Explore CERN from the comfort of your homes.
Letizia Diamante, the author & Claudia Flandoli, the illustrator of the book, “Your Adventures at CERN- Play the Hero Among Particles and a Particular Dinosaur!” enable you to explore this magnificent European nuclear research centre, by picking a role of your choice. You could be a student, a tourist or even a CERN researcher and experience the place from different perspectives. All of that from the comfort of your homes.
CERN is the European Council for Nuclear Research (in French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire). It is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Reading Journey caught up with the author, Letizia Diamante, a science communicator by profession who holds a Ph.D degree in Biochemistry and has gained an extensive international experience in communicating science to a broad range of audiences. She writes about the latest scientific discoveries, produces videos and organises events that engage the non-expert. She is also involved in activities that foster the career of underrepresented people and minorities in science. More about Letizia.
Letizia, what inspired you to write this book “Your Adventures At CERN- Play the Hero Among Particles and a Particular Dinosaur!”?
While working as a science communicator at CERN, I often guided journalists, students and tourists around CERN museums and other buildings. I noticed most people were absorbed and fascinated by the mysteries of the universe that CERN researchers have tried to unravel. However, when some visitors asked me a recommendation for a book for their children, nieces or nephews, I struggled to think of something written specifically for young readers. I really felt I had to write a fun and informative book, suitable for children. Then, when I realised that the nearby Jura Mountains gave Jurassic its name, I could not resist adding in a “particular dinosaur” and Dinoplagne® — a palaeontological site about 50 km from CERN where more than 100 dinosaur footprints were discovered. Hence the idea to link the tiny particles with the giant beasts of the past.
I noticed most people were absorbed and fascinated by the mysteries of the universe that CERN researchers have tried to unravel. However, when some visitors asked me a recommendation for a book for their children, nieces or nephews, I struggled to think of something written specifically for young readers. I really felt I had to write a fun and informative book, suitable for children. Then, when I realised that the nearby Jura Mountains gave Jurassic its name, I could not resist adding in a “particular dinosaur” and Dinoplagne® — a palaeontological site about 50 km from CERN where more than 100 dinosaur footprints were discovered. Hence the idea to link the tiny particles with the giant beasts of the past.
Why did you choose a gamebook format?
I think CERN is an excellent setting for a science-themed adventurous gamebook. The main campus is like a small village and building numbers do not follow any logic. At the beginning navigating around CERN without a map was quite a challenge, or rather an adventure. I had the privilege to see some amazing jewels of engineering, such as the biggest particle accelerator in the world (the Large Hadron Collider) and some unique experimental and workshop areas above ground and 100 metres underground. All the gamebooks I read when I was a child were set in fictional worlds, but I thought: why not setting a gamebook in a real scientific wonderland? The reader could really feel inside CERN, in the same way I felt immersed in the fantasy realm of the choose-your-own-adventure books.
In the book you let the reader choose a role and then follow the instructions to explore CERN from the chosen role’s perspective. It is a brilliant way to present different perspectives of the same place. If you were a child reading this book, which role would you pick first and why?
Good question! On page 9 of the book, the reader can choose to play the role of a CERN researcher, a tourist or a student, by following the track of a cat (Schrödy), a bird or a dinosaur respectively. If I was a child, I would pick the track of the student, because I would want to follow the dinosaur’s footprints. I have always been totally fascinated by paleo-creatures. Then I would also read the adventures of the tourist and the researcher to fulfil my curiosity and solve the puzzle. The researcher has access to more locations at CERN and deals with more tech information, the tourist visits CERN and other attractions in Geneva from a tourist perspective, and the story of the student is really super fun and bizarre. I am curious to know which is the readers’ favourite adventure.
Which age group would you say is suited to this book?
I would not like to provide an age range because I think that every child is different. I made sure that almost every page includes a colourful picture because I loved books with pictures when I was a child. I also prepared some fun and informative materials for primary teachers and schools to introduce children to the world of matter and particles.
Beyond children, a lot of adults read this book because they are curious to discover more about CERN, maybe they have heard about the Higgs boson, antimatter and the accelerator, but they want to connect the dots. Finally, a friend of mine who works at CERN bought it for his relatives, to help them understand what he does at CERN.
Do you believe that this would be a good read aloud book that a parent and child can read together. Any tips you would like to provide as the author?
The reader can read and play alone or in company. The book can be read at different levels. It’s first and foremost a suspenseful adventure and a friendly approach to physics and particles. Those who want to delve deeper and discover more scientific fun facts can read the “Science Bytes” and “Curiously CERN” text boxes. There is also a glossary about particles written from a cat (Schrödy)’s point of view.
The gamebook includes two science-themed recipes, plenty of quizzes and games which are ideal to spend some screen-free time together with parents, siblings and friends. For example, there is a board game on the back cover, a particle sudoku, a particle collision challenge and some dinosaur-themed activities.
I also recommend reading this book before or after a family trip to Geneva (Switzerland), where CERN headquarter is located.
Do you have plans of writing more books such as this one to simplify complex scientific concepts and make it fun for children to learn them by pretending to be someone important?
Yes definitely! If you like, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where I post about science communication, tourism (including of course science tourism) and brain-tickling ideas.
The book is available on Amazon, Waterstones and other bookstores.
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