The INESC TEC researcher wrote Núbia, a menina-astronauta, her first book. She moved from the inhospitable scenarios that simulate environments far from Earth to the pages where she wrote a “story of resilience and survival”. The book reinforces the importance of dreaming – and, of course, of science.
Ana Pires has already spent two weeks in the Utah desert and six nights in a cave in the Azores, but she can’t find any “adventure” that compares to the challenge of telling the journey of Núbia, an astronaut girl who dreamed of flying and touching the stars. Inspired by the journey of “a girl who is a force of Nature”, the INESC TEC researcher wrote a book to inspire and “make people dream”.
The scientist-astronaut poured the life story of her niece, “the real Núbia”, into a book. Besides the “story of resilience and survival”, Ana Pires’ passion for science and space exploration is also part of the book’s pages. And now we can all read Núbia, a menina-astronauta, which the author signed under the pseudonym of Anita Guerra.
“This bedtime story is about discovery and the urge to fly. The short story allows a free reading through imagination, with amazing illustrations. The story of Núbia’s adventure, when told and read several times, makes magic happen and transforms anyone into an explorer, with a desire to fly”, said the author.
The work also seeks to show the world of possibilities within STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) – “especially to girls”, stated the author. But the story isn’t just to inspire those who flip through the pages of Núbia, a menina-astronauta. Ana Pires explained: “when writing the story, I also felt that I was integrating Núbia into a real expedition or space mission, from her room to the cosmos. Now, in her “adventures” and scientific projects, Ana Pires has “always Núbia in her mind”. It is an impulse, a “daring to always study and learn every day, in order to fly higher”.
A new flight for Núbia
This feeling has always been part of Ana Pires, ever since she was Núbia’s age – and who among us has never dreamed of becoming an astronaut? But now she wants to inspire those who read the epic adventure of little Núbia: “just as my parents always motivated me to dream, and to never give up, while overcoming my fears, we also want this story to inspire other parents to do the same”.
Ana Pires has received positive feedback from parents and children, so don’t be surprised if a new Núbia adventure hits the shelves soon. The researcher already has new characters in her mind, as well as the extreme environment that will act as a scenario for the little astronaut – the next chapter will even include robotic systems.
Ana Pires’ first literary project was written in Portuguese and English, and features illustrations by José Amorim, who coloured the 31 pages with watercolour and acrylic pictures. The preface was written by NASA veteran astronaut Nicole Stott, who, according to Ana Pires, “painted in Space with the same technique as José Amorim”.
NASA astronaut Nicole Stott wrote the preface to Ana Pires’ book.
“The book mentions the Space for Art Foundation, an institution that Nicole Stott co-founded, as well as the Project Possum and Space for all Nations, an outreach initiative of the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences – an entity that signed a MoU with INESC TEC.
And INESC TEC is also part of this history: here, every day resembles a “countdown for a lift-off of new adventures”. The book was presented by Graça Barbosa, member of INESC TEC’s Board of Directors, and researcher Rui Moura.
The history of Núbia, the paintings and illustrations by José Amorim are now “preparing to land” at the IPO Porto, for an exhibition and STEAM activities for children, after an invitation by Diana Guimarães, INESC TEC researcher.
The book published by Flamingo Edições is available in Portugal and Brazil, but in can also be ordered from anywhere in the world via the publishing house’s website.
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