Weston native releasing children's book centering on climate change

Tumblehome Learning is publishing a new book for middle grade readers by Weston native Owen Liu. “The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis” will be released on Jan. 1, 2015 as part of the Galactic Academy of Science series, which aims to get readers interested in math, science and engineering at a young age.

ABOUT ”THE CONFOUNDING CASE OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS”

When their class is on a field trip to a greenhouse, Anita and Benson’s science teacher disappears, replaced by an odd new staff member spouting strangely backward information on carbon dioxide and the climate. To help them understand what’s going on, Quarkum Phonon appears and sends the two Galactic Academy of Science recruits on a special mission to investigate climate change.

In travel through time and space that takes them from the volcanoes of Hawaii to the ice fields of Greenland, the kids visit the scientists who established the role of carbon dioxide in warming our planet: John Tyndall, Charles Keeling, Willi Dansgaard, and Warren Washington.

Then their itinerary shifts to a series of visits to the current day, where they visit a series of communities coping with the effects of climate change. They help plant a floating garden in flood-plagued Bangladesh; work on new ways of finding water in drought-stricken Kenya; flee a forest fire in New Mexico; and help try to improve the health of dying coral reefs in the Philippines. They return to the greenhouse determined to rally their classmates against misinformation about the causes and effects of climate change, and chaos ensues.

ABOUT OWEN LIU

Owen Liu is a graduate student in Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He studied all kinds of science at Stanford University, where he also took journalism courses, worked on an organic farm, traveled to South Africa with his a cappella singing group, tutored younger children at a Boys and Girls Club, and led outdoor education for middle school students at Stanford’s Jasper Ridge reserve.

After graduating with a master’s degree in Earth Systems, Owen spent two years working on fisheries management with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where his work took him to Mexico, Cuba, the Philippines and Bali. EDF’s Fish Forever project collaborates with fishermen in developing countries to help them establish practices that will reduce overfishing so fishing can remain a sustainable way of life.

Owen grew up in Weston, Massachusetts and spent his childhood summers in boats on the coast of Maine. He has gone scuba diving among the sharks in the Galapagos and skied on a glacier in the mountains of Chile. The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis is his first book.

Q&A WITH OWEN LIU

How did you first become interested in earth science?

Growing up I was always that kid that spent more time playing in the woods than the living room. I became interested in how living things all existed together in harmony, which led me to ecology to explore how all living things relate. Of course, all living things rely on Earth’s environmental support system, and that has everything to do with climate.

What made you want to write a G.A.S. book about climate science?

I was motivated by the fact that the G.A.S. books deal with a lot of cool and relevant science, but one of my favorite areas of science wasn’t covered yet. I also love the series characters, especially Benson and Anita, so I was excited to write a book for the series.

Is there anything kids can really do about climate change?

Yes! Inform themselves, ride bikes, help reduce energy use in their own homes. Use less water and drink tap water. Turn off your computer when you’re not using it. Line dry your clothes.

Your work in fisheries has taken you all over. Can you tell us about one of your favorite experiences?

Visiting a fish market in a small village in the Philippines. Hundreds of different kinds of fish were displayed in every way imaginable, perfect for a fish nerd like me. Soon after, we had a feast with more kinds of seafood than I’ve ever eaten in one meal. ​ It was delicious!

How do you think children should learn about science?

I think they should get outside more. The best, most fun science for kids happens in a field, a forest or a tidepool.

Have you personally noticed any effects of climate change?

The Bigelow Labs report that the Gulf of Maine has warmed by five degrees Fahrenheit over the past ten years, faster than 99 percent of the world’s oceans. Only some of that is due to global warming; the rest is probably due to temporary weather patterns. But it does give a preview of what ocean warming can do. Yes, it’s a lot easier to jump off the dock and swim in the warmer water. But shrimp are gone, coldwater fish like mackerel and bluefish are in decline, and lobster migration patterns have changed profoundly.