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June, 2018 | Avril O'Reilly

STEM jobs for girls who love art – nanotechnology in clothing!

There are so many ways that science transforms our everyday lives.  I am always on the lookout for STEM careers for the girls in my books – especially the STEM Lovin’ Baby-Sitters.

Today I was fascinated to hear about nanotechnology in fabrics.  My books talk about jobs in science that have an appeal beyond science, particularly jobs in the hair and beauty industries.  My character Keysha paints her nails while considering how to make eco-friendly  pigmented polymers.  She would be intrigued by the nanotechnolgy where elements are added to fabrics to give them new qualities – fire-proofing, stretchiness, UV protection, drug delivery (!)  and many other superpowers.

I am investigating whether the leggings on the Zazzle website are made with nanotechnology. People are raving about them so I am checking out whether the fabric mills in Canada, where they come from, use nanotech. 

Meanwhile, check out how you can combine art and science to customise your leggings.  Here is Geeky Mikita added to leggings.  This is the kind of topic that Miss Treacle might talk about in a future book.

 

 

 

Colouring book with Stem Lovin’ Baby-Sitters is on Amazon

African wax print pattern with cartoon of three schoolgirls
Get your crayons out

My colouring book has appeared on Amazon.  It is a colouring book for little girls who might enjoy being looked after by Jada-Kai, Keysha and Ruby the STEM Lovin’ Baby-Sitters.  Little girls will like seeing what the big girls get up to. 

The baby-sitters appeared first in my book A Fairy in the Family Again.  The book tried to make a point about careers in STEM in the beauty industry.  There is along history of black women developing hair products.  

Imagine working in science to make products you love.  Our pal Mumbi has done just that.   Girls are going to have STEM careers that we have not even imagined.  

 

Afro-Irish football supporter uses braids to support her team!

Download Ruby and her braids colouring page here

This post is inspired by the Afro-Irish woman who wore green and red braids to support the Mayo team.  Add your team colours to Ruby’s braids.  Kany Kazadi was an asylum seeker who discovered the power and passion of the GAA, community sport that happens all over Ireland.

 

Her Twitter post went viral and got her a lot of media attention which she uses to campaign for better conditions for other asylum seekers.  It took 12 hours to weave the coloured braids into her hair.  It earned her a pair of tickets to the game as well as an appearance on TV on the Late Late Show.

Congolese Irish woman with braids in the Mayo colours
Kany Kazadi is an AfroIrish woman who supports Mayo with her braids!
Pretty girl with long braids
You can do Ruby’s braids any colour under the sun!