A Science Super Quest

When did your own lightbulb moment happen, when you knew you wanted to be a scientist?

When I was at school, I loved science, art & creative writing. I ended up doing A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Art. I knew I wanted to study science, but I wanted to be creative at the same time. At university, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in science, but I still had a calling to do something creative (although, I now realise that science also needs creativity!). Years later, I do both – and I love it!

How did you know which science/area of science was a favourite and how did you decide what to specialise in – I think it is an important message to share that favourites don’t always have to be the ones we are the best at!

I studied microbiology and physiology at university. I ended up selecting a ‘clinical research’ module. At the time I had no idea what it was about. I found it fascinating and learned about medicines and clinical trials. However, I ended up getting a microbiology job when I left university. I found it so BORING! It involved testing foods for bacteria – VERY IMPORTANT, but not for me! I saw an advert for a graduate level clinical research scientist job in London. I applied and got it. I moved from Nottingham, where I went to uni, to London and the rest is history! 20 years later and I’m working on groundbreaking vaccine research.

How do you see books helping children understand science? Why is their role important?

There are lots of reasons! By introducing science to children via a medium they are familiar with and already love – a fun action-packed book – it makes science more accessible and less daunting. That’s what we do in SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue. It also links science to having fun rather than it being in a school-setting, where they might feel the pressure to learn.

When children see relatable characters, like the SuperQuesters, solving problems using science and technology, they can picture themselves doing the same. Books help to show children that science is all around them and for everyone.

Finally, books are useful to parents who may not feel like they know enough about science but want to encourage their children to love it. Books like SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue are a great way for parents to sit and read with their child/ren. They can learn all about science in a way they may not have had a chance to do when they were growing up. It is fun for all ages!

If you could choose to include science in one of only fiction or non-fiction which would you choose and why?

Don’t make me choose! They are so different! With non-fiction, you focus on facts and explaining concepts clearly. With fiction, you can weave those facts into a story. Writing SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue was an exciting challenge because I wanted to make sure the STEM learning was part of the storytelling. So today, I’d say it is science with fiction but tomorrow it might be science non-fiction!

What is the appeal, to you, of SuperQuesters and how do you encourage children to understand and see that appeal?

The inspiration for the SuperQuesters really appealed to me; when Lisa and Thomas couldn’t find suitable STEM books for their twin daughters, they decided they had to do something about it. The SuperQuesters were born!

Also, these three best friends, Lilli, Bea and Leo, become superheroes. But no ordinary superheroes – they have STEM powers. We all have these powers within us. I loved that. One of the greatest powers that I think the SuperQuesters have is asking questions! The SuperQuesters don’t always have the answers right away. But by working together they experiment and think critically until they find the answer. I’d love children to see that they are using their superpowers all the time. And to never stop doing that! There is a lot more to why I love writing about the SuperQuesters (check out Leo Zoom’s goggles!) but I don’t want to give too much away.

The SuperQuesters, in this first book, find a board game, perhaps something less familiar to children today! Do you have a favourite board game from your childhood that inspired you? A favourite memory of playing it?

I still have memories of GHOST CASTLE – an amazing and super scary board game. You had to drop a skull down the tower and it fell out at various locations, knocking your game piece out of play! It was creepy but exciting!

If you could have a superpower, as the SuperQuesters each do, what would it be and why?

I’d love to have the ability to instantly absorb knowledge. Imagine being able to learn any STEM skill in seconds!

How important do you think STEM has been in encouraging children to love science?

Research shows that from an early age many children believe that science and STEM is not for them. But STEM is for everyone! It’s all around us and impacts our lives and the world in so many ways. I bet if you think about something you love, it has some element of STEM involved. For example, if you like gaming, then tech was involved to develop it. If you love animals, then science and nature are part of that too. If you love baking, then science is involved in following the recipe and mixing the ingredients.

STEM is also the foundation of our future. It shapes the way we understand the world and helps solve big challenges, such as health and medicine, energy, artificial intelligence, climate change and our relationship with nature.

I hope readers feel empowered to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and inventors. By inspiring a love of science in children, we are improving the future. Those creative, inquisitive minds will some day make our world a better place via their STEM skills.

What prompted you to take a career as a scientist into writing? Do you still do any traditional science work, in a lab, doing research, for example?

I love science and I wanted to share my passion with others. I have been working in clinical research for 20 years and I still work as a vaccine researcher. We are working on a vaccine for Crohn’s disease. Previously I worked in paediatrics (children’s health) at Great Ormond Street Hospital. As part of my job, I had to create child-friendly information sheets about research studies – for the children to read with their parents before they take part in a clinical trial. I enjoyed creating the content and that made me think – maybe I should write books for children!

This story incorporates elements of fantasy and magic. How does the logic of a scientific brain work with these concepts. What challenges do they pose?

Although SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue is my first children’s chapter book combining fiction and STEM, but I have been writing fiction for over a decade now. My first fiction book was about a naughty alien who made his robot tidy his room for him, with disastrous consequences! So, I was always including STEM ideas in my stories so I don’t think of it as a challenge.

The magical elements can actually help with the science as I can share scientific concepts without the constraints of reality! In the SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue, the SuperQuesters reprogramme the dragonfly drones to stop/cutdown the Doom Sprouts. They then create seed bombs to rewild the area which had been destroyed, transforming it into a more beautiful place and a haven for wild. These seeds grow instantly and quickly – with a little sprinkling of magic. This means I can share the benefits of growing plants and rewilding a local area without the characters (and readers!) waiting weeks for the seeds to grow!

How do you make sure that a science experiment designed home (as the ones featured in this book are) is safe?

Safety is always at the forefront of our minds when choosing and designing experiments and activities for children. For SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue, it was a team effort. I worked closely with Thomas Bernard, co-author of the SuperQuesters picture books and STEM education expert. Thomas played a key role as he has a STEM background with degrees in Physics, Mathematics and Engineering along with a PhD in Computer Engineering. We also worked with UK educational experts to ensure they met the national curriculum. It was more how we narrowed it down to just four activities that was the real challenge rather than keeping it safe!

Can you give us any clues as to what might be coming next for our SuperQuesters?

Let’s just say the SuperQuesters’ adventures are far from over! Without giving too much away, there will be wonderful rainforests, mystical cloud mountains, cute capybaras and a beautiful, wise jaguar!

SuperQuesters Mission: River Crest Rescue has been selected for the Summer Reading Challenge 2025 booklist. You can also download an accompanying activity pack and teacher pack for free now.