Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Environmental Science: In Context, edited by Brenda Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner. 2 vols. 989p. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2009. 978-1-4144-3617-3; 2008-19961. $245.

This introductory encyclopedia of environmental science is designed for the high school curriculum, but is suitable for a wide range of students. The 2-6 page articles introduce novices to environmental studies to 246 major issues and concepts. From aquifers and algal blooms to toxic waste and wildfires, the scope includes natural resources and phenomena as well as man-made pollutants and processes. Coverage ranges from weather patterns and pollution problems to proposed solutions and international agreements. Each essay briefly defines a topic, provides historic and scientific background and notes how the issue impacts nature and society. For more advanced students, excerpts of primary sources and numerous sidebars help place specific issues in a wider context, particularly emphasizing the interactions of human and nature. For example, in articles on earthquakes and tsunamis, sidebars highlight how deforestation, overgrazing and overdevelopment can worsen the consequences of natural disasters. The 50 plus primary sources include news articles, government reports, environmental legislation and international protocols. The readers also are introduced to potential scientific careers and research methods. Suggested resources for further research include books and periodical articles, but emphasize web resources, recognizing the limited means of many school libraries. More than 275 full-color photographs, maps and tables effectively illustrate key concepts. Nearly 600 technical terms are defined in articles and a general glossary that is repeated in both volumes. Likewise, a chronology highlights more than 400 environmental milestones, from the domestication of plants to the extermination of the last wolves in Britain through the displacement of the United States by China as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The result is an excellent introduction that will serve high school, public and undergraduate library collections.