Helping Kids Understand Mining Through Books and STEM
One of the reasons I created the Working Deep Down book series was to make mining easier for children and families to understand.
Mining is a huge part of everyday life in Australia, but it can still be difficult to explain what happens underground, what the machines do, why safety matters and how mining connects back to the world around us.
It was great to recently see the books reviewed by Natalie Anna, founder of the MineWise wellbeing and resilience program and an AusIMM Associate.
View Natalie Anna’s LinkedIn profile
Natalie described the series as sitting at the intersection of knowledge, creativity and mining, and highlighted that the books:
Use rhyme to explain real mining concepts
Cover PPE, safety and communication
Explain underground mining machines and their jobs
Connect mining with technology, utilities and everyday life
The illustrations by Peter Harris from Mining Boom are also a big part of the books, bringing underground mining environments and equipment to life in a way that still feels familiar to people in the industry.
Mining STEM for Children
Mining is a great example of STEM in action.
Surveyors use mathematics, lasers and spatial technology. Geologists use science to understand the ground. Engineers design mines and infrastructure, while operators, electricians, mechanics and technology specialists keep everything moving.
The Working Deep books introduce children to some of these ideas without becoming textbooks. They are children's mining books first, but there is plenty of real industry knowledge underneath the rhyme and illustrations.
Natalie and I later caught up for coffee and spoke about mining, startups and the importance of making the industry more understandable and approachable.
That is ultimately what I hope the books achieve.
If they help a child understand what Mum or Dad does at a mine, introduce them to a future mining or STEM career, or simply spark an interest in the machines and technology used underground, then they are doing their job.
A big thank you to Natalie for taking the time to read the series and share her thoughts.
