My New Book

The Stickler's Guide to Science in the Age of Misinformation

Discover the real science behind hacky headlines, crappy clickbait, and suspect sources. My new book takes an in-depth look at 13 science topics that often get mangled in the media, featuring lots of illustrations and fascinating details.

My Blog

Insight and analysis regarding the world around us

My blog is called "The Philipendium", covering topics in science, language, geography, and software design. In each article I seek to provide original insights that you won't find anywhere else. More than 50 stories have appeared so far.

The Oregon Trail

How the famous educational game was designed and created

The Oregon Trail is arguably the most famous educational software game ever created. I was the team leader and designer of the classic 1985 Apple II version that first introduced most of the features that people now associate with the game.

Philip Bouchard

Who Am I?

A few details to help fill in the picture

  • My lifelong interests in natural science and education inspired me to write my most recent book, entitled The Stickler's Guide to Science in the Age of Misinformation.
  • I spent 18 years of my career designing educational computer software. I am best known for designing the famous 1985 Apple II game The Oregon Trail.
  • I've retired from my 32-year career in computer software, and I now spend part of my time writing books and a blog, focusing primarily on the natural sciences.
  • I grew up near Atlanta, Georgia. I have spent most of my adult life in California, Minnesota, and Georgia, but I have also resided in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Colombia, and Australia.
  • My post-secondary education — including a B.S., M.A., and various professional continuing education courses — was focused primarily on botany, ecology, and computer science.
  • My other interests include wildflower photography, traveling the world, and searching for rocks to polish. I like to read just about any topic that helps me to understand the world around us.
Philip Bouchard Philip Bouchard