DP - Environmental Systems & Societies
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Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves (2024) explores how refrigeration transformed food preservation, distribution, and consumption, reshaping human diets and societies. The book examines the environmental consequences of modern cold chains, including energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Twilley blends history, science, and culture to show how this technology affects both global trade and everyday life. It also highlights the societal implications of refrigeration, such as food accessibility and reliance on artificial cold systems.
Nicola Twilley is an award-winning food and science journalist, recognized for her contributions to The New Yorker and the James Beard Foundation Awards for her work on food systems and innovation.
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Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn't Food... and Why Can't We Stop? (2023) investigates the pervasive presence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in modern diets and their detrimental effects on health. Drawing from his personal experience of consuming a diet consisting predominantly of UPFs, van Tulleken explores how these foods contribute to obesity, metabolic disorders, and other chronic diseases. He delves into the science behind food engineering, examining how additives and processing techniques are designed to make these products more appealing and addictive. The book also critiques the food industry's role in shaping dietary habits and advocates for systemic changes to promote healthier food environments.
Chris van Tulleken is a British physician with a PhD in molecular virology from University College London. He is a prominent science communicator, known for his work on BBC programs such as Operation Ouch! and Trust Me, I'm a Doctor.
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Blue Machine: How the Ocean Works (2023). In this compelling work, physicist and oceanographer Helen Czerski explores the ocean as a dynamic system powered by sunlight, driving vast flows of energy, water, and life across the planet. She delves into the mechanisms behind ocean currents, temperature, salinity, and the movement of tectonic plates, illustrating how these elements interact to support life from the smallest plankton to the largest whales. Czerski also highlights the urgent threats facing the ocean engine today and emphasizes the importance of understanding and protecting this vital system.
Helen Czerski is a physicist and oceanographer at University College London, specializing in the study of bubbles beneath breaking waves and their effects on weather and climate. She is also a science presenter for the BBC and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, writing regularly about the physics of everyday life.
Seeds (2023) weaves together personal stories and scientific exploration of the vital ways seeds connect life across ecosystems, cultures, and history, highlighting their profound role in sustaining biodiversity and human existence. Montgomery’s heartfelt and engaging narrative inspires readers to appreciate the natural world's intricate relationships and the importance of preserving plant life for the future.
Thor Hanson is an American conservation biologist and author known for his award-winning books on natural history and environmental science.
Rivers of Power (2020) by Laurence C. Smith explores how rivers have profoundly influenced human civilization, from shaping borders and cities to powering economies and ecosystems. The book traces their role in history, politics, and technology, showing how this natural force continues to shape our modern world. Smith combines science, geography, and storytelling to reveal the critical connections between rivers and human development. He also examines future challenges as climate change alters river systems worldwide.
Laurence C. Smith is a geographer and climate scientist whose research focuses on the Earth’s changing environment and its impact on societies.
Superlative: The Biology of Extremes (2020), delves into the extraordinary adaptations of nature's most extreme organisms. The book explores how the largest, smallest, fastest, oldest, and most intelligent life forms offer insights into evolution, biology, and the potential for scientific advancements. Through engaging narratives, LaPlante examines creatures like the axolotl, known for its regenerative abilities, and the ghost shark, which challenges our understanding of evolution. By studying these outliers, the book highlights how extreme biology can inform medicine, environmental science, and our understanding of life's possibilities.
Matthew D. LaPlante is an associate professor of journalism at Utah State University, where he teaches news reporting, narrative non-fiction writing, and crisis reporting.
Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter (2018) examines the current mass extinction event caused by human activities, drawing parallels to the five previous mass extinctions in Earth’s history. Kolbert blends scientific research with compelling storytelling, exploring the effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and other human-driven forces on the planet’s biodiversity. Through vivid case studies and expert interviews, she highlights how species are disappearing at an unprecedented rate and emphasizes the urgent need for conservation and ecological awareness.
Ben Goldfarb is an American environmental journalist and award-winning author known for his in-depth reporting on ecology and conservation, including his book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, which won the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award.
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal (2001) investigates the rise of the fast-food industry and its profound effects on American society, public health, and the global food system. The book examines labor practices, environmental consequences, and the industrialization of meat production, highlighting how convenience foods have shaped culture and health. Schlosser combines investigative journalism with historical analysis to reveal the social, economic, and ethical costs of fast food. The narrative also explores how marketing and corporate practices influence consumer choices and dietary habits.
Eric Schlosser is an award-winning investigative journalist whose work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, and other prominent publications; he has received the James Beard Foundation Award for his contributions to food writing, establishing his credibility as a leading authority on food systems and policy.
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