D. Sarah Stamps, an assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences, has teamed with National Geographic to create a new children’s book on rocks and minerals. 

The book, from National Geographic Kids, is titled, “Absolute Expert: Rocks and Minerals.” It is geared toward children 8 to 12 years old and promises “a rocking great adventure.” The book’s descriptor reads, in part: “Travel across the globe to find out how the Earth formed so YOU can become an absolute expert. Get up close to the layers of rock beneath the Earth's surface. Learn about igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock cycles. Dig into sparkling crystals, quartz, diamonds, and other glorious gems.”

The book was authored by Ruth Strother, and is part of a series on science and engineering. Stamps was invited by National Geographic to participate in the book after the nonprofit funded several of her research expeditions to Madagascar and Tanzania to study plate tectonics and volcanoes. She also has reviewed proposals, attended functions, and gave a presentation on her work in Madagascar at National Geographic’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

“It was definitely fun to work on the book,” Stamps said. “I wrote several stories from the field and edited the book content. It was also interesting to be a part of the process for developing a book. I liked seeing the book evolve from early draft phases to the final product.”

Stamps wrote introductions for each chapter and there is a feature story from the field on Stamps conducting research. “I hope one of the outcomes of my participation in the book is that children will be inspired to become scientists, perhaps even geoscientists,” she added.