DustJacket

Wizards of Oz
Recent breakthroughs by Australian scientists

by Peter Spinks

Anyone who thinks Australia is a scientific backwater - that has given the world little more than vegemite, the wine dispensing cask and the hills-hoist clothes line - should think again. Who built the world's smallest machine? Whose studies of exploding stars billions of light years away suggested that the universe is expanding at an increasing rate? Who discovered the richest deposits of gold, silver, copper and zinc sulphide? Who developed a technique to reconstruct dinosaurs in colour, a method for mapping the oceans in three dimensions, a process to destroy ozone-depleting compounds, a system to date individual grains of sand up to 800,000 years old, one of the first truly washable water-based paints and the mauve carnation? The doyens of Australian science, that's who! These are just some of the scores of recent achievements unveiled in this skilfully crafted celebration of the collective talent of Australian researchers working in areas as diverse as palaeontology, astronomy, biotechnology and the environment.

These are just some of the scores of recent achievements by Australian scientists unveiled in a new book, called Wizards of Oz, which covers state-of-the-art developments in a wide range of scientific disciplines. It includes the trailblazing work of two prominent scientists from Princeton University, David Spergel and Neil Cornish, who are also working on an exciting NASA project to map the universe.

Some of the countrys other grand savants were also coaxed away from their blackboards and workbenches by the acclaimed science writer Peter Spinks to explain what they were doing in clear and lucid terms. The result is that scientific quests are approached with the suspense and verve of a well-told detective story.

This is the first book of its kind, bringing together the latest research and development in Australia. Celebrating the collective scientific triumphs of some of Australias best palaeontologists, geologists, physicists, astronomers, chemists, meteorologists, ecologists and biotechnologists, the book reveals that, despite some demoralisation amongst its practitioners, science in Australia is alive and well, and going places. In fact, Australians, who account for little more than 0.3 per cent of the worlds population, contribute some 2.5 per cent of all international scientific publications. This is in spite of waning support by government, heavy teaching loads at universities and a continuing trend for businesses to invest a smaller proportion of the countrys gross domestic product in research and development than the OECD average.

Rather than providing comprehensive coverage of science down under, the book concentrates on a few key areas of research that are both topical and highly relevant to the general public. Each of the ten chapters deals with a branch of science - including geology, biotechnology, astronomy, high-technology, meteorology, the environment and palaeontology - or a topic of special interest, such as fire, salmonella research and the ozone hole.

Each of these areas is fascinating and important in its own way, and the scientists, some of whom were interviewed in person and others by telephone, are quoted fairly extensively in order that they may communicate their work directly. The aim is to provide readers with an artists impression, rather than a technicians catalogue, of the kind of exciting research in progress.

Written clearly and concisely, this highly accessible book - which is part of the Paul Davies Frontiers of Science series - will appeal to anyone from school children to university professors. The only requirement is that readers should have a sense of curiosity and a regard for new developments in Australia.

Peter Spinks (M.A.), a former research psychologist, has broadcast and written about science for some of the world's foremost media organisations including the British Broadcasting Corporation , The Guardian and The Observer newspapers and New Scientist magazine. Since 1996, he has been the science reporter of The Age, one of Australia's leading newspapers.

Contents : 1 Archivists of the Earth 2 The unsung geo-heroes 3 The southern stargazers 4 The high priests of high technology 5 The biotech bolsheveiks 6 The rainbow warriors 7 The forecasters 8 Minders of the gap 9 The firebrands 10 The salmonella sleuths

Pages : 276+8
Format : 195X130
Illustrations : 30 b&w illos, 15 halftones
Publication : JUN 99
ISBN: 186-448-8018
Price : AUS$19.95

		Wizards of Oz Recent breakthroughs by Australian scientists by Peter Spinks Anyone who thinks Australia is a scientific backwater - that has given the world little more than vegemite, the wine dispensing cask and the hills-hoist clothes line - should think again. Who built the world's smallest machine? Whose studies of exploding stars billions of light years away suggested that the universe is expanding at an increasing rate? Who discovered the richest deposits of gold, silver, copper and zinc sulphide? Who developed a technique to reconstruct dinosaurs in colour, a method for mapping the oceans in three dimensions, a process to destroy ozone-depleting compounds, a system to date individual grains of sand up to 800,000 years old, one of the first truly washable water-based paints and the mauve carnation? The doyens of Australian science, that's who! These are just some of the scores of recent achievements unveiled in this skilfully crafted celebration of the collective talent of Australian researchers working in areas as diverse as palaeontology, astronomy, biotechnology and the environment. These are just some of the scores of recent achievements by Australian scientists unveiled in a new book, called Wizards of Oz, which covers state-of-the-art developments in a wide range of scientific disciplines. It includes the trailblazing work of two prominent scientists from Princeton University, David Spergel and Neil Cornish, who are also working on an exciting NASA project to map the universe. Some of the countrys other grand savants were also coaxed away from their blackboards and workbenches by the acclaimed science writer Peter Spinks to explain what they were doing in clear and lucid terms. The result is that scientific quests are approached with the suspense and verve of a well-told detective story. This is the first book of its kind, bringing together the latest research and development in Australia. Celebrating the collective scientific triumphs of some of Australias best palaeontologists, geologists, physicists, astronomers, chemists, meteorologists, ecologists and biotechnologists, the book reveals that, despite some demoralisation amongst its practitioners, science in Australia is alive and well, and going places. In fact, Australians, who account for little more than 0.3 per cent of the worlds population, contribute some 2.5 per cent of all international scientific publications. This is in spite of waning support by government, heavy teaching loads at universities and a continuing trend for businesses to invest a smaller proportion of the countrys gross domestic product in research and development than the OECD average. Rather than providing comprehensive coverage of science down under, the book concentrates on a few key areas of research that are both topical and highly relevant to the general public. Each of the ten chapters deals with a branch of science - including geology, biotechnology, astronomy, high-technology, meteorology, the environment and palaeontology - or a topic of special interest, such as fire, salmonella research and the ozone hole. Each of these areas is fascinating and important in its own way, and the scientists, some of whom were interviewed in person and others by telephone, are quoted fairly extensively in order that they may communicate their work directly. The aim is to provide readers with an artists impression, rather than a technicians catalogue, of the kind of exciting research in progress. Written clearly and concisely, this highly accessible book - which is part of the Paul Davies Frontiers of Science series - will appeal to anyone from school children to university professors. The only requirement is that readers should have a sense of curiosity and a regard for new developments in Australia.
		Peter Spinks (M.A.), a former research psychologist, has broadcast and written about science for some of the world's foremost media organisations including the British Broadcasting Corporation , The Guardian and The Observer newspapers and New Scientist magazine. Since 1996, he has been the science reporter of The Age, one of Australia's leading newspapers.
		Contents : 1 Archivists of the Earth 2 The unsung geo-heroes 3 The southern stargazers 4 The high priests of high technology 5 The biotech bolsheveiks 6 The rainbow warriors 7 The forecasters 8 Minders of the gap 9 The firebrands 10 The salmonella sleuths
		Pages : 276+8 Format : 195X130 Illustrations : 30 b&w illos, 15 halftones Publication : JUN 99 ISBN: 186-448-8018 Price : AUS$19.95