STEM in Sports: Science

April 1, 2015

Gr 6 Up-These fascinating titles examine innovations in scientific fields that "are giving...athletes a wide array of tools to improve performance and success." The books cover engineering advances such as lightweight shirts and safer equipment as well as high-tech sports stadiums and scientific breakthroughs that include preventing and rehabilitating player injuries, designing prosthetics, and creating new guidelines for training and nutrition. Most innovations are cast in a favorable light, such as Math's description of Sabermetrics, the stats-based analysis pioneered by Bill James that's now used in many sports. However, the authors also highlight concerns: commercial interests drive many new developments and may tip the scale in favor of wealthy athletes or teams. Readers are encouraged to think through these issues through text-dependent questions and suggestions for research projects. Sidebars and color photos are an additional plus. VERDICT Great resources for report writers and fans alike.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2015
Grades 6-9 Sports is a perennially popular topic among students, but it's much more than just game play and athletics. The STEM in Sports series persuasively emphasizes the myriad ways STEM fields are at work in the world of sports, in everything from the grass on the field to the cameras in the sky monitoring the goal line. Science provides information not just on sports medicine and nutrition but also innovations in prosthetics and materials for safer equipment. Each entry closes with a chapter that poses critical questions about the impact of these advances in sports, considering everything from fairness to health to economics. Though there are several places where information repeats, the splashy layouts, plentiful photos of a diverse array of both sports and athletes, inviting tone, and fascinating facts make this series a great entry point to STEM for sports-loving students.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)