Fecha de publicación: 1/08/2020
It is a free tool in the middle of the health contingency due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Seeing that there is not so much material to explain the coronavirus to children, Carol Perelman, a Mexican scientist decided to write the story “Coronesio, Covidín and the Secrets of the Invisible” To help them understand what is going on with this pandemic.
“It is a fictional story based on the scientific evidence that was available until July 2020,” Carol says in an interview with The opinion.
“Children have not been active actors in the pandemic. They are at home, and there are not many studies on the impact on them when they are essential because their lives have taken a turn with this disease.” He observes.
And he acknowledges that one of the challenges he faced was writing about a subject that has not been fully understood because the coronavirus is a developing pandemic.
“It was reviewed and edited by several scientists from the Mexican Society for the Dissemination of Science and Technology, AC (SOMEDICYT) because we wanted it to have scientific rigor, with great certainty and not cross gray lines.”
Once he wrote the story, he told the president of SOMEDICYT, of which he is a member, and they discovered that it could be an opportunity to foster critical thinking and boost science.
Carol Perelman, Mexican scientist writes a story about the coronavirus. (Courtesy Carol Perelman)
He says that writing the story was simple, the most difficult thing was to polish it and take care of every word.
Carol says that science popularizers like her always speak to the same captive audience, but with this story they decided to speak to children, who when they grow up will have to solve challenges like global warming.
The story tells of Karla, a very curious girl who wants to know more about the virus that changed her life, preventing her from seeing her friends at school and in particular her father, who is a doctor.
One night, with the help of two viruses that she finds in her dream, in her dad’s robe, Karla discovers the secrets of the invisible.
In a dynamic conversation, Coronesio and Covidín solve the girl’s disturbing questions. They tell him what they are like, where they come from, why they have become so well known and the details of how they enter the human body.
Throughout her talk, Karla realizes the importance of understanding them in order to solve the pandemic, also applying the rules of healthy distance and knowing one of the best defenses against coronavirus: wash your hands with soap and water.
Carol is the mother of four teenage children. Inspired by her 15-year-old daughter Karla, who loves science and wants to be a doctor, she decided to give her man to the main character, the girl in the story.
“It is also a way of giving value to girls, and recognizing the medical personnel who have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.”
However, it also gives the microphone to the coronaviruses to tell their story, and it gives the responsibility to the human being who is the contagion.
The story puts children to do three experiments so that they understand more how to take care of themselves, and these have to do with water and soap, face mask and antibacterial gel.
Although it is intended for primary and secondary students, adults can enjoy it in the same way. “It is for all ages,” says the scientist.
And it makes clear that in addition to educating minors about the coronavirus, the story carried several messages, the importance of caring for the environment and promoting the vocations of the sciences such as that of researcher, health worker, doctor and scientist.
The book edited and published by SOMEDICYT, is in Spanish and is free.
The lWatch YouTube to listen to Carol’s story in voice: https://youtu.be/mCYPa9W0-oQ
Who is Carol
Carol Perelman was born in Mexico City in 1977. In 1995 she won first place in the Metropolitan Chemistry Olympiads as well as a gold medal in the National Chemistry Olympics, and a bronze medal representing Mexico in the Ibero-American Chemistry Olympics in Mendoza Argentina.
Upon his return, he entered the Faculty of Chemistry of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where he obtained his title of Pharmaceutical Biologist Chemist with honorable mention. Since 2009, he has directed the Weizmann Garden of Sciences, the first completely open-air science museum in Mexico.
He is a member of the board of the Faculty of Chemistry of UNAM, SOMEDICYT, and the Mexican Network of Science Journalists, RedMPC.
If you want to contact Carol visit her site: www.carolperelman.net
You find her on twitter at: @carol_perelman
The Canadian News
Coronesio, Covidín y los secretos de lo invisible
