Whenever I take a flight from the Pacific Northwest to Europe, an always noteworthy highlight of the trip is passing over the coast of Greenland when conditions allow it to be seen. Often obscured from view by clouds, it being visible is usually announced by the aircraft’s pilot, and even those sleeping willingly awaken for a glimpse of this remote and near-mythical island.
However for Dr. William E. Glassley, Research Associate at the University of California, Davis, and Director of the California Geothermal Energy Collaborative, I suspect a that a mere passing glance from 35,000 feet would be a a bit disappointing, he having spent so much time actually on the land mass itself, conducting research and becoming entranced by the place’s wild beauty.
Fortunately for all the rest of us, he has recorded stories of his many Greenland field seasons as well as his personal reflections upon his experiences there in A Wilder Time; Notes from a Geologist at the Edge of the Greenland Ice. He recently sat for an interview about his new book with Jen Golbeck of the AAAS Science podcast. I highly recommend listening to is (as well as subscribing, if you already don’t), as Dr. Glassley’s enthusiasm for his subject along will make you want to go out that very day and pick up a copy of the book.
