'Field Notes' chosen for all UW freshmen

Global warming has been explored in political debates, news stories and this year's Academy Award-winning documentary.

Now the entire freshman class of the University of Washington will study the subject.

The university, continuing the common book program it started last year, will ask all new students to read "Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change" by Elizabeth Kolbert. The book, written by a New Yorker magazine reporter, explores the harm of global warming.

Each incoming freshman will be given a free copy of the book during summer orientation and encouraged to read it. The university will then incorporate the book in campus lectures, student discussions and other events during the academic year.

Despite the book's complex subject matter, Kolbert makes the science easy to understand, said Jill McKinstry, director of Odegaard Undergraduate Library and co-chairwoman of the committee that selected the common book. The group sought a book that would provoke conversation -- or in the group's own word, a book that was "talkaboutable," McKinstry said.

"We felt that there was probably no more important issue to find out more information" about, she said.

The committee recently selected the book at the end of a three-month search that involved about 20 titles. Finalists for the common book included "Kindred" by Octavia Butler, "The Bookseller of Kabul" by Asne Seierstad and "The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl" by Timothy Egan.

It follows the success of this year's Common Book "Mountains Beyond Mountains," which tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer and his efforts to combat infectious diseases in poor countries.

Both Farmer and author Tracy Kidder spoke to sold-out audiences on campus. Professors added the book to their curriculum and encouraged students to perform community service. Alumni met for book discussions.

"Mountains Beyond Mountains" was a top title for the University Bookstore, which has sold more than 5,600 copies since it was named the common book last year.

The new selection of "Field Notes" will encourage freshmen to explore the world beyond campus, said Ed Taylor, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs.

"This is a book that allows this coming class of more than 5,300 students ... to think and to care and to act once again," he said.

The book selection comes as the UW has taken steps to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions. President Mark Emmert recently joined a national collation of university and college presidents who have pledged to work toward making their campuses carbon-neutral.

"Field Notes" has already been read at Montana State University, the State University of New York-Albany, and at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

Sophomore neurobiology major Lauren Hanson, who helped select the common book, said she was initially worried it would be overly scientific, but she found it enjoyable.

Students already talk about global warming on campus, she said. Even those who don't read the book can still be engaged in the subject.

"That in itself is a very hot topic -- no pun intended -- right now."

LEARN MORE

Read a 2006 review of "Field Notes From a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change" from Seattle-based environmental Web site Grist:

www.grist.org/advice/books/2006/03/09/hayes