Water Clocks and Robots is published by Oxford University Press.

It was during a meeting with a former deputy head teacher at Elsley Primary School when the discussion came up about creating a workshop around the Islamic Golden Age and Al-Jazari was one of the many scientists that I mentioned in our discussions. The Deputy Head teacher was keen on me sharing my research on his life work and so when OUP made a call out for submission proposals, I sent them a one on the Founder of Robotics – Al-Jazari.

They supported me by commissioning me to write it. I was new to the publishing world and didn’t realise how long it took that I completely forgot about it to the point where I didn’t think it would ever be published. My catastrophising nature took hold and although I would share that I had sent a proposal I dismissed the publishing part of.

So I was incredibly surprised to find it finally being out in the world and in the hands of primary school children. My copies have arrived too! I’m absolutely bowled over the fact that I can share my love of my own Iraqi heritage with young people and hope I get to do more of this again and again.