About This 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 Munjed Al Muderis: From Refugee to Surgical Inventor
Munjed is a humanitarian and world-leading pioneer of surgical osseointegration. The book follows pivotal moments in Munjed’s life: becoming a surgeon under the regime of Saddam Hussein, fleeing from war-torn Iraq and arriving at Christmas Island in a rickety boat, being held in the Curtain Detention Centre, his hard-gained medical success, and his acknowledgement as the 2020 NSW Austalian of the Year.
“Life is about making a difference,” Munjed says. “We all have a mission in life, to leave behind a legacy.”
His resilience, determination and view of the world as a glass half full, not half empty, has helped him excel in his chosen career. Highlights include his development of an improved osseointegration prosthetic limb, a new surgery that inserts a titanium implant into the bone, allowing patients to recover a certain level of feeling and greater mobility. His humanitarian work is equally as impressive, and includes being an ambassador for Red Cross, working with Amnesty International, and becoming a patron of the Asylum Seekers Centre.
More to love about 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 that ever as we look to our inventors and innovators to solve the contemporary problems facing humanity and the planet.
•Topical themes of the refugee journey, overcoming hardship, learning resilience and understanding what as humans keeps us all connected
• Narrative non-fiction as a tool for educating children, proving that it can be as fun and interesting as fiction
About The Author
Dianne grew up in outer Melbourne, where she made tree-houses and imagined she was Silky from The Magic Faraway Tree. Other days she was the Muddle-headed Wombat.
When she was ten, Dianne moved to Bangkok and went on to study back in Melbourne before backpacking through Asia and teaching children in remote western Nepal.
Dianne’s award-winning books have been published in China, Japan, Poland, USA and made into stage plays. She is a bookworm who reads every day. She especially loves animal stories and spent five years researching her favourite word, anthropomorphism (for her PhD). Inspiring kindness and imaginative thinking is Dianne’s life work.
Visit her website at https://diannewolfer.com
