Shell, Barry 1951-

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Shell, Barry 1951-

Personal

Born May 1, 1951, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Education: Reed College (Portland, OR), B.Sc. (organic chemistry), 1973; University of British Columbia, M.Sc. (resource management), 1983. Hobbies and other interests: Bicycling.

Addresses

Office—Faculty of Applied Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr., Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.

Career

Educator, writer, researcher, and editor. University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, instructor in general chemistry lab techniques, 1977-80; University of British Columbia, instructor in bioresource engineering, 1982-84; Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, research communications manager in Faculty of Applied Science. GCS Research Society, chair.

Awards, Honors

Science in Society Book Award, Canadian Science Writers Association, 2006, for Sensational Scientists.

Writings

NONFICTION

Concise Guide to HyperTalk, Management Information Source (Portland, OR), 1988.

Running HyperCard with HyperTalk, Management Information Source (Portland, OR), 1988.

Great Canadian Scientists, Polestar Book Publishers (Custer, WA), 1997.

Sensational Scientists: The Journeys and Discoveries of 24 Men and Women of Science, Raincoast Books (Berkeley, CA), 2005.

Contributor of articles to periodicals, including New York Times, Mail West, Equinox, Adbusters, Nibble Mac, Hands-On, and Berkeley Macintosh Newsletter.

Sidelights

A research communications manager at western Canada's Simon Fraser University, Barry Shell is the creator of Science Canada, a Web site through which researchers can access information on some of Canada's most prestigious scientists, as well as information about Canadian science in general. One outgrowth of this Web site has been Sensational Scientists: The Journeys and Discoveries of 24 Men and Women of Science, a book in which Shell profiles two dozen of his country's most respected scientists. Biographies include information about upbringing and areas of study, as well as Shell's discussion of each person's area of scientific expertise. Although the book's text is geared for readers possess-

ing some understanding of science, by including detailed diagrams, photographs, and interesting quotes Shell creates a resource that Philip Mills called "easy to read" in his Resource Links review. A Kirkus Reviews critic viewed the work as inspiring, particularly for Canadian students, because "the experiences, activities and advice" Shell includes are valuable for "students considering scientific careers." In her Kliatt review of Sensational Scientists, Mary Ellen Snodgrass "highly recommended" the book, calling it a "intriguingly illustrated survey of scientific inquiry."