yael Schy. Where Else in the Wild? (Photographs by Dwight Kuhn.) Berkeley, CA: Tricycle Press, 2009. 50pp. $16.99. 2008042430. ISBN 9781582462837. C.I.P.
Level: EP-EA, T, GA
Rating: + + |
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| Where Else in the Wild? is described by the authors as a sequel to their first book on this theme, Where in the Wild? by the same publisher. In some ways, it is a sequel, but it is a very good sequel that can stand alone as a wonderful book for kids learning about nature. The book is elegantly presented and contains beautiful images of the strategy of camouflage in nature and accurate descriptions of key features of each of the animal species shown. The book is appropriate for kids of different ages. Younger kids will improve their observation skills just by looking at the pictures and looking for the animals; older kids can use the cues provided by the little fun notes and poems, look for the animals, and, once they identify them, read about the lives of these species. In sum, this extremely clever and fun book is an educative experience for primary school kids from 6 to 12 years old, is engaging, and is even a good tool for parents to encourage their kids’ interest in science. --Emma Perez-Costas, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL |
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