David Waltham

Lucky Planet

Are the four billion years of good weather enjoyed by the Earth an unlikely, although necessary, precondition for the emergence of intelligent life? Is the Earth Special? Are we alone? In a search for answers, Lucky Planet takes a tour of astronomy, geology, climatology, biology and cosmology before concluding that the best place to look is our Moon. Read More

Mathematics: A Simple Tool For Geologists

For students and professionals, this book aims to teach simple mathematics using geological examples to illustrate mathematical ideas. This approach emphasises the relevance of mathematics to geology, helps to motivate the reader and gives examples of mathematical concepts in a context familiar to the reader. Example spreadsheets are also available for download on this website. Read More

About David Waltham

I’ve had three scientific loves in my life. I began with astronomy, as did many who were young at the time of the Apollo missions. Then, entirely by accident, I stumbled into geology and discovered a wonderfully multi-disciplinary field that drew upon many other sciences such as physics, chemistry and biology. However, after fifteen rewarding years studying our world, I became obsessed by the question “Is the Earth Special?” and that has led me into my third love – astrobiology, the science of life beyond Earth. Read More