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Alom Shaha - five way interview

Alom Shaha was born in Bangladesh but grew up in London. A science teacher, writer and filmmaker, he has spent most of his professional life sharing his passion for science and education with the public. Alom has produced, directed and appeared in a number of TV programmes for broadcasters such as the BBC, and has received fellowships from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, and the Nuffield Foundation. Alom has represented his community as an elected politician and has volunteered at a range of charitable organisations. He teaches at a comprehensive school in London and writes for a number of online and print publications. His new book is Why Don't Things Fall Up?

Why science?

Honestly, because I had a couple of great teachers at school who made it make sense and come alive for me and, perhaps more importantly, made me believe it was something I could do.

Why this book? 

It’s the book I’ve been wanting and meaning to write ever since I had my first book published over a decade ago. Teaching and 'communicating' science has been the basis of my working life for 25 years or so and being asked to write this book provided an opportunity to do something which I had always found too intimidating to attempt before – summarise and explain the 'big ideas of science' alongside a discussion of key issues from the history and philosophy of science and science teaching which I consider important.   

Why do you think so many people appear to find science a turn-off?

I think it’s partly down to how much 'science capital' people have to begin with, for example whether they grow up with parents who have a positive attitude towards science and who expose them to science from a young age in the same way most parents expose their children to art, music, literature. Teachers also make a huge difference – surveys consistently show that scientists often credit their science teachers for sparking or fuelling their interest in science and leading them to their subsequent careers. Without good teaching, science, like any other subject studied at school, can be dry and boring, especially to young people who may not be exposed to science in any other context. 

What’s next?

I have two young children, aged 5 and 6, and looking after them is really my main priority. I also teach two days a week at a comprehensive school in London. In the little time I have left after meeting those responsibilities, I hope to continue writing. My first work of fiction, How to Find a Rainbow: A Reena and Rekha Story, will be published in February next year. It’s a picture book for young children about two young red panda sisters who go on adventures in the Himalayan jungle in which they live. I’m hoping it will be the first in a series – each story sees the two sisters to discover something about how the natural world works, for example, in How to Find a Rainbow, they work out how rainbows are formed. 

What’s exciting you at the moment?

My youngest daughter has just started reception in primary school and my eldest is in Year 2. Watching them grow and develop is one of the most exciting experiences I’ve ever had. Like pretty much everyone I know, I think AI will change the world in ways we cannot even imagine, so I’m excited and fearful of this in probably equal measures…


 

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