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April 30, 2010
Fun for the curious kid
Shar Levine ignites interest in science learning.
OLGA LIVSHIN
Earlier this month, Shar Levine, Vancouver’s “Science Lady,” talked to several classes of second graders at the Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library. Before the presentation, the children filed in, prepared for a boring science lesson. Contrary to their expectations, they left with eyes sparkling, chatting excitedly among themselves. They learned some pretty gross facts during Levine’s demonstration: a snake farts to repel attackers, a soap bar could burst into flames in a microwave (unless it’s Ivory), and tooth decay looks really ugly under an electron microscope.
It wasn’t only kids who enjoyed the funky presentation. Levine drew in the grownups too with her vibrant personality, her knowledge and her enthusiasm for science. The slide show invited smiles, and the interactive delivery transformed the library, at least temporarily, from a place of quiet learning into a place where laughter rules.
It’s hard to believe that Levine’s professional life hasn’t always been filled with fun. She started out in human resources and later worked as a negotiator for trade unions. “I hated that job,” she admitted. “It was making people miserable. It was making me miserable. And I thought: was that it? There should be something more. I wanted to wake up every day and feel happy. I wanted to make people happy.”
In 1987, she opened Einstein’s Science Centre, a toy, game and bookstore. “I took a risk and invested all my retirement savings in it,” she said. She has never regretted her choice. To find original inventory, she frequented science museums and toy fairs and conducted exhaustive research. “I made the decision early on that I wouldn’t be selling anything advertised on TV.”
Instead, she wanted to show her young customers that science could be fun, so she started teaching hands-on science at the back of the store. Her store was the first to offer science birthday parties.
One day, a children’s book publishing representative wandered into the store and struck up a conversation. Before long, Levine had her first book contract. The book, Projects for a Healthy Planet, won a Canadian Children’s Book Centre Choice Award and is still in print. Since that time, she has written more than 50 children’s books and kits, popularizing various aspects of science. Most of her publications have been written in collaboration with her friend and co-author, Leslie Johnstone.
“I’m not sure how many books I’ve written,” Levine joked, pretending to count in her head. “I think it is 67.” In 1992, she closed the store to concentrate on writing. She has written on a wide variety of scientific topics, but new ideas and unconventional questions spring up every day. “At any given time, Leslie and I can probably pitch 20 new books,” she said. “It’s just a matter of looking at familiar things in unexpected ways.” Their books have won numerous national awards and been translated into several languages.
Besides writing, Levine designs scientific toys and presents her hands-on scientific experiments to children in schools and libraries across Canada. “No two presentations are alike,” she mused. “It depends on the kids. I always watch my audience. As soon as they start wriggling, it’s time to move on to a new topic. I don’t want to bore them. And I select different scientific tricks depending on the kids’ ages.”
Levine is passionate about her work. “Hands-on science is largely neglected in most Canadian schools, and it shouldn’t be,” she said. “First graders are usually excited about science, but by Grade 7, their interest drops.... Teachers concentrate on the textbooks but often fear hands-on experiments and many are more enthusiastic about languages and arts than they are about science. That’s not the case in some other countries. According to University of British Columbia statistics, the vast majority of graduate students in the UBC science faculties weren’t born in Canada.”
Set on making science attractive to young Canadians, Levineworks tirelessly towards her goal. She calls herself a science motivational speaker. “I want to make people love science,” she said.
Olga Livshin is a Vancouver freelance writer. She is available for contract work. Contact her at [email protected].
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