The result is In Search of Nautilus, one of the first in a series designed to encourage scientists to write non-technical books with mass-market appeal. Begun in 1986, the series—entitled The Scientific Prospect—is meant to serve scientists eager to become authors but ignorant of how to go about it.
"The idea of showing the public how science is done intrigued me," said Ward. "As a university professor, I think it is one of the things we do least well. I tried to write a book I would've liked to have read when I was just starting out in science."
Proposals for The Scientific Prospect are reviewed by an editorial board of 10 well-known scientists. Accepted authors sign with the project and John Brockman Associates, the literary agent. Simon and Shuster is the publisher for the series.
A typical advance is $20,000, as much as 50 percent more than those for ...
