Known worldwide among geologists, marine scientists, and petroleum engineers, Gene Shinn has made major geological discoveries that have significantly enhanced professional and academic knowledge. Though initially handicapped by a lack of advanced degrees, Shinn’s drive, hard work, and dedication allowed him to rise to the top of his profession and receive the Twenhofel Medal—the highest award given by the International Society for Sedimentary Geology.

Born in the Florida Keys, Shinn attended the University of Miami on a music scholarship, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. A U.S. national champion spearfisher, he worked as a salvage diver, becoming an expert in the use of dynamite underwater. Educating himself with hands-on field experience, he worked as geologist for nearly fifty years, in the process contributing major geological findings that have significantly improved our understanding of undersea oil reserves. Shinn helped invent the technology for underwater core drilling, and, more recently, he has studied the effects of transoceanic African dust on coral reefs, agriculture, and human health. He’s even the basis for a character in a mystery novel.

In Bootstrap Geologist Shinn enthusiastically shares the highs and lows of his remarkable career. Taking readers around the globe as well as below the ocean, he recounts the painstaking process of data gathering that can lead to paradigm-breaking discoveries. Readers are given a front-row seat to adventures in the field, along with the chance to reflect on issues such as the use and abuse of scientific research and the emergence of government-funded research.

Describing his life as a scientist, Shinn introduces readers to the thrill of exploration and discovery—the end result of hard work in the field. He imparts wonderful stories that introduce technical aspects of geological, earth, and marine science in a relatable, reader-friendly manner. Focusing on the fantastic adventures and prestigious, sometimes eccentric, colleagues involved in conducting field research in remote, exotic places, Shinn demonstrates that he has relied more on what can be seen with the eye than on that which is calculated and modeled. By sharing his memories, Shinn hopes to demonstrate how far passion and curiosity can take us while showing readers how the scientific process really works.