Adventures in Climate Science, Ocean Waves, and the Flute

Lawrence Mysak provides the reader with memorable stories of pivotal events and distinguished mentors during his long career as a mathematician-turned climate scientist. After growing up as a Ukrainian-Canadian on the prairies, he did graduate studies in Adelaide, Australia and then Harvard. While a professor of mathematics and oceanography at the University of British Columbia, he was blown away by the 1982-83 El Niño climate event of the century. This resulted in his taking up a new chair at McGill University in the ‘hot topic’ of climate change research. He established an internationally recognized research and teaching center for climate and global change. Collaborating with graduate students and colleagues from around the world on understanding climate and global change and its impacts led to many scientific breakthroughs and much joy.

The book will especially be of interest to young people contemplating studies in science, to established scientists considering a career change, and to the public at large who often wonder about the work of scientists.

The reader will learn that in addition to teaching and research, many scientists, the author included, play important leadership roles in several activities. They work as principal investigators of interdisciplinary projects, journal and book editors, science policy advisors, promoters of international cooperation, and public speakers raising awareness of important issues such as climate change. The result: science is challenging but can be fun!

In addition, the book describes the author’s search for a satisfying work-life balance. As a youth, he had many interests and hobbies, including music. While he once contemplated a career as a professional flutist, a wise music professor advised keeping music as a hobby and taking up a profession which would provide for a more comfortable lifestyle. Following this advice led to a rich and fulfilling life in which a scientific career was balanced with music, family, international travel (including to Russia and Ukraine), adventures in nature, and friendships across the globe.

Finally, the author looks back on the exciting and challenging times he had while serving as president of the (Canadian) Academy of Science in the 1990s, and a decade later, as president of the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans.