Alan Finkel: Australia's Chief Scientist 2016-2020
Kim Doherty
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 Alan Finkel: Australia’s Chief Scientist 2016-2020
As Australia’s former Chief Scientist, our country turned to Alan Finkel for advice on everything from the climate, to AI, to the pandemic. But at a time when scientists have never been so important, Alan nearly didn’t become one at all. Growing up in Melbourne as the son of immigrants who fled the Holocaust, Alan had to find the courage to make his own choices – even when they weren’t quite what his family had in mind. Alan’s story is one of being brave, loving your family and always aiming for excellence.
Dr Finkel commenced as Australia’s Chief Scientist on 25 January 2016. This followed an extensive science background as an entrepreneur, engineer, neuroscientist and educator, and an industrial career producing breakthrough scientific instruments for academic neurosciences and pharmaceutical drug discovery. He served as President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE), and for eight years as Chancellor of Monash University. He has been Chair of multiple companies dedicated to scientific research and was named the 2016 Victorian of the Year.
Alan is committed to science education and has founded numerous magazines and education programs for schools and organisations. His career is defined by creative leadership, initiatives, philanthropy and innovative scientific publishing. He has been a strong and effective advocate for governmental and industrial support of innovation and research in science and engineering.
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.
• Alan Finkel has been a prominent contributor to recent discussions around education and science in Australia, including pathways to higher education, COVID-19 and contact tracing, Australia’s energy roadmap and climate change.
• Narrative non-fiction as a tool for educating children, proving that it can be as fun and interesting as fiction.
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2021 | 9781925893434 | 156 pages | Paperback | 198 x 129 mm | Middle Grade
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Kim Doherty is an editor, storyteller, teacher, and a mum to two young children – Molly and Xavier – who she hopes will be inspired by the amazing world of science and Alan’s story. This is Kim’s second book for children, the first was about Mt Everest and the amazing facts, death-defying adventures and strange myths of the world’s highest mountain.
When she’s acting like a grown-up (which is not very often), Kim is an award-winning editor-in-chief who has led some of Australia’s best-loved publications, from The Australian Women’s Weekly to Kidspot. She is passionate about sharing Australian stories and the importance of lifelong learning. Kim is hoping to complete her most recent educational endeavour (the world’s slowest Master of Laws) sometime before the end of the century.
Read more about her on our Aussie STEM Stars website