The sky is falling. No, really. Even if Kristin Shrader-
Frechette's mother hadn't died of an environmentally-induced
cancer at the age of 43, leaving seven children motherless in
Kentucky, chances are the Notre Dame professor would still have
grown up to be a dynamo researcher and scholar working for
environmental justice. Not only does she know her science-with
degrees in mathematics and philosophy as well as post-doctoral
work in biology, hydroecology, and economics-she is also well
versed in Catholic social teaching. She eschews the "fluff"
image of environmentalists who care only about backpacking and
spotted owls, instead arguing that the environment is a social
justice issue as well as a prolife one. "What sense does it make
to say we have a right to life if we don't have a right to
breathe clean air?" Shrader-Frechette holds dual professorships
in the philosophy and biology departments. She is the author of
more than a dozen books and hundreds of articles. She serves on
the EPA's Science Advisory Board