Additional information
by Rick Shine (Author)
People have always been fascinated by snakes, but only during the last few decades have researchers begun to reveal the secret lives of these most mysterious of animals. Rick Shine is one of the most eminent of those scientists, and his book describes the adventures and misadventures of researchers who have investigated the ecology and biology of these fantastic beasts - and sometimes, have paid with their lives. This richly-illustrated title chronicles the revolution in our understanding of snakes, the new methods that have arisen to enable those breakthroughs, and the serendipitous and often-chaotic processes by which human beings accumulate insights into other forms of life. Recent years have witnessed an incredible flowering of snake-ecology research, with a rapidly expanding diversity not only of the snake species being studied and the places where this occurs, but also of the kinds of people making those discoveries. Snakes are peculiar animals, and they attract peculiar people. This book captures the thrills and perils of a worldwide scientific leap forward, from fear and ignorance of snakes towards respect and understanding.
Author Biography
Rick Shine is a professional scientist, currently employed as a Professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. For nearly 50 years his primary research interest has been reptiles - especially snakes - in many parts of the world. He has published over 1,000 scientific papers and his work has been cited more than 76,000 times - many more than any other researcher on reptiles past or present. His work has won many awards, including the two top awards for scientific research in Australia: NSW Scientist of the Year and Prime Minister's Prize for Science. Rick Shine is a professional scientist, currently employed as a Professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. For nearly 50 years his primary research interest has been reptiles - especially snakes - in many parts of the world. He has published over 1,000 scientific papers and his work has been cited more than 76,000 times - many more than any other researcher on reptiles past or present. His work has won many awards, including the two top awards for scientific research in Australia: NSW Scientist of the Year and Prime Minister's Prize for Science.
