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New Britannica to Keep Pace with Change
Revised encyclopedia will bolster coverage of people, science & changing world situation
CHICAGO, June 28, 2004 - New and revised articles spanning science and technology to world literature to the Middle East will lead off the 2005 Encyclopaedia Britannica when the revised 32-volume reference work is published early next year.
Among the new subjects covered will be a substantial number in science and medicine, such as SARS, monkeypox, nanotechnology, computer crime and PDE-5 inhibitors used in combating male impotence.
There will even be an article on earth-impact hazard, the science of predicting the probability of astronomical bodies hitting the planet.
A number of notable people will receive their own Britannica articles for the first time, including U.S. Senator John Kerry, novelist and Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and philosopher John Rawls. At the same time Socrates, certainly no stranger to the encyclopedia, will be the subject of a lengthy new treatment that reflects the latest scholarship on the Greek philosopher.
Other subjects, such as German literature, the Vietnam War and democracy will receive fresh new articles that will replace existing ones. The cultural impact of the Great Depression will be presented in a new article by the noted historian Richard Pells, author of "Radical Visions and American Dreams: Culture and Social Thought in the Depression Years."
As they have in recent years, the editors will again revise a wide range of entries related to the evolving post-9/11 world, the fight against terrorism, and the war in Iraq. Articles in other areas, such as eugenics, electronics, evolution, Catholicism and the entries on a number of countries will also see substantial revision.
According to Britannica editor in chief Dale Hoiberg, the revisions are part of the publisher’s effort to keep all of its encyclopedias on the cutting edge of knowledge and world developments at a time when the demand for cogent and reliable information about them is greater than ever.
"The world is awash in misinformation," said Hoiberg. "We continue to revise and improve the encyclopedia because people need a place to go for the right answers."
Schools, libraries and universities interested in the 2005 Encyclopaedia Britannica may call (800) 621-3900 or go to www.eb.com.
About Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. has been the leader in reference and education publishing since 1768. The company is known for the 32-volume Encyclopaedia Britannica and its pioneering work in electronic publishing, including the first encyclopedia on the Internet. Its products include Britannica.com (www.britannica.com) and many other digital products; and printed products such as My First Britannica and Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac. Britannica makes its headquarters in Chicago. More information is at http://www.britannica.com.
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Contact:
Tom Panelas
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
312-347-7309
tpanelas@us.britannica.com
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