The shape of wonder : how scientists think, work, and live
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-204).

"In this profound and insightful book, acclaimed physicists Alan Lightman and Martin Rees pull back the curtain on the life and work of scientists to demystify the process and show that they are concerned citizens, just like the rest of us. In an age of rapid discovery and technological advancement, it's understandable that many feel uneasy about the future. Part of that unease is a mistrust of scientists and their institutions. With the onset of climate change, the imminent threats of pandemic and nuclear war, and rapid acceleration in the fields of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, it's crucial that we not only gain a better understanding of science as a field, but also reestablish trust with its practitioners. The Shape of Wonder explores the nature of critical thinking and shows scientists as people, with passions, hobbies, families, and social concerns. We follow the lives and minds of a wide range of researchers, from Dorota Grabowska, a young theoretical physicist who works as a research assistant professor at the University of Washington and rock climbs in their free time, to German physicist Werner Heisenberg, who laid the foundations for quantum mechanics and was also a student of music and philosophy, to Govind Swarup, an Indian astronomer whose pioneering work profoundly advanced the field of radio astronomy. In this thoughtful and elucidative work, Lightman and Rees reexamine the field of science, revealing that scientists are driven by the same sense of curiosity, wonder, and responsibility towards the future that shapes us all."-- Provided by publisher.