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Scientist Temple Grandin encourages kids to create, imagine in book for young readers

Scientist and inventor Temple Grandin is the author of "Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor." She joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh.
Evie Hemphill | St. Louis Public Radio
Scientist and inventor Temple Grandin is the author of "Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor." She joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh.

Temple Grandin is an accomplished scientist, inventor and author. She is also an expert in autism research and is one of the most well-known adults with autism.

“I want to get kids interested in making things,” Grandin told St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh on Thursday.

Grandin’s newest book targeting young readers is “Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor.” She is appearing at a sold-out event Thursday night at the St. Louis County Library that will also be streamed live on HEC-TV.

“I’ve got all my childhood projects in this book,” Grandin said. Much of her inspiration to invent started at an early age, citing her grandfather who was a co-inventor of the autopilot for planes.

Scientist and inventor Temple Grandin is the author of "Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor." She joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh.
Credit Evie Hemphill | St. Louis Public Radio
Scientist and inventor Temple Grandin is the author of "Calling All Minds: How to Think and Create Like an Inventor." She joined St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh.

The projects include making a kite fly and a boat float. They also include making paper, a kaleidoscope and a parachute.

Grandin is both a critic and advocate of young children and their skills of imagination and invention.

On the one hand, she said kids need to get out and just do things, not spending so much time playing video games. On the other hand, Grandin said she’s inspired by her recent visits to schools where students in makerspaces are designing and creating objects using 3D printers.

Grandin also offered advice to parents of children on the autism spectrum. Such words of wisdom included lessons on responsibility.

In addition to hands-on activities, Grandin’s new book includes mini-histories of groundbreaking inventions and biographies of the people who invented them.

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary EdwardsAlex HeuerEvie Hemphill and Lara Hamdan give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Alex Heuer joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2012 and is the executive producer of St. Louis on the Air. Alex grew up in the St. Louis area. He began his public radio career as a student reporter at Tri States Public Radio in Macomb, Illinois and worked for a few years at Iowa Public Radio. Alex graduated summa cum laude from Western Illinois University with a degree in history and earned a teaching certificate in 6 - 12th grade social studies. In 2016, he earned a Master of Public Policy Administration with a focus in nonprofit organization management and leadership from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He has won local and national awards for reporting and producing and his stories have been featured nationally on Morning Edition and All Things Considered.