Nigel Calder
Encyclopedia
Nigel Calder is a British science writer.
Between 1956 and 1966, Calder wrote for the magazine New Scientist
, serving as editor from 1962 until 1966. Since that time, he has worked as an independent author and TV screenwriter
.
He has conceived and scripted thirteen major documentaries and series concerning popular science
subjects broadcast by the BBC
and Channel 4 (London), with accompanying books. For his television work he received the Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science
during 1972. During 2004, his book Magic Universe was shortlisted for The Aventis Prizes for Science Books
.
Nigel Calder is the son of the late Lord (Peter) Ritchie-Calder
, a brother of the historian Angus Calder
(1942–2008), mathematician Allan Calder and educationist Isla Calder (1946–2000), and the father of travel
writer Simon Calder
. His other children are Sarah (business writer), Penny (museums writer and consultant), Jo (working in an IT company) and Kate (public relations consultant). His wife Liz is his literary agent and was formerly an adviser on language teaching for the London Chambers of Commerce.
Calder is a long-standing sceptic of global warming
. As early as 1980, he predicted that within 20 years "the much-advertised heating of the earth by the man-made carbon-dioxide ‘greenhouse’ [will fail] to occur; instead, there [will be] renewed concern about cooling and an impending ice age". Calder participated in the polemic
film The Great Global Warming Swindle
.
He also co-authored The Chilling Stars
. Regarding global warming, Calder has said that "Governments are trying to achieve unanimity by stifling any scientist who disagrees. Einstein could not have got funding under the present system."
Between 1956 and 1966, Calder wrote for the magazine New Scientist
New Scientist
New Scientist is a weekly non-peer-reviewed English-language international science magazine, which since 1996 has also run a website, covering recent developments in science and technology for a general audience. Founded in 1956, it is published by Reed Business Information Ltd, a subsidiary of...
, serving as editor from 1962 until 1966. Since that time, he has worked as an independent author and TV screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
.
He has conceived and scripted thirteen major documentaries and series concerning popular science
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
subjects broadcast by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Channel 4 (London), with accompanying books. For his television work he received the Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science
Kalinga Prize
The Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science is an award given by UNESCO for exceptional skill in presenting scientific ideas to lay people...
during 1972. During 2004, his book Magic Universe was shortlisted for The Aventis Prizes for Science Books
The Aventis Prizes for Science Books
The Royal Society Prizes for Science Books is an annual award for the previous year's best general science writing and best science writing for children. The nominees and winners are decided by the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science...
.
Nigel Calder is the son of the late Lord (Peter) Ritchie-Calder
Peter Ritchie Calder
Peter Ritchie Ritchie-Calder, Baron Ritchie-Calder was a noted Scottish author, journalist and academic....
, a brother of the historian Angus Calder
Angus Calder
Angus Lindsay Ritchie Calder was a Scottish academic, writer, historian, educator and literary editor with a background in English literature, politics and cultural studies.-Education:...
(1942–2008), mathematician Allan Calder and educationist Isla Calder (1946–2000), and the father of travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
writer Simon Calder
Simon Calder
Simon Calder , is an English travel writer, currently the senior travel editor for The Independent newspaper.-Biography:...
. His other children are Sarah (business writer), Penny (museums writer and consultant), Jo (working in an IT company) and Kate (public relations consultant). His wife Liz is his literary agent and was formerly an adviser on language teaching for the London Chambers of Commerce.
Calder is a long-standing sceptic of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. As early as 1980, he predicted that within 20 years "the much-advertised heating of the earth by the man-made carbon-dioxide ‘greenhouse’ [will fail] to occur; instead, there [will be] renewed concern about cooling and an impending ice age". Calder participated in the polemic
Polemic
A polemic is a variety of arguments or controversies made against one opinion, doctrine, or person. Other variations of argument are debate and discussion...
film The Great Global Warming Swindle
The Great Global Warming Swindle
The Great Global Warming Swindle is a polemical documentary film that suggests that the scientific opinion on climate change is influenced by funding and political factors, and questions whether scientific consensus on anthropogenic global warming exists....
.
He also co-authored The Chilling Stars
The Chilling Stars
The Chilling Stars is a non-fiction book about the possible causes and effects of global climate change by Henrik Svensmark and Nigel Calder. The paperback version was published by Totem Books on March 19, 2003...
. Regarding global warming, Calder has said that "Governments are trying to achieve unanimity by stifling any scientist who disagrees. Einstein could not have got funding under the present system."
Works
- 1957 Electricity Grows Up -- author, for Phoenix
- 1957 Robots -- author, for Phoenix
- 1958 Radio Astronomy -- author, for Phoenix
- 1965 The World in 1984 -- editor, for Penguin etc.
- 1967 The Environment Game -- author, for Secker, Holt, etc.
- 1968 Unless Peace Comes -- editor, for Allen Lane, Viking etc.
- 1969 The Violent Universe -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1969 Technopolis -- author, for McGibbon & Kee, Shuster, etc.
- 1970 The Mind of Man -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1970 Living Tomorrow -- author, for Penguin Education
- 1972 The Restless Earth -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1973 Nature in the Round -- editor, for Weidenfeld
- 1973 The Life Game -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1974 The Weather Machine -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1976 The Human Conspiracy -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1977 The Key to the Universe -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1978 Spaceships of the Mind -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1979 Einstein's Universe -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc. – reissued 2005
- 1979 Nuclear Nightmares -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc.
- 1980 The Comet is Coming! -- author, for BBC, Viking, etc. – reissued 1994
- 1983 Timescale: Atlas of the Fourth Dimension -- author, for Viking etc.
- 1983 1984 and Beyond -- author, for Century and Viking
- 1986 The English Channel -- author, for Viking and Chatto
- 1986 The Green Machines -- author, for Putnam, etc.
- 1988 Future Earth -- a contributing editor, for Croome Helm, etc.
- 1990 Scientific Europe -- general editor, for Foundation Scientific Europe
- 1991 Spaceship Earth -- author, for Viking UK etc.
- 1992 Giotto mission to the Comets -- author, for Presswork and Springer
- 1993 Hubble Space Telescope: The Harvest So Far -- author, for European Space Agency
- 1994 Comets: Speculations and Science -- reissue by Dover of The Comet is Coming!
- 1995 Beyond This World -- author, for European Space Agency
- 1997 The Manic Sun -- author, for Pilkington Press etc.
- 1999 Success Story: 30 Discoveries -- compiler, for European Space AgencyEuropean Space AgencyThe European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
- 2003 Magic Universe: The Oxford Guide to Modern Science -- author, for Oxford UP, etc.
- 2005 Einstein’s Universe (updated for Einstein Year) – author, for Penguin UK & US, etc.
- 2005 Albert Einstein: Relativity – introduction to a Penguin Classic, Penguin US
- 2007 The Chilling StarsThe Chilling StarsThe Chilling Stars is a non-fiction book about the possible causes and effects of global climate change by Henrik Svensmark and Nigel Calder. The paperback version was published by Totem Books on March 19, 2003...
– joint author with Henrik SvensmarkHenrik SvensmarkHenrik Svensmark is a physicist at the Danish National Space Center in Copenhagen who studies the effects of cosmic rays on cloud formation. His work presents hypotheses about solar activity as an indirect cause of global warming; his research has suggested a possible link through the interaction...
for Icon Books, etc.