To highlight the achievements of Australia’s leading STEM researchers and inventors, a series of children’s books called Aussie STEM Stars has been released – with one featuring Flinders University palaeontologist Professor John Long called Fossil Hunter.

The book, written by Flinders University’s Associate Professor Danielle Clode, is part of an expansive series that has been designed for 10-13-year-old readers.

The series published by Wild Dingo Press is telling the stories of world-leading Australian leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Each book is written by an award-winning children’s author and follows the real-life stories of Australia’s top scientists and inventors – with Professor Long being the only scientist in the series from South Australia.

The book explains that Professor Long – who became fascinated by fossils from the age of seven – is currently serving as President of The Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology, is author of a monthly column on fossils, has written 26 adult and children’s books relating to fossils, and helps the Australian Federal Police to prevent illegal fossil trades.

The book is now published and available to order online through wilddingopress.com.au

Professor Long will also soon be featured on the ABC radio show/podcast Conversations with Richard Fidler/Sarah Kanowski.

Associate Professor Clode will be hosting a school holiday activity for children to explore Australia’s amazing fossils, stamp their own dinosaur stampede, articulate a skeleton, make a megafauna peg puppet – and receive a copy of the Fossil Hunter book. Longwood Institute, 706 Longwood Road, Bradbury, from 1.30-3.30pm, Friday 8 October. For bookings, visit https://www.trybooking.com/BUHXW