Bootstrap Geologist: My Life in Science - Hardcover

Shinn, Gene

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0813044367 ISBN 13: 9780813044361

Verlag: University Press of Florida, 2013

Inhaltsangabe

A memoir by Eugene Shinn of his life in geological field science.

Über diesen Titel

Von der hinteren Coverseite

“Shinn’s eclectic autobiography is an arresting page turner. It combines such disparate threads as natural history, overzealous bureaucrats, and the impacts of dust on the health of both humans and corals. The resulting tapestry will inform and inspire readers like no other.”—Robert Nathan Ginsburg, emeritus professor, University of Miami

 

“The most innovative figure in marine geology has shared a lifetime of self-growth and challenging adventures in the danger zones between science and politics.”—Marlan W. Downey, Bartell Professor of Geoscience, University of Oklahoma, and former president of Arco International

 

“Written in a frank, sometimes earthy style, Bootstrap Geologist leads the reader through life in the Persian Gulf, diving in the Gulf of Mexico, and the bureaucratic constraints of big oil. I couldn’t stop reading!”—Bruce Purser, emeritus professor, University of Paris

 

“Demonstrates how one can achieve professional success by combining a strong work ethic with high intellect and a willingness to learn from mentors and peers. Shinn’s spirited outlook is infectious, and his problem-solving talents have produced a remarkable set of significant discoveries.”—Anthony F. Randazzo, coeditor of The Geology of Florida

Aus dem Klappentext

Known worldwide among geologists, marine scientists, and petroleum engineers, Gene Shinn has made major geological discoveries that have significantly enhanced professional and academic knowledge. Though initially handicapped by a lack of advanced degrees, Shinn’s drive, hard work, and dedication allowed him to rise to the top of his profession and receive the Twenhofel Medal—the highest award given by the International Society for Sedimentary Geology.

            Born in the Florida Keys, Shinn attended the University of Miami on a music scholarship, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. A U.S. national champion spearfisher, he worked as a salvage diver, becoming an expert in the use of dynamite underwater. Educating himself with hands-on field experience, he worked as geologist for nearly fifty years, in the process contributing major geological findings that have significantly improved our understanding of undersea oil reserves. Shinn helped invent the technology for underwater core drilling, and, more recently, he has studied the effects of transoceanic African dust on coral reefs, agriculture, and human health. He’s even the basis for a character in a mystery novel.

In Bootstrap Geologist Shinn enthusiastically shares the highs and lows of his remarkable career. Taking readers around the globe as well as below the ocean, he recounts the painstaking process of data gathering that can lead to paradigm-breaking discoveries. Readers are given a front-row seat to adventures in the field, along with the chance to reflect on issues such as the use and abuse of scientific research and the emergence of government-funded research.

Describing his life as a scientist, Shinn introduces readers to the thrill of exploration and discovery—the end result of hard work in the field. He imparts wonderful stories that introduce technical aspects of geological, earth, and marine science in a relatable, reader-friendly manner. Focusing on the fantastic adventures and prestigious, sometimes eccentric, colleagues involved in conducting field research in remote, exotic places, Shinn demonstrates that he has relied more on what can be seen with the eye than on that which is calculated and modeled. By sharing his memories, Shinn hopes to demonstrate how far passion and curiosity can take us while showing readers how the scientific process really works.

 

Eugene A. “Gene” Shinn is Courtesy Professor at the College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, and adjunct professor at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Author of hundreds of scientific articles, he has received numerous honors and awards for his research and discoveries.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: University Press of Florida
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2013
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0813044367
• ISBN 13: 9780813044361
• Einband: Gebundene Ausgabe
• Anzahl der Seiten: 297
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar