How to win a Nobel Prize by Barry Marshall and Lorna Hendry

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Piccolo Nero, 2018. ISBN 9781760640064
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Science - History. Nobel Prizes. Science experiments. Imagine travelling through time to meet eleven famous scientists who have won Nobel Prizes. Young scientist Mary loves to undertake science experiments at home and desires to win this prestigious award when she grows up. Her curiosity leads to a fortuitous discovery at her mother's workplace, where she stumbles across a secret meeting of past winners. When Mary threatens to reveal that these scientists travel through time to meet and discuss science and peace, Dr Barry Marshall offers her a special arrangement. With a special golden orb in hand, they can journey back in time to meet eleven Nobel Prize winners.
Time travelling is an art and it takes Dr Marshall several tries before he connects with adult Albert Einstein who discusses his theory of relativity and his research leading up to his win in 1921. Mary and Barry then journey back in time to meet the Curie family whose experiments with polonium and uranium led to the development of X-ray machines able to take internal pictures of the human body. They meet Alexander Fleming and learn of his discovery of penicillin, Marconi's invention of Morse Code and wireless telegraphy and Gertrude Elion's lifetime work on developing drugs to treat cancer patients.
Between each chapter is further factual information about the scientists and a safe science experiment to try. Mary visits both male and female scientists, from across the globe who have worked both from a young age and into their later life in pursuit of their passion. How to win a Nobel Prize is an interesting scientific adventure story suited to readers from ages 9 to 12.
Rhyllis Bignell

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