A sociologist and prolific author, Dorothy Nelkin chronicled the tense relationships among science, technology, and society. With a natural curiosity and the research skills of a social scientist, she explored complex controversies such as creation-ism, animal rights legislation, and genetic testing. Her research also led to a greater understanding of how the media and scientists shape the public's perception of science and technology. She was the author, coauthor, or editor of 26 books and numerous journal articles. Her writing, known for its journalistic attention to detail and accessible style, found an audience in both the academic and public spheres. Scholars in science studies, bioeth-ics, and the politics of science and technology benefited from her research, and many scientific advisory boards sought her expertise.

Nelkin was born ...