About Aurelia Press

Aurelia Press is a small, independent publisher of supplementary materials for Earth and marine science education. Behind Aurelia Press is Cindy Shaw, a science illustrator, writer, and educator who enjoys the challenge of reaching those who may not naturally be particularly excited about science.

Cindy holds a B.A. in zoology (emphasis on coral reef ecology) from the University of Hawaii-Manoa as well as a master's in education (emphasis on science curriculum) from Washington State University, where she researched the use of guided illustration as a teaching and learning tool in the science classroom. She has taken numerous post-graduate courses, workshops and other training in science illustration, geology and earth systems science to support her work in those areas.

Now focusing on earth science, mapping, and coral reef ecology, she writes and illustrates for textbooks and museums in addition to developing ancillary educational materials for Aurelia Press. Her educational interests lie in problem-based learning, science-art-literature connections, and using scientific illustration techniques as tools for teaching and learning in science classrooms.

In her role as a scientific illustrator, Cindy has been illustrating for the educational and museum markets for over 30 years. Since 2009, she has served as lead illustrator and art director for the Stephen Reynolds trilogy of highly successful college textbooks (Exploring Geology, Exploring Geography, and Exploring Earth Science), all published by McGraw-Hill. A few of her other projects include: illustrations for Inside Volcanoes and Inside Earthquakes (both written by Melissa Stewart and published by Sterling Children's Books); illustrations for Inside Weather and Inside Lightning (both written by Mary Kay Carson and published by Sterling Publishing); lead illustrator for the 11th Edition art revamp of Plummer and Carlson's Physical Geology (©2007, McGraw-Hill); and 3D modeling, rendering and painting of actual coral reef dive sites and illustrating diver education materials for use in selected Club Med resorts in the Caribbean.

Cindy's middle-grade novel, Grouper Moon, is used and enjoyed by kids in many U.S. and Caribbean classrooms, and serves as the anchor text for Reef Environmental Education Foundation's curriculum for The Grouper Moon Project.

Currently landlocked in Eastern Washington, Cindy escapes whenever possible to travel, hike, and dive the reefs to field sketch and do reference photography for her projects.

More of Cindy's science illustration work can be seen at https://www.science-art.com/member/?id=12#.XIsvAShKhPY