Alom Shaha

Alom Shaha is an author, and science teacher who has dedicated his career to sharing his passion for science and education. He has written books for adults and children, including Why Don’t Things Fall Up?, Mr Shaha’s Recipes for Wonder, and How to Find a Rainbow. Before focusing on teaching and writing, Alom worked in television, where he wrote, produced, and directed programmes on topics ranging from Tudor history to particle physics, occasionally appearing on screen himself. He has collaborated with organisations such as The Royal Institution, as well as individual scientists, to help them communicate their work and ideas to the public.

Currently, Alom teaches part-time at a comprehensive school in London. His videos on how to carry out classic physics demonstrations and practical work are used by teachers and teacher-training institutions worldwide. His creative and innovative approaches to science communication and education has earned him fellowships from the British Science Association, the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts (NESTA), and the Nuffield Foundation.

Alom has always been keen to serve his community and has been a local councillor, chair of governors at the primary school he attended, and chair of a children’s charity based on the estate where he grew up. Alom continues to volunteer, including at his children’s school.

Outside work, Alom is a father of two and a keen cook with a passion for recreating the Sylheti Bangladeshi dishes of his childhood.

Praise for How to Find a Rainbow

Shaha’s narrative effortlessly weaves in the science of rainbows, accompanied by sumptuous pencil illustrations from Sinha. The perfect picturebook for a rainy day.

CLPE

Did you know…

  • Alom is often thought of as being short by people taller than him, but he once represented his school in the high jump... and proceeded to land on his head and get amnesia.

  • Alom encourages the making of paper airplanes in his lessons at school. He has taught many students how to make the "soaring cylinder", a paper airplane unlike any other. You can learn how to make your own here.

  • Alom loves confectionary of all sorts, particularly unusual flavoured sweets. His current favourite are ones which are chilli-flavoured with a "black salt" filling. His children hate these and call them "fart sweets" because the filling smells of sulphur.

Find out more on Alom Shaha's website

Publishers' websites