From Stars To Stalagmites

Update: the publishers now tell me that the book from which this site gets its name will be available mid-June

I was first attracted to chemistry by the pretty colours, then by the revelation that everything is made of chemicals, and went on to do research on subjects ranging from the origins of life to flame retardant plastics. My main interest now is in informing people about science and how scientists think.

I spent most I spent most of my career at Glasgow University and the University of North Texas, and now live in Glasgow. I hold one undergraduate and two graduate degrees from Oxford, and have published over 120 scientific papers and book chapters. I am on the committee of the British Centre for Science Education ( http://www.bcseweb.org.uk/), and my past collaborations include NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Sandia/UNM Materials Research Laboratory.of my career at Glasgow University and the University of North Texas, and now live in Glasgow. I hold one undergraduate and two graduate degrees from Oxford, and have published over 120 scientific papers and book chapters. I am on the committee of the British Centre for Science Education ( http://www.bcseweb.org.uk/), and my past collaborations include NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Sandia/UNM Materials Research Laboratory.

“From Stars to Stalagmites”,  World Scientific Publishers, March 2012, is my first non-technical book. “A superb combination of history and scientific explanation!”, Roald Hoffman, Nobel Laureate in chemistry, and writer. “It’s a terrific read and the idea of intertwining the facts of chemistry with the history and personalities of the scientists who discovered it works brilliantly.” – John Wiltshire, systems engineer, Nelson Gold Medallist for creativity.  “Your writings are a wonderful compilation of chemistry, history, and human endeavors. The chapter on Haber was superb!  …  This text is something that every chemist should read!” – Prof Diana Mason, Regional Director, Associated Chemistry Teachers of Texas.  Publishers’ description at

http://www.worldscibooks.com/popsci/7953.html

On this site I will feature (with refs to original journals as well as links to popular accounts) developments relevant to this and future books’ topics, and to anything else I fancy.