General information
I offer visits that combine science and writing using my background as a career scientist and my hobby as an author. My visits are informative and engaging – and sometimes a little chaotic. Students will come away with a greater understanding of science, having learnt new concepts, along with an appreciation of what it takes to write and publish a book.
My visits are best suited to years 5, 6, 7 and 8 (with the content tailored to match the year group). Visits can be half a day or a full day if there are multiple groups.
I offer:
- Presentation on science and writing
- Practical
- Acting out scenes to understand character motivation
- Spinning cups of water to understand gravity
- Throwing balls to understand orbit
- Workshops
- Worldbuilding
- Creating a bad guy/girl
- Q&A
- Anything they can think of about science and writing
To facilitate the presentation, I will require access to a laptop and a projector/screen.
Locations
I am based in Winchester and can offer visits to schools in Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Surrey.
Cost
I do not charge for my visits and only request that I have an opportunity to sell my books (and possibly get a cup of coffee and a biscuit).
Credentials
- Master’s degree in physics
- Chartered physicist with the Institute of Physics
- 18+ years working as a physicist
- 16+ years volunteering as a scout leader
- Enhanced DBS with the Scout Association
Science topics
- How long would it take to drive to the nearest star (and why it’s not a good idea)
- The speed of light and time dilation (how time is shorter for the traveller)
- How you get gravity on a spaceship (spinning cups of water)
- How dangerous is a grain of sand (KE = 1/2mv2 discussion and the value of velocity)
Girls in STEM
The Girl Who Sold Time follows 12-year-old Violet as she struggles to find her father and unlock the secrets of the time marbles. She is an inventor who lives with her robotic best friend, Jackdaw, and, as such, is a positive role model for girls interested in STEM subjects.
As a byproduct of her interest in technology and curiosity, V S Nelson has created a great fictional role model of a girl interested in STEM subjects, (an added bonus one of her key descriptors are her beloved brightly coloured skirts, preventing her from falling into a “tomboy” stereotype).
LoveReading4Kids
An obvious selling point here is the courageous and relatable main character, who is dealing with issues that will undoubtedly resonate with the target audience, such as the meaning of family, the power of friendship, and finding one’s place—or purpose—in the world. But Nelson’s impressively deep worldbuilding and backstory, which give the narrative an undeniable timeliness and thematic gravity, is arguably even more of a hook. The author also excels at exploring complex scientific theories and making them palatable for young readers.
Kirkus Reviews
The Girl Who Sold Time is a must-read for fans of imaginative sci-fi, strong female leads, and razor-sharp storytelling. If you like stories with survivalist grit, fast-paced adventure, and a touch of dark humor, this one’s for you.
Literary Titan
Testimonials
Last week, Year 6 welcomed author V. S. Nelson, who brought a fascinating mix of science and storytelling to the classroom in a workshop that truly ignited the children’s imaginations. V. S. Nelson, began by introducing the idea of how science can inspire stories—from futuristic technology to exploring the wonders of space and the unknown. He showed pupils how scientific ideas can be the spark for incredible fiction, encouraging them to think creatively about the “what ifs” of the universe.
During the session, children explored the process of how to write a book, learning how stories are built step by step and how to link events in their own stories to make the plots exciting and meaningful. With this foundation, Year 6 set off on their own science fiction journeys, creating detailed and imaginative worlds of their own.
Kings Worthy Primary School
Nelson also gave the children a behind-the-scenes look at the writing and publishing process, explaining that a finished book takes years of planning, writing, editing and re-editing. He shared how it’s normal to face rejection, criticism and changes along the way, but reminded everyone that great stories are built through perseverance and passion.
The visit left Chaffinch Class buzzing with ideas and excitement. They asked thoughtful questions about science, writing and character creation – and many left saying they now wanted to write their own stories.
Longparish Primary School
Book a visit
If you are interested in a school visit, please contact me at vsnelson0@gmail.com.