New Book Co-Authored by UM Bio Station Director Receiving International Acclaim

A new book entitled Phosphorus: Past and Future, which is co-authored by the University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS) Director Jim Elser, is earning rave reviews from distinguished scientists all over the world.  Elser, a global phosphorus expert, is also director of the Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance at Arizona State University, an organization that seeks to advance the implementation of phosphorus sustainability solutions.

Phosphorus is a chemical element, a nutrient that is essential to all life, and a key component in most fertilizers. Appropriate levels of phosphorus are essential to the condition and health of Flathead Lake.

Phosphorus: Past and Future is based on the extensive research and expertise of Elser and his long-time collaborator Phil Haygarth, a professor and scientist from the Lancaster Environmental Centre at Lancaster University in England. The book delves into the origin, history, and future of phosphorus, exploring emerging efforts to use this vital resource more safely and efficiently.

“One of the reasons we worked so hard to make this book a reality was because we need everyone on board with phosphorus sustainability,” said Elser, who has been monitoring phosphorus in the Flathead watershed since his arrival at FLBS in 2016. “It’s important that people understand that this element plays a critical role in our food and water supplies and thus in our very survival.”

Phosphorus: Past and Future is based on the extensive research and expertise of Flathead Lake Biological Station Director Jim Elser (pictured right) and his long-time collaborator Phil Haygarth (pictured left), a professor and scientist from the Lancaster Environmental Centre at Lancaster University in England.

Phosphorus: Past and Future charts the use and misuse of phosphorus, from its formation during the Big Bang to its key role in agricultural fertilizers and the current damage being done by phosphorus runoff in our rivers, oceans, and lakes. Written for scientists and non-scientists alike, the book offers a readable tale that brings to life the people and events who have contributed to the phosphorus story.

“Elser and Haygarth are not only brilliant scientists, but they’re also excellent storytellers,” said Dana Cordell, research director and associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia. “This really is a book for everyone.”

On September 23, the Sustainable Phosphorus Alliance at Arizona State University will host an online world book launch for Phosphorus: Past and Future. During the event, Elser and Haygarth will discuss their journey writing the book, why phosphorus matters, and how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future for phosphorus.  Sign up for the webinar at https://phosphorusalliance.org/webinars-and-videos/.  The book is published by Oxford University Press and is available via the OUP website or via Amazon, including a Kindle version.

In addition to serving as FLBS director, Elser is the Bierman Professor of Ecology and a member of the National Academy of the Sciences. He is best known for his role in developing and testing the theory of ecological stoichiometry, which is the study of the balance of energy and multiple chemical elements in ecological systems.

For more information about Phosphorus: Past and Future, contact FLBS Director Jim Elser at jim.elser@umontana.edu.