Comprising over 2;500 acres of forest; wetlands; and rugged hills; Middlesex Fells; just seven miles north of Boston; is one of the nation�s first state parks and contains the world�s first public land trust; Virginia Wood. For centuries; the Fells provided rich hunting and fishing grounds for Native Americans. In 1632; Gov. John Winthrop and others explored the area and named the largest pond Spot Pond because of the many islands and rocks protruding through the ice. The Fells was used for farming and timber; and Spot Pond Brook became the focus of industrial activity; which culminated in 1858 with the Hayward Rubber Mills. In the 1880s and 1890s; Middlesex Fells was a key property in the Boston metropolitan park movement driven by conservationists Wilson Flagg; Elizur Wright; Frederick Law Olmsted; Charles Eliot; George Davenport; and Sylvester Baxter. In 1894; the Metropolitan Park Commission began acquiring Fells land. Electric trolleys crossed the Fells from 1910 to 1946; and in 1959; with the car culture in control; Interstate 93 was built through the area. Today; the Fells; as envisioned by its founders; is a forested haven for city dwellers.
#33848 in eBooks 2016-03-01 2016-03-01File Name: B00VE68J5W
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Making scientific ideas accessible and relevantBy G. BrozeitThis was a surprisingly good book. Irsquo;ll admit I have a professional interest in the subject: how can scientists better communicate their ideas and make them relevant to the public? After starting out very skepticalmdash;I never read ldquo;how tordquo; or advice booksmdash;Olsonrsquo;s direct; deceptively simple ideas started to make sense and by the end I realized that his arguments had fundamentally changed my views of something I thought I understood very well.I wonrsquo;t get into the specifics; it would be unfair to Olson and Irsquo;d probably simplify too much and that would be a disservice to everyone. If you are a scientist who wants to better explain what you do; why your work or research matters; Olsonrsquo;s arguments will get you out of your comfort zone to make better; more concise arguments. If you are involved with a science-based organization and want to get your message out in a compelling way; this book will provide measurable markers to incorporate into your daily routine. Or if you are interested in scientific issues like climate change; disease like cancer or Alzheimerrsquo;s; medical research funding; and are confused or frustrated about why others donrsquo;t take them as seriously as you do; this book will provide you with refreshing and effective ways to make your case.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A book for anyone who seeks to present ideas effectivelyBy T FordIrsquo;ve been a fan of Dr. Olsonrsquo;s work since Flock of Dodos; which I reference in my Composition in the Social and Natural Sciences courses every semester. Dr. Olsonrsquo;s ability to cut to the heart of a communication conundrum is remarkable.This ability is on full display in Houston; We Have a Narrative. Insightful; pragmatic; amusing; and; above all; useful; the book convinces me that I must work harder to make my students aware of how essential narrative is as a rhetorical tool. And though Dr. Olsonrsquo;s efforts are designed to have a transformative effect on communication within the sciences; his message is universal. His strategies will work just as well for my Composition in the Humanities students (in fact; they are equally applicable in my literature courses).Irsquo;ve read criticisms of Dr. Olson that suggest he seeks to dumb down science by reducing it to sound bites or plot points. I bristle at such suggestions. Giving a narrative structure to information does not mean damaging the information. I sometimes sing ideas at my students. Does the singing mean Irsquo;m not delivering the content? Well; I can guarantee; at the very least; it means my students arenrsquo;t sleeping. Sleeping students donrsquo;t learn; nor do sleeping readers.Narrative engages. Thank you; Dr. Olson; for encouraging scientists (and communicators in general) to grab their readers by the lapels and engage.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Science as a storyBy Fred RosenthalThis is a useful book for scientists who give presentations or write about their work; meaning almost all scientists. Presenting scientific results as a narrative -- i.e.; as a story -- makes a great deal of sense because most people; scientists included; are hard-wired to love stories and equally hard-wired to fall asleep as soon as the presentation uses jargon and/or statistics. The authors writing style is light and breezy and perhaps a bit too self-congratulatory at times. But thats a quibble. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to my colleagues.
