[WikiEN-l] Britannica proud to lag years behind recent developments such as SARS and nanotechnology

Fri Mar 25 07:45:55 UTC 2005

  March 23, 2005 07:00 AM US Eastern Timezone

New Britannica Keeps Pace with Change; Revised Encyclopedia Boosts 
Coverage of People, Science & Changing World

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2005--New and revised articles 
spanning science and technology, literature and the Middle East are at 
the center of the just-published Encyclopaedia Britannica for 2005.

Among the new articles included in the 32-volume work are a substantial 
number in science and medicine, such as SARS, monkeypox, nanotechnology 
and computer crime.

There is even an article on earth-impact hazard, the science of 
predicting the probability of astronomical bodies hitting the planet.

Several notable people receive their own entries 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. Socrates is the 
subject of a lengthy new treatment that reflects the latest scholarship 
on the Greek philosopher.

There are fresh, new articles on German literature, the Vietnam War and 
democracy. The cultural impact of the Great Depression is presented in a 
new article by the noted historian Richard Pells.

As they have in recent years, the editors have again revised entries 
related to the evolving post-9/11 world, the fight against terrorism and 
the Iraq war. Articles in other areas, such as eugenics, electronics, 
evolution, Catholicism and the entries on a number of countries have 
undergone substantial revision.

According to editor Dale Hoiberg, the revisions are part of an effort to 
keep the Britannica on the cutting edge of knowledge and world 
developments at a time when the demand for reliable information 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 Britannica 
may call (800) 621-3900 or go to www.eb.com. Consumers may call (800) 
323-1229 or go to www.britannica.com.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. has been a leader in reference and 
education publishing since 1768. The company is known for the 32-volume 
Encyclopaedia Britannica, the 26-volume Compton's by Britannica and its 
pioneering work in electronic publishing. Its many digital products 
include Britannica Online School Edition. Recently published printed 
products include My First Britannica, Britannica Discovery Library and 
the Britannica World Atlas. Britannica makes its headquarters in 
Chicago. More information is at http://www.britannica.com.

Contacts

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Tom Panelas, 312-347-7309
tpanelas at us.britannica.com