Alom Shaha is a physics teacher, writer, film-maker, and science communicator. He is also ex-Muslim.

Alom will talk to Faith to Faithless about his new book Why Don't Things Fall up?. The book is written for adults as a gentle reminder of everything we may have learnt once a long time ago in school and have since forgotten.
However, this will be especially poignant for our audience at Faith to Faithless, as many people who leave high-control religious groups have had either a limited science education, or none at all. For many of us, we have had to relearn almost everything we know, especially when it comes to science.

This event will be open to anyone who has left a high-control religious group and currently lives in the UK. Here you will see Alom talk about his book and then he will open up to a Question & Answer session. This session has been designed especially for apostates who may not always feel comfortable at big events asking questions for fear of ridicule. Here, no question is silly, so please feel comfortable to ask away! This event is free to attend.

Email info@faithtofaithless.com for the Zoom link.

About Alom Shaha

Alom Shaha is a father of two, science communicator, teacher, and author. He has spent most of his professional life trying to share his passion for science and education with the public. Alom was born in Bangladesh to a Muslim family but grew up in London. In his adult life he left Islam and identifies as a humanist. He wrote about this journey away from faith in his book 'The Young Atheist's Handbook.'

He has represented his community as a local councillor, and has volunteered at a range of charitable organisations, including as a trustee and patron of Humanists UK.

Alom has written for a number of print and online publications including The Guardian, New Scientist, and New Humanist. Alom has worked as a TV producer and director, and his creative approach to science communication has been recognised with fellowships from the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts (NESTA) and the Nuffield Foundation. He is the author of The Young Atheist's Handbook, Mr Shaha's Recipes for Wonder, Mr Shaha's Marvellous Machines, and a number of educational titles.

His first children's picture book, How to Find a Rainbow will be published in 2023 as well as his next book for adults, Why Don't Things Fall Up?

About the book, Why Don't Things Fall Up?

Has a child – or anyone else – ever asked you why the sky is blue? Could you explain why ice cream melts? Have you forgotten why scientists think the universe started with a Big Bang, and do you understand the difference between respiration and breathing?

Why Don’t Things Fall Up? will gently remind you of everything you may have learnt once upon a time, but have somehow forgotten along the way. If you’ve ever changed the subject when a child has asked for homework help, or if you have the curiosity of a seven year old yourself, or if you know everything but have forgotten the basics or don’t want to know anything except the basics – then this is the book for you.

Using questions asked by children as a starting point, Alom Shaha (who has spent over two decades trying to help people of all ages understand this stuff) takes us on a tour of the “big ideas” of science from his unique perspective. His experience as a dad, a teacher and science communicator means he knows exactly what people don’t know –and especially the misconceptions and other intellectual hurdles which prevent us grasping key ideas.

Combining his proven skill for explaining science with storytelling and flashbacks to school experiments, Why Don’t Things Fall Up? reminds us that science is not just for scientists – it’s a human endeavour that enriches all our lives.