Everyday Stem: Physics

STEM--where we see it, how we use it, and why you should care.

Dr Shini Somara is an engineer, television presenter/producer and author. She has consistently worked to demystify science, technology and innovation, making them more accessible and less intimidating. Having the experience of being a woman of colour in a male-dominated industry, she has a passion for making science more diverse and inclusive. Growing up with a father who was a mechanical and electrical engineer, she never doubted that she would follow in his footsteps. When she questioned why so many girls seem to feel that engineering (and STEM generally) is not for them, she wondered whether it was because they were not introduced to it early enough. The role-models which made children aspire to be astronauts or fire-fighters were not visible in STEM so she decided to write her own children’s book with characters who did not fit the stereotypical view of an engineer.

Luna Valentine is a Polish children’s book illustrator, living in Nottingham, UK. She works digitally, finding inspiration in (but not limited to) folk tales, video games, cute Japanese food, under her bed and other places nobody thinks to look. Her art has been described as humorous, quirky and colourful. At Nottingham Trent University she studied Graphic Design and gone on to do her Masters in Illustration. She has gone onto work with a variety of clients including Paper Rose, Paperchase and Arteza.