Understanding Pandemics and Epidemics
From the Set Scientific American Explores Big Ideas
The massive global impacts of COVID-19 made the issue of pandemics and epidemics a major concern among the public, politicians, doctors, and the scientific community. However, it is far from the first pandemic, and experts suggest that it almost certainly will not be the last. The articles in this volume consider past pandemics and epidemics to explain how certain diseases are able to spread on such a massive scale. They explain the medical advancements that have helped prevent some diseases from having the devastating impacts they did in the past while also considering why some infections are more difficult to control. Writers and experts also offer predictions on the types of pandemics and epidemics that may occur in the future and what can potentially be done to stop them.
SLJ Review of Scientific American Explores Big Ideas
These titles each collect articles on a common topic, and the articles within each book are grouped by theme. For instance, articles on cyberattacks cover big data, infrastructure attacks, white hat hackers, and other areas of interest. Several features make these books useful in the classroom. Reading speed and available time can be accommodated by selecting from the various lengths of articles (ranging from one to 18 pages). Another strength that makes them perfect for classroom debate and discussion is the variety of viewpoints presented. An introduction, a glossary, and a list of sources for further information support each collection. Author information is included with some articles, providing readers with the background and expertise of the writer(s) and their particular perspective on the issue. VERDICT A useful collection for discussion, debate, or research on different aspects of the various topics.