Real Scientists Don't Wear Ties links science to general and popular culture and everyday life in an easy-to-understand style. When a gifted writer of science selects his best pieces published in the world's most reputable periodicals such as Nature, Discover, and MIT Technology Review, we get an eminently readable collection of his varied work in book form. That it covers all-time relevant topics like quantum physics, gravitational waves, genetic engineering, space exploration, and artificial intelligence is an added delight. Prof. Perkowitz also discusses how science can be found in medical practice, cooking, soccer, and art, and also science and science fiction in the media. On the lighter side, he reports on his efforts to teach a computer to understand poetry, explains why scientists resist dressing up, and shows that unlike many people, scientists actually enjoy math.

About the Author

Sidney Perkowitz is Charles Howard Candler Professor Emeritus of Physics at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He earned his PhD in solid-state physics from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He has written over 100 research papers, 10 books, and over 160 articles about science and culture and has appeared on CNN, NPR, the BBC, and at many other venues. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Literature, Science and the Arts. Prof. Perkowitz's research interests are infrared, Raman, synchrotron, and picosecond spectroscopy; biological materials; optical properties of condensed matter, including semiconductors and superconductors; and characterization of technological materials.

http://sidneyperkowitz.net/, @physp.

Reviews

"Real Scientists Don't Wear Ties by the established scientist-writer-communicator Sidney Perkowitz is a diverse collection of relatively short essays divided into three main areas: science, technology, and culture. The topics widely range from everyday food to the frontiers of the basic science of light and quantum mechanics to the modern-day technologies of genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. The book also includes futuristic science-fiction subjects. Loosen up your shirt and tie, enjoy the read!"

Prof. Emer. Dr. Brian Schwartz, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, USA

"Sidney Perkowitz is a rare bird-an experimental physicist who writes fluently for general audiences. His books, articles, and essays reveal his delight with the material world in its many diverse manifestations. This collection of his best writings on science, technology, and their cultural implications portrays him at his best, a many-faceted gem of an author deeply engaged in the physics of modern life."

Dr. Michael Riordan, author of The Hunting of the Quark and co-author of The Shadows of Creation, Crystal Fire, and Tunnel Visions

"Readers of all backgrounds will benefit from the engaging prose in Perkowitz's diverse collection. Let us hope that if more physicists read this book, more of us will be convinced to distill our own research and ideas into writing for public consumption."

Brian Kraus, Princeton University, USA

Book Information
ISBN 9789814800686
Author Sidney Perkowitz
Format Hardback
Page Count 346
Imprint Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd
Publisher Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd
Weight(grams) 689g