Orrin H. Pilkey is an emeritus professor of geology whose work critically assesses environmental modeling. Pilkey's writing focuses on scientific insights while sharply critiquing the methods used to predict environmental change. He leverages his expertise in geology and coastal studies to illuminate complex environmental issues. His publications examine the perils of relying on mathematical models, emphasizing the need for critical thinking in environmental science.
Travelling from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean to South America and the eastern United States, the authors of Vanishing Sands track the devastating environmental, social, and economic impact of legal and illegal sand mining over the past twenty years.