Book by Retired WWU Dean Brad Smith Enters its 15th Printing
A textbook written by former dean of Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment Brad Smith, “Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships,” was just released in its 15th printing by McGraw-Hill.
Originally written more than 35 years ago with co-author Eldon Enger, the text mirrors changes in environmental education from an exciting new field to acceptance of its importance throughout the world. The text, which according to the publisher is used at more than 500 campuses worldwide, has now also been translated into Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
“This is a field that has changed rapidly over the years. If you look at the environmental issues of today, many of those were not on the radar even 15 or 20 years ago,” said Smith, who retired from Western in 2012 and is the current chair of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
When Smith signed his first contract for the book, he said the word “environmental” was not in common usage, even on college campuses, and concepts like “environmental ethics,” which takes up the second chapter in the current edition, were not yet even part of the lexicon.
WWU's Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized national leader in producing the next generation of environmental stewards. The College's academic programs reflect a broad view of the physical, biological, social and cultural world. This innovative and interdisciplinary approach makes Huxley unique, and the College has earned international recognition for the quality of its programs.