Britt Crow-Miller Authors New Book, ‘World of Rot’
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Dr. Britt Crow-Miller, a senior lecturer in the College of Natural Sciences’s Environmental Conservation and Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences departments, is the author of a new book for young readers, World of Rot.
Released by Storey Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, World of Rot gives middle-grade readers a “closer look at the process of decay, from the science behind it to the amazing decomposers that make our planet livable—like hungry fungi, worms, butterflies, and slugs.”
"World of Rot breaks down the what, where, when, and why of decomposition before introducing the many lifeforms that do this important work,” explains Crow-Miller. “There’s also a section covering some of the more fascinating and bizarre stories of decomposition, like the biological function of smell in the decay process, the many examples of decomposers at work inside of our homes, and why beached whale carcasses have been known to explode.”
Crow-Miller, whose research and teaching at UMass focuses on environmental geography, sustainability, political ecology, and water resources, devotes her time off campus to sustainability education for kids and families—particularly those in underserved communities—through her nonprofit organization, CityWild.
“Enabling people of all ages to be a bit more curious about the natural world we are a part of is at the core of my all my work, whether it’s with undergraduates, grad students, or children,” Crow-Miller says of her various interconnected passions. “Teaching is one way I do this, getting kids and families outside is another, and writing books is another.”
Filled with vibrant, full-color illustrations by the talented Bruno Valasse that the School Library Journal described as “reminiscent of both Basquiat and Mexican folk art,” World of Rot offers young readers the chance to learn about the life-recycling systems at work all around us.
“I see creative books as a hugely important tool for both fostering a connection with nature and science communication for children,” argues Crow-Miller. “One of my hopes for World of Rot is that kids will come away from it with their eyes open to the world in a new way, that they’ll have more questions than they had before.”
Featuring
Britt Crow-Miller
Senior Lecturer
Britt Crow-Miller is a graduate program director and a senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Conservation.
