Considering family relationships, academic influences and the results of their choices, the book reveals who the scientists are and how they think
Living on science? In December 2010, this was one of the questions that motivated a project that would take four years to materialize. The initiative involved Otto Jesu Crócomo, a retired professor from Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (USP/ESALQ) and William Sharp, from Rutgers University (USA). In this way, the book “Reflections & Connections”, volumes 1 and 2, which have just been launched in New York, by the Sciencetech Publishers, was prepared. Besides Crocomo and Sharp, Julies Kreier, professor from The Ohio State University, also helped to organize the book that presents the recent history of 30 scientists from different areas.
Volume I contains the experiences of those who are dedicated to biological sciences and agriculture. It also included the chapter written by professor Otto, besides the reports of Helaine Carrer, professor from the Biological Sciences Department (LCB) at ESALQ, Henrique Vianna Amorim, a retired professor from ESALQ. In volume 1 we still have a chapter that describes the cooperation project between The Ohio State University and ESALQ from the 1960s to the 1980s, written by Joaquim J. Camargo Engler, also a retired professor from ESALQ.
In Volume II, we find experiences of those dedicated to animal sciences, zoology, veterinary and medicine. This volume also includes the chapter of Raul Machado Neto, professor from the Animal Science Department (LZT) at ESALQ. “My chapter was the only published in English and Portuguese, all the others are in English," says Otto Jesu Crócomo.
As the title of the book speaks for itself, the work is a reflection on the life of each scientist in connection with the scientific and academic world, and their linkages with the corporate world. "It's a personal tour in the life sciences. Since its conception four years ago, professor Sharp and I, and later professor Kreier, never moved away from the original goal. As we say in the introduction, the chapters were written by different people in different stages of their lives. Each had the freedom to write in their own way, in their own style, telling the family background, how the family has affected the character, the influences they had on their decisions in a scientific career, their successes and failures, achieving their dreams, the results of their choices and how they faced challenges”, adds Otto Jesu Crócomo.
Family - The book contains many pictures of family members and significant events of each scientist who wished to publish them in his chapter. It also contains chapters in which the children of the editors and some contributors describe how it was to live with parents dedicated to science and academic life. "In my case, my children and my grandson wrote a chapter in English and in Portuguese. There is also a section of tributes, in which we pay tribute to those who were important in our careers", concludes professor Otto.
The words of Professor Roy S. Chaleff, author of the prologue of the book, reflect the thought and intention of the editors to conceive it and publish it: "What motivates people to become scientists? how to work in this profession? What are the challenges, frustrations and rewards? How does one become a scientist?". When referring specifically to the contents of the book, Chaleff emphasizes: "This collection of autobiographical essays written by scientists struggles to deal with that void. In fact, it displays a bias towards life "..." offers insight into the lives of scientists - the motivations... the influences they had ... and why they chose their fields of scientific activity, how they got their training, their failures and successes.”
The printed and digital versions are available at www.amazon.com
Written by: Caio Albuquerque
Translated by: Tobias de Paula Lima Souza
Proofread by: Marisa Aparecida B. Regitano d'Arce
Photo by: Gerhard Waller
Acom (ESALQ’s Office of Communications)
October 21st, 2014
