By Emily Boddy, 'Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist?' designer & SUT's Publications Officer
David Laing (10) and Daisy Nicholls (10) of Aberdeen launch the new book Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist?
The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) has launched a quirky, illustrated book for 10-14 year olds, with the aim of growing interest in the exciting variety of careers on offer under the waves.
'Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist? ' has been written by a group of people who have one thing in common, they all work in careers relating to the sea and have a huge passion for what they do.
The authors are divers, archaeologists, scientists, engineers or military personnel. We felt that the medium of story-telling was the best way to inspire young people and capture imaginations.
Rather than providing a standard textbook, we wanted to bring to life all of the wonders of working underwater through fun, factual stories and colourful imagery. A good story helps a child to relate to something early in life, which will hopefully inspire to continue enjoying and learning about when it comes to choosing subjects at school.
The point of storytelling is to explain or demonstrate life lessons, life skills, important morals and messages, in a way that is significant to the reader. Most of the stories in the book are about something that the children would have heard about - tsunamis, whirlpools, underwater movies, submarines, the Bermuda Triangle, lake monsters, green energy and diving. What sets them apart from most other children's books is that they are penned by people from the underwater world, which makes them more authentic.
This will hopefully strike a chord with the readers when they realise that a real diver, who has explored shipwrecks and found treasure, has written the chapter. A real salvage expert has been on the boat sifting through the remains of a sunken ship from WWI, and has written about her own experiences for the young reader to enjoy. Only a few of our authors have written for children before. They are bringing a fresh perspective.
'Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist?' is all about sharing. The authors want to share their world with the next generation. None of them got paid a penny for their stories, and any money that comes from the sale of the book will be invested in the Society's 'Educational Support Fund', which supports students who wish to pursue a career in the sea.
Many of the authors of this book are members of the SUT. To be members, they don't have to pay a lot of money or pass examinations, all they need to have is an interest in the sea. The Society has members from all over the world - all sorts of seafaring people, from ocean scientists and divers to engineers operating ground-breaking underwater robotic technology.
With growing concerns about climate change and the state of the world's oceans, we need to give the young generation of readers access to real stories and factual information to explain the problems that our planet faces. This will hopefully encourage them to be a part of future solutions.
We hope children enjoy the stories and the insights provided by the specialists. Ultimately, we hope it inspires some to find out more about the underwater world and consider the diverse career options that will be open to them later in life.
'Can a Lobster be an Archaeologist?' retails at £12.99 and can be purchased from www.sut.org and will soon be available from Amazon www.amazon.co.uk .