Around 18 years ago, Rob Reed set out with a couple of academic colleagues in the UK to write a biology textbook focused on the practical skills required by students.

Now the 'Practical Skills' series has grown to include a range of other science subjects in various translations. It has spawned 21 books, distributed worldwide by publisher Pearson for gross sales over $3 million.

Professor Rob Reed takes stock of his textbook series

The biology books in particular have become the only two non-American titles in Pearson's Biology Textbook Top Ten in Europe. Sales across the range have passed 125,000 copies.

Rob is now based at CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus, where his book shelves threaten to sag under the weight of each extra edition.

The range now encompasses the biology editions, along with bioscience, biomolecular sciences, environmental science, forensic science, chemistry, nutrition and dietetics, and sport and exercise science.

Rob has helped some of his CQUniversity colleagues get involved as co-authors of new titles. He teamed with Dr Bill Aspden to produce Practical Skills in Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics and with Associate Professor Peter Reaburn and graduate Dr Ben Dascombe to create Practical Skills in Sport and Exercise Science.

The original Prac Skills collaborators were Rob, along with Dr Jonathan Weyers and Dr Allan Jones; they continue to update and expand the books, collaborating between both sides of the planet.

The 21 Practical Skills textbooks

The latest book, just published, is the fourth edition of Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences.

"For the earlier editions I wrote the sections on microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology, plus material on generic skills such as preparing graphs and tables, writing lab reports, preparing for exams and assessments," Rob says.

"For this fourth edition, I've written new chapters on (i) bioethics and (ii) stable isotopes, and have added new material to earlier chapters to cover (i) recent versions of Microsoft Office software, active revision, electrophoresis, exam skills, collecting, isolating, identifying and naming microbes."

The Prac Skills series of student textbooks embody the value of subject-specific skills, as well as generic attributes, covering a wide range of aspects of the student learning journey. Each of the books is designed to provide guidance on a range of topics including basic study, exam, library, IT, communication, laboratory, data analysis and presentation skills, as well as subject-specific skills.

The books feature numerous margin tips and hints, 'how to' boxes, checklists and worked examples, as well as guidance on numerical aspects, including basic statistics.

Rob explained "the books work as companions to students involved in a particular field of study and are designed to take them from their first year at university, right through to their postgraduate years, with many readers keeping our books close to hand throughout their studies".