A Cautionary Scientific Tale and an Introduction to This Book

Abstract

The unplanned collection of a small, nondescript rock in Senegal, west Africa leads to a story of how science and the acquisition of new knowledge does not necessarily progress in a series of straightforward steps. This cautionary tale is followed by an introduction that explains the purpose and content of this book, to explain to the general public, politicians, managers and policy makers how our coasts, important to us as places of not only inhabitation and vacation but also of natural resources and industry, are in crisis, in large part due to human activities. The human side of scientific research is emphasized and this book describes how geologists try to understand the workings of our varied coastal systems and what the future will bring for these beautiful and often wild parts of our planet.