ଏହି ଇବୁକ୍ ବିଷୟରେ
Every night without fail, the author would read children’s’ Bible stories, pray and narrate to his daughter a true life story about his very adventurous childhood years growing up in Kenya. Having been born in the United States and possessing a great deal of intellectual curiosity and adventure, she found the stories unbelievably exciting. Incredibly she still does even as a young adult.
Over and above the stories, the books provide fun activities and learning opportunities in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) that are to be enjoyed during evening family gatherings, road trips, or while just passing a lazy afternoon. What better way to introduce young minds to STEM fields than to make it fun and enjoyable AS IT ACTUALLY IS! As a multiple-award winning instructor and one of the best rated motivational and effective instructors in chemistry where he works, the author has the unique ability to effectively present these learning opportunities in a fun, non-traditional-class way. The author learned from his formative years that when science is presented to young minds as exciting and applicable, there is a very high chance that the young scholar will embrace and pursue the field passionately. Our society needs doctors, pharmacists, chemists, etc. more than ever before; there is no better way to ensure that we have enough of these professionals than to start inspiring them now. This book plays a supportive role in that noble goal.
The author owns the copyright to all the graphics. The names of characters and places have been changed to protect identities.
Stay Happy, You Have Incredible Value. Barnabas K. Gikonyo, Ph.D.
ଲେଖକଙ୍କ ବିଷୟରେ
Barnabas Gikonyo’s true life stories and infectious ‘stay happy’ attitude continue to inspire many across the globe. In fact, the success of the first 2 books (Stay Happy Children’s Stories Book 1 and Book 2) encouraged him to publish this third book to keep inspiring many yearning hearts for generations to come.
Having grown up in the farming communities in Kenya, he learned most of his foundational principles from his everyday activities, and, being a very adventurous kid, he generated a repertoire of true-life adventure stories that have left many, irrespective of age, craving to hear more.
Perhaps the greater paradox is his educational and research experiences, in sciences. He truly stands out as a graceful talent in multiple fields. He graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois (2007) with a Ph.D. in organic and materials chemistry after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biochemistry at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. As a full-time lecturer and SUNY Geneseo, NY, he has taught organic and general chemistry classes plus corresponding laboratories and oversees the running of general chemistry labs. His research interests range from the application of various polymeric materials as "biomaterial bridging surfaces" for the repair of spinal cord injuries to the use of osteoconductive cement for the repair of critical-sized bone defects/fractures to the pretreatment of hemp and fiber quality analysis to the development of alternative/non-food biofuels. He has published several books on renewable energy with Apple Academic publishing company; 1) “Efficacy and Sustainability in Biofuel Production, environmental and Land Use Research; 2) Sugarcane as Biofuel Feedstock, Advances toward a Sustainable Energy Solution; 3) “Fuel Production from non-food biomass; corn stover; 4) Advances in Biofuel Production: Algae and Aquatic Plants. Most recently, he just published his first 2 children’s story books; “Stay Happy Children’s Stories. Book 1” through Xlibris Publishing (Sep 2021) and Stay Happy Children’s Stories, Book 2” through Xlibris Publishing, March 2022.
Many of the students he has mentored over the years are now fully fledged doctors, nurses, professors, and so on who always treasure the foundational principles he helped them establish.
He is involved in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math) initiatives at the university aimed at helping increase enrollment and retention of students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields. He, in collaboration with local teachers and instructors, has helped develop mentorship programs that continue to positively impact, inspire, and encourage students from underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
Notwithstanding being a multiple-award winning instructor, faculty mentor, and award-winning motivational speaker, (he previously gave a TEDx talk titled “The 7 Steps Towards Achieving Seemingly Impossible Dreams' through SUNY Geneseo TEDx), Barnabas is an avid golfer and poet. He is probably known best for his uplifting and original phrase, “Stay happy, you have incredible value.”
This series of “Stay Happy” children’s books are not only based on his true-life experiences, but they are also a selection from thousands of bedtime stories he shared with his own daughter every night from the ages of about 2 to 7 years.
Stay happy, you have incredible value. Barnabas K. Gikonyo Ph.D.
