by Walter J. Karplus (1992)
Each day we are bombarded with news of a new catastrophe of worldwide proportions promising to obliterate a part, if not all, of humankind. Confronted with these warnings of impending doom, our best defense is to understand how valid--or invalid--these predictions of calamity are. By perceiving these threats in a wise and sagacious way, we can best meet future challenges by not earmarking precious resources for wrong or misleading reasons. Walter Karplus, a professor of computer sciences at UCLA, in his 35 years of experience has made predictions for all kinds of phenomena by generating models and computer simulations. His decades of experience have taught him what we can and cannot predict with any accuracy. Dr. Karplus surveys the most hotly debated catastrophes that many scientists have predicted will imminently endanger the lives of countless people all over the globe.^ These catastrophes include the depletion of the ozone layer, the Greenhouse Effect, nuclear radiation, acid rain, the AIDS epidemic, the population explosion, another Great Depression, and earthquakes. Drawing on his superb background, he assesses the strengths and weaknesses of arguments propounding the seriousness of these calamities. All the while, he never allows us to lose sight of the profound shortcomings of scientific prediction. In his singularly engaging manner, Dr. Karplus traces the fascinating art of prediction from our earliest ancestors to today. He pronounces at what point prediction, even within science, becomes a black art. He elucidates the problems that computer simulations have in predicting events and goes on to pinpoint when and where these models lapse into the area of pure conjecture. Through reason and wit, Walter Karplus teaches us how to bring a trained eye to the predictions of disaster that unceasingly assault us.^ The Heavens Are Falling is an illuminating and entertaining work that bestows on us the wisdom to make informed judgments before taking arms against a sea of troubles.
Hugh M. Davies and Andrea Hales
The extensive oeuvre John Baldessari (b. National City, Calif., 1931; lives and works in Santa Monica) has built over more than six decades defies conventional classification. In honor of his achievements, the City of Goslar has now awarded him the 2012 Kaiserring. Yet despite these major recognitions of his art, he has, in Europe, remained an "artist's artist".
Laura K. Murray
"The Taj Mahal, a majestic mausoleum in India, continues to amaze visitors with its beauty nearly 400 years after its construction. Engineering the Taj Mahal discusses the emperor behind the famous structure, the precise engineering used by the designers, and the ways in which India is preserving the mausoleum so that it can continue to impress future generations. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject."--Amazon.com.
Paul Lukez
"Both a work of theory and a practical tool for suburban community planning, Suburban Transformations introduces the Adaptive Design Process, a method that allows for the organic transformation of communities from suburbs and edge cities that lack a sense of place into communities with their own distinct identity and unique character. In order to stimulate the authentic and fluid evolution of a sustainable community, this process draws important information from a site's history, building upon it by projecting into the future with a series of transformations of buildings, programs, and infrastructure, to create a more habitable and memorable environment. Five case studies provide fully expressed examples of the process, beginning with a sophisticated system of mapping and culminating in computer projections of likely future outcomes, giving the designer the ability to envision changes in the community fabric and adding that knowledge to the designer's kit of place-making tools."--BOOK JACKET.
Stephen Emmitt, Matthijs Prins, Ad den Otter
Architectural Management represents the state of the art of research and practice in the field and includes contributions from leading international figures. The book looks back at over a decade of research into architectural management, considers the present challenges and opportunities, and looks to the future. You'll find a review of earlier work and developments as well as a focus on new research areas. The book is divided into six sections representing topical themes, each section contains two research-based chapters and one practical case study. Case studies are from six European countri.