Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park represents a confluence of two seemingly contrasting views of the world. Its dramatic rock formations, diverse wildlife, and the flow of water for which it is named offer countless examples of natural beauty; yet scientists are drawn to these same features because of the unique opportunities they represent to better understand geological and biological processes.

A recently published volume created by University of Illinois Professor of Geology and Microbiology Bruce Fouke and internationally known nature photographer Tom Murphy, The The Art of Yellowstone Science: Mammoth Hot Springs as a Window on the Universe, uses a meticulously crafted collection of photographs to show these two views both stem from a common origin of curiosity and awe.

“In the pages of this book, Mammoth Hot Springs photographic art is melded with the natural sciences to search for common laws of nature through the power of observation and willingness to embrace the unexpected,” Fouke and Murphy wrote in a description on the book’s website, artofyellowstonescience.igb.illinois.edu. “This new appreciation of nature at Mammoth is then applied to challenges faced by society, now and in the future.”

Murphy and Fouke, who also directs the Carver Biotechnology Center at Illinois, will describe their inspiration and work processes in both an academic lecture and a public talk on Wednesday, November 16 at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology in IGB 612, the conference room; Fouke is a member of the Institute. The day’s schedule also includes book signings and a public reception, visit our calendar page for full information.

The Art of Yellowstone Science: Mammoth Hot Springs as a Window on the Universe is currently available for download as a free ebook or as hard copy by visiting the web page.