The Next Wave: The Quest to Harness the Power of the Oceans
Series
Scientists in the Field
by
Elizabeth Rusch
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Imprint
Houghton Mifflin
ISBN
9780544099999
Awards and Honors
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2014, Middle-Grade Books; NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12: 2015
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Engineers are testing designs—such as airbags on the ocean floor and a floating, oyster-shaped jaw—to transform the "potent pulsing movement of waves into electricity." Glossary. Notes. Sources. Further resources. Index. Full-color diagrams and photographs.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Details
Format
Page Count
80
Dewey
621.31/2134
AR
7: points 3
Lexile
1070L
Genre
Nonfic
Scholastic Reading Counts
6
JLG Release
Jan 2015
Book Genres
Topics
Ocean energy resources. Tidal power. Renewable energy sources. Scientists. Scientific research.
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, The Horn Book Magazine, The Horn Book Guide^, Kirkus Reviews*, School Library Journal*
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
[STARRED REVIEW]
Rainforests and savannahs, coral reefs and tundra—readers are most likely familiar with these fields in which scientists work. But this time, it is the energy of the physical movement of the global ocean that is the field, and here in this world of watery physics, a series of imaginative, innovative engineers have been designing, building, and experimenting to successfully harness this inexorable surge of energy. Rusch’s readable text follows three very varied groups of visionary engineers on this quest: Mike Morrow and Mike Delos-Reyes (who are working on a device that will allow people to sit upon the ocean floor), Annette von Jouanne and her team (working on a floating design), and the cofounders of Ocean Power Technologies, the first to win a permit to generate “ocean electricity,” to be marketed to homes and businesses on the Oregon coast. Included are sidebars on a rich variety of topics such as “Working with Watts” and a global inventory of “Wild Wave Inventions of the World.” Colorful diagrams and a plethora of photos provide visual stimulation as well. This pellucid look into a promising field of alternative energy (so needed in a warming world) and into the scientists devoting their lives to bring concept into reality is informative, intriguing, and inspiring.—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Horn Book
This entry in the excellent Scientists in the Field series describes a critical engineering challenge: the efficient capture of the energy produced by ocean waves and its conversion to electricity. Figuring out how to transfer wave action into energy without either losing collection equipment to storms and weathering or harming marine life is a significant problem. It’s a problem with a potentially big financial payoff, however, which is why the majority of projects featured in this book are in the commercial arena: the highlighted researchers include the founders of a start-up venture and an academic engineer who works in collaboration with energy companies. Rusch fully explores the engineering process, capturing the determined, entrepreneurial spirit of the profiled engineers as well as the need for creative problem-solving and ingenuity, a test-and-retest mentality, a high tolerance for failure, and perseverance through the quest for research funding. Color photographs and illustrations feature many different cutting-edge prototypes in both small-scale laboratory and full-ocean tests. Underlying physics and earth-science principles are explained in text boxes interspersed throughout the book. A glossary, notes, sources, recommended reading, and an index are appended. danielle j. ford
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Nonfiction Middle
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Grades 5-8
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