Civilization

Vaclav Smil does interdisciplinary research in the fields of energy, environmental and population change, food production and nutrition, technical innovation, risk assessment, and public policy. He has published 35 books and more than 400 papers on these topics. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (Science Academy), and the Member of the Order of Canada; in 2010 he was listed by Foreign Policy among the top 100 global thinkers. He has worked as a consultant for many US, EU and international institutions, has been an invited speaker in nearly 400 conferences and workshops in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa, and has lectured at many universities in North America, Europe and East Asia. His wife Eva is a physician and his son David is an organic chemist

Father, Arthur L. Herman, was a scholar of Sanskrit and professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Political and cultural writer with libertarian views. Recipient of the Bastiat Prize in 2011.

Mathematician and philosopher known for his humanistic approach to science. Presenter and writer of the documentary series and book "The Ascent of Man."

Author of non-fiction books. Wrote "U and I: A True Story" about his relationship with John Updike. Also wrote "Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper" which received awards. Wrote "Human Smoke" about the buildup to World War II.