Biographies are popular, and publishers are continually looking for authors willing to write about important scientists. Cambridge University Press, for example, has published seven books in its Cambridge Scientific Biographies series, and series editor David M. Knight of the University of Durham says that there are a half-dozen others in various stages of preparation.
In addition, says Knight, "We're looking to commission fresh titles." He invites interested authors to contact him to explore the possibilities. (He can be reached at the Department of Philosophy, University of Durham, 50 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN U.K., 011-44-191-374-7646; E-mail: d.m.knight@ durham.ac.uk.) If the idea seems promising, the potential author will be asked to prepare a detailed outline of the book accompanied by a sample chapter.
Oxford University Press is providing an outlet for short (1,000- to 1,500-word) biographical sketches of scientists in its massive American National Biography project. Sponsored by the American...