Ediciones Iamiqué, a publishing house founded by biologist Ileana Lotersztain and physicist Carla Barendes in Buenos Aires in 2000, is dedicated to making science accessible and fun for children. Their passion for scientific dissemination led them to create a series of children’s books called Sopa de Ciencias, which has quickly gained popularity and sold out within months of its release. The success of the first book led to the creation of the series, which covers a range of scientific topics including Ecology, Mathematics, Physics, and Biology.
In an interview with The Day, editor Carla Barendes shared the inspiration behind the collection, which began with Chemistry even in the soup (2014). Each book is written by experts in their respective fields who spend time with children explaining their area of study through engaging activities. Barendes emphasizes the importance of sparking curiosity in children and encouraging them to ask questions and seek out answers, ensuring that their interest in science stays strong as they grow older.
Barendes also discussed her interest in expanding beyond the natural sciences to include social sciences, history of technology, and philosophy in their works. They work closely with authors and illustrators to create engaging content that inspires creativity and exploration of knowledge. Barendes highlighted the collaborative nature of creating their books and the importance of respecting their readers by ensuring the information is accurate and easy to understand.
The Science Soup series consists of five books that are available for purchase online and has been well received by readers of all ages. In addition to their work in publishing, Barendes and Lotersztain have also ventured into working with insurance agencies to provide specialized travel insurance for extreme sports enthusiasts. They have developed insurance plans for a variety of activities including cycling, horseback riding, jet skiing
