This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Charles Sheppard, Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick. Prof. Sheppard has worked extensively for a wide range of UN, governmental and aid agencies in tropical marine and coastal development issues. This conversation explores how Prof. Sheppard is trying to find a way through political shortsightedness, corporate greed and societal indifference to use his experience to make the planet a better place.

This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, All Too Relevant, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:

I. Watery Beginnings - The power of scuba diving

II. Building A Reef - Coral, algae and time

III. Gratuitously Unsustainable - The problem with humans

IV. Towards Progress? - Leadership, policies and philanthropic foundations

V. Climate Change - Two pernicious effects

VI. What To Do? - The importance of marine spatial planning

About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series (100 books):

Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. Howard Burton holds a PhD in physics and an MA in philosophy, and was the Founding Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.