Carrier Wins Book Award

ALBION, Mich. – Albion College biology professor Jeffrey Carrier, widely recognized as a superlative researcher and teacher, now adds award-winning book editor to his resume. Carrier was one of three senior editors of “The Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives,” which was recently named as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2004 by Choice Magazine, a publication of the American Library Association.

Cover detail from The Biology of Sharks and their Relatives,

“I was pretty excited,” says Carrier, who reports that he had no idea the book was even nominated for the award. At the same time, he says, “The book used authors that are among the most renowned in their respective fields, and so we haven’t been particularly surprised that the book’s been well received.”

Along with serving as a senior editor of The Biology of Sharks, Carrier authored one of the chapters, and several of his research photographs appear in the book.

The 608-page Biology of Sharks, says Carrier, is a highly technical book, aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students and professional biologists. He notes, however, that its editors and publisher have begun conversations about a second volume for a general audience.

The Choice award is a prestigious, selective honor given to a small percentage of the thousands of scholarly titles reviewed annually by the magazine’s academic affiliates. It reflects an appreciation for the editors’ and writers’ expertise, excellence in presentation and scholarship, and an important contribution to the field.