[dropcap]Three[/dropcap] local Glasnevin girls helped design a national series of science books for children which they will also star in.
Lauren Boyd Smith, along with siblings Anoushka and Abhinav Sathiaseelan from Ongar, are members of Ireland’s most influential young people’s group, The Wonder Panel.
This group have been working, alongside the schoolgirls, on the four Science Apprentice books for the past five months. The girls have helped the team to form the questions and answers, in the hopes of making these books more accessible and understandable for Irish schoolchildren.
Home-schooled, Anoushka and Abhinav were recruited through a national competition by University College Dublin. They were chosen because they were deemed “stretchy thinkers,” which is a term they used to describe children full of wonder who enjoy figuring things out.
“Because we’re home-schooled our routine is different from most kids, but we love to read and learn and play during the day,” said Abhinav, aged 11.
The siblings have a shared interest in science, and in an interview with the Dublin People said: “the most interesting thing about being involved in The Wonder Panel was being able to help edit the books, giving ideas and explaining what was interesting from a kid’s point of view.”
Lauren joined the Wonder Panel in April this year, after being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Her Mum is part of the team who created the books and Lauren joined The Wonder Panel to highlight the importance of medical devices that help people manage their diabetes.
“I was excited to take part in the Wonder Panel, and especially the Superbodies book, because I use technology as part of my body,” said Lauren.
Lauren uses a sensor attached to her arm to scan her blood glucose levels, and is really excited about how this new technology allows her to manage her illness without using the traditional prick test to measure her blood glucose levels.
“My friends all think I’m a cyborg, which is pretty cool.”
The books Superbodies, Up In The Air, Illusion and How It’s Made are produced by University College Dublin and partners. They are also supported by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Science Apprentice books plan to encourage children and adults alike to explore the science, technology, engineering and mathematics of the world around us.
Alison Clair
Image Credit: Wikimediacommons