About the Author – Rudo Kashiri

Rudo Kashiri is a passionate science educator, children’s book author, and the visionary founder of Curious Minds Explorers Publishing. With over two decades of experience inspiring young minds, Rudo’s mission is to make science accessible, engaging, and exciting for children of all backgrounds.

A Career Rooted in Science Education

A retired NASA science educator, Rudo spent much of her career with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, where she led national STEM education initiatives. She collaborated with astronauts, scientists, and educators to develop outreach programs that brought the wonder of space science into classrooms nationwide.

One of her proudest achievements was helping design educational activities for NASA’s STS-118 mission aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the historic flight that featured the first educator astronaut. These activities allowed students to engage with real-world space science in meaningful, hands-on ways. She also contributed to the NASA Explorer Schools program, developing resources that connected classroom lessons with authentic NASA missions.

From Educator to Storyteller

While her professional career focused on NASA missions and STEM outreach, Rudo’s inspiration for writing came from closer to home, her grandchildren. Watching their endless curiosity reminded her of the wonder that drives scientific discovery.

“Seeing the world through their eyes reminded me of the boundless curiosity that drives science,” Rudo reflects. This realization sparked her transition into children’s publishing, where she combines her love of teaching with the power of storytelling.

Her books blend imaginative adventures with accurate science, demonstrating to children that science is not only fun but also something they can observe in their own lives. Whether it’s traveling to the Moon, solving a melting ice cream mystery, or discovering why stars twinkle, her stories celebrate curiosity, diversity, and creativity.

Celebrating Diversity and Discovery

Rudo’s stories are inspired not only by science but also by her family and cultural heritage. Through the recurring character of Ambuya (grandmother), she weaves in family traditions and cultural storytelling, making science learning both personal and inclusive.

Her commitment is clear: every child should see themselves as an explorer, a problem solver, and a future scientist. By combining narrative magic with factual learning, she makes science fun and accessible for readers of all ages.

Continuing the Mission

Even in retirement, Rudo remains deeply engaged in education. She shares her love of science through workshops, classroom visits, and community storytelling events. She also advocates for greater representation in STEM fields, believing that children are more likely to pursue science when they see diverse role models reflected in books and classrooms.

Outside of her professional work, Rudo credits her father, Dr. Alec Chibanguza, for instilling in her a lifelong love of reading and writing. His influence remains at the heart of her mission to inspire curiosity in children everywhere.

✨ “I believe every child can be a scientist, an explorer, and a lifelong learner. Writing these stories allows me to share that dream and to help spark the same curiosity that inspired me. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to live my dream,” Rudo reflects.