STEM in Sports: Math

Gr 6 Up—These fascinating titles examine innovations in scientific fields that "are giving…athletes a wide array of tools to improve performance and success." The books cover engineering advances such as lightweight shirts and safer equipment as well as high-tech sports stadiums and scientific breakthroughs that include preventing and rehabilitating player injuries, designing prosthetics, and creating new guidelines for training and nutrition. Most innovations are cast in a favorable light, such as Math's description of Sabermetrics, the stats-based analysis pioneered by Bill James that's now used in many sports. However, the authors also highlight concerns: commercial interests drive many new developments and may tip the scale in favor of wealthy athletes or teams. Readers are encouraged to think through these issues through text-dependent questions and suggestions for research projects. Sidebars and color photos are an additional plus.