Prize-winning STEAM teacher inspires with biography just for kids
Geoscientist and champion of science education Suzy Urbaniak first met award-winning author Cristy Burne six years ago, when Cristy was a journalist assigned to interview Suzy - who had just won the Prime Minister's Prize for teaching secondary science. Now Cristy and Suzy have worked together to share Suzy Urbaniak’s life story with middle-grade readers (9-13 years) as part of the much-loved Aussie STEM Stars series from Wild Dingo Press.
Suzy Urbaniak: Volcano Hunter and STEAM Warrior aims to encourage more students to consider geoscience education. “I want to show students and teachers the power that comes from working hard, being courageous, and being authentically themselves,” says Suzy, who shares stories from her childhood as a volcano-hunter, crepe-baker, risk-taker and question-asker. Winner of the 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for her out-of-the-box teaching, Suzy is all about passion, innovation, and doing things your own way.
Cristy Burne knows this only too well. When Cristy first stepped into Suzy's 2016 Kent Street Senior High School classroom, she was blown away: "Suzy's classroom felt more like a research laboratory," Cristy says. "Her students were all working in independent groups on projects they'd designed. They were so engaged and self-motivated and free to make mistakes."
Six years later, Suzy is still working her magic. “Suzy Urbaniak taught me so many things,” says a student at one of Suzy’s workshops. “This new way of thinking changed how I view the world."
Children and adults alike will enjoy reading Suzy’s story, available from 1st February in all good bookshops and online.
February 2023 | 9781925893786 | 168 pages | Paperback | 198 x 129 mm | Middle Grade | $15.99
Science is best learned in #therealclassroom
Cristy Burne
About the Aussie STEM Stars Series
Each book is written by an award-winning children’s author and follows the real-life stories of some of Australia’s top scientists and inventors, chosen on the basis of their pioneering work. Themes explored include childhood, school, family, and formative experiences, what inspired them to pursue their chosen path, how they persevered in the face of challenges, and what they have contributed to science in Australia.
About Suzy Urbaniak: Volcano hunter and STEAM warrior
"Many people tend to follow the crowd, but never ask ‘Why?’ Suzy Urbaniak taught me so many things. This new way of thinking changed how I view the world."
—Year 6 CoRE Student, 2022
Geologist Suzy Urbaniak is a limbo dancer, a crepe-baker, a risk-taker and a question asker. Winner of the 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for her out-of-the-box teaching, Suzy is all about passion, innovation, and doing things your own way.
Because life is what’s out there, in #therealclassroom
More to love about the Aussie STEM Stars
• Teacher’s notes available. A perfect series for school libraries or home bookshelves.
• A fresh and unique series that focuses on our Australian STEM heroes. Science is more important than ever as we look to our inventors and innovators to solve the contemporary problems facing humanity and the planet.
• Suzy Urbaniak is a strong female role model and inspiration to young people
• Narrative non-fiction as a tool for educating children, proving that it can be as fun and interesting as fiction.