Science on a Mission

by Naomi Oreskes

First published 2021

After WWII, the US Navy poured unprecedented funds into oceanography and marine geophysics. This influx of military money enabled groundbreaking discoveries, but also created lasting blind spots. Tracing the history of American ocean science, Naomi Oreskes uncovers how naval oversight transformed what we know about the sea. As patronage shapes the scope and tenor of scientific work, Oreskes raises profound questions about the purpose and character of American science.

Genres: 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic, history-of-science, american-history

Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: investigative-journalism

Setting: America, United States

Period: Post-WWII

744 pages · Hardcover · University of Chicago Press

More by Naomi Oreskes

Readers who liked Science on a Mission also liked

View on Siftivo