Chasing Science : Science as Spectator Sport

Rating:
Summary: Thin gruel, way overpromised
Review: Far from being a comprehensive tour of science-oriented travels, this is simply a cursory, spotty travelogue.

The bits and pieces are fine and fun, but hardly worthy
of a booklength treatment. This would have made a fine magazine article.

Rating:
Summary: Finding Science Fun!
Review: Mr. Pohl has the pleasurable job of being a professional writer who gets to investigate science and what scientists are working on. He discovered the joys of doing this as a tourist after an impromptu visit to the computation lab at MIT after giving a speech there. Since then, he has circled the globe in all directions to enjoy nature and scientists at work in many different dimensions. This book is a guide to show you where and how to enjoy the fun as well!

The book is divided into many different sections, by interest area. These include the U.S. national laboratories that you can visit (like Fermilab, Brookhaven National, Argonne, and Sandia), using a backyard telescope to look at the heavens, visiting various telescopes, space travel sites (from Cape Canaveral to Star City in Russia), volcanoes and earthquake locales (especially California, Italy, Iceland, Hawaii, and east Africa), water phenomena (China, Chicago, Niagara Falls, and the Mississippi River), great caves and tunnels (Lescaux in France, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, Carlsbad Caverns, and subways), fossil and archeology sites (La Brea tar pits, Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall, Machu Picchu), meetings where scientists gather to share knowledge (like sessions of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, various museums in the U.S., and the New York Academy of the Sciences), and opportunities for distance learning (by mail, publications, periodicals, television, and e-mail).

One of the great strengths of this book is a geographical index of all of the sites and sources mentioned in the book. The text also contains information about how to access the scientific community and equipment in many cases. For the most part, not much special effort is required other than getting yourself there.

For me, this book is great because I travel a lot. I can use the index to help pick places to visit when I have a hole in my schedule during a trip. For years I have done this with art museums and other cultural sites, but not as often with scientific locations. I look forward to rebalancing that.

I only saw two flaws in the book. First, Mr. Pohl omitted a major way that thousands have enjoyed science over the years, an Earth Watch expedition. This is a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts that helps volunteers find experiments to fund and work on during vacations. One of my sons and I have done this, and found it very rewarding. In my case, I worked on the ways that whales communicate while riding in a Zodiac off the coast of the big island of Hawaii. While there, I had a chance to visit the volcanoes, so I enjoyed two types of science in one trip. It never occurred to me to try to visit the observatories there as well. Next time!

Second, the book does not present many ideas for biological field research visits. Birding is especially good in Central America and Kenya. Whale watching is outstanding in Hawaii, Baja California, Alaska, Massachusetts, and in the Galapagos . . . depending on the time of the year. Perhaps if there is another edition, these kinds of ideas will be added.

If you think you like science or you have family members who do, this book will bring you many hours of pleasure by guiding you into many of the most interesting sites that are easily accessible. I have already visited many of these locations, and can certainly agree that each one was well worth the trip.

After you have read the book, I suggest that you pick themes of things you would like to learn more about. I had the chance to spend time at the Amazon exhibit at the Smithsonian two years ago, and the scientists there were very good at describing all of the research needs we have for the rain forest. Since then, I have learned a lot more in that area. That has turned out to be very intellectually rewarding for me.

Once you find an area that appeals to you, learn about it in as much depth as you enjoy. That will prove more satisfying than just getting a smattering of a lot of areas. Perhaps you can find ways to get your employer involved in supporting the scientific work that needs to be done. Wouldn't that be great?

Have all the science fun you want!