tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post7340399150034734415..comments2024-03-14T04:53:49.513-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Diversity Help WantedFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-52405644691811503522010-04-14T04:58:32.896-05:002010-04-14T04:58:32.896-05:00Btw, I also do a lot of outreach in highschools, a...Btw, I also do a lot of outreach in highschools, and I usually tell the kids what grades I got in highschool (because they were ok but not that amazing). The kids usually give me lots of positive feedback on this.MarthaWantsToBeAScientisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08040332378821487392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-49072292855679402022010-04-14T04:53:01.746-05:002010-04-14T04:53:01.746-05:00The first outreach talk I gave was to 7 year olds....The first outreach talk I gave was to 7 year olds. The teacher told her class that a 'Physicist' was coming. When I entered the classroom, several students (can't remember if it was just boys or girls too) shouted "Oh, it's a girl (sic)!" I was crushed that 7 year olds had such prejudice - it was the first time that I realised I was a 'woman' scientist.<br /><br />But I still do lots of outreach. I usually include a slide with pictures of people I work with. At the beginning I was overly conscious to make it 'diverse', but as time goes by I simply include people I work with (on an international project) and it naturally turns out diverse: women, men, different colors of skin and names originating from different religions. I would say we are getting there, if the 'diverse' people weren't finding it so hard to break that glass ceiling.<br /><br />So there is sexism at work - which mostly comes from above in my experience. There is sexism with 7 years old - who don't really know better than what their parents teach them. But what bothers me the most is when I meet women and men my age, who evolve in my circles, and are 'awed' when I tell them I am a physicist. These people have not reached 30. Less than 10 years ago they were still at University - did they not notice there were women studying science? Is it such a surprise that some, just like their male counterparts, stayed in the field?<br /><br />I've heard women and men (20<age<30) tell me it was 'amazing', and that I must be the 'only one' (in the world?). Seriously? What planet do these people come from?MarthaWantsToBeAScientisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08040332378821487392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-18065030974149642942010-03-18T08:08:08.168-05:002010-03-18T08:08:08.168-05:00I just want to agree with all the commenter who sa...I just want to agree with all the commenter who said to talk about the kinds of things that scientists actually do in their work.<br /><br />I'm a grad student in an interdisciplinary field (my background is in physics). I often talk to other women my age (mid-twenties) who found science "boring" in school. When I tell them about the content of my research, they usually respond with awe about how interesting it is. And then there is the flexibility, the autonomy, the chance to travel...<br /><br />Your goal is to prevent people from saying, at the age of twenty-five, "I always thought science/math/engineering was boring, and now that I know better, it is too late to reconsider my degree in underwater basket-weaving [or whatever]".FemaleScienceGradnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-62055772496145047522010-03-17T12:33:45.875-05:002010-03-17T12:33:45.875-05:00I am a female scientist and you know what got me i...I am a female scientist and you know what got me interested in science? Hearing about science from scientists and other people who were excited about science. I still remember a visit to the science museum when I was in middle school where we got to talk to scientists from the JASON project (a robotic deep sea diver) live over satellite. I have no idea if they were a diverse group or if they were all 40 year old white males. I was more interested in the robot.<br /><br />I would talk about your work and why it's exciting and how you got interested in it. I like the idea of including pictures of the other scientists that you work with or whose work you talk about. I would steer clear of a contrived "diversity" exercise. The students will probably think it's as lame and awkward as you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-54129189751574209882010-03-17T02:01:12.321-05:002010-03-17T02:01:12.321-05:00just show up! It means a lot. That is all.just show up! It means a lot. That is all.fubaratornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-8553852223001689952010-03-17T01:17:41.311-05:002010-03-17T01:17:41.311-05:00Maybe, for the less artistically inclined, do a ki...Maybe, for the less artistically inclined, do a kind of "find the scientist!" thing; bring in a bunch of photos of people and have them pick between pairs which photo shows a scientist. (Young/female/non-white would be somewhat overrepresented, naturally.) When the bespectacled older man with a beard turns out to be an art student and the 20-something with tattoos is the physicist it'll start to get the point across...<br /><br />(I don't know how age-appropriate this is, though; my middle school years are mercifully almost a total blank in my memory now. It might be a little young.)Bagelsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-54122812987034518212010-03-16T03:20:41.249-05:002010-03-16T03:20:41.249-05:00My comment is along the lines of some of the previ...My comment is along the lines of some of the previous comments here. I volunteered at a middle school a few years ago. A day or two before I visited the teacher announced that an astronomer was coming and asked the kids to guess what would the scientist look like - would it be a man or a woman, how old, what would they wear. They were quite surprise when the 27-year old, female me showed up not wearing a lab coat. You might want to talk to them about how you got to where you are in simple terms - what do you need to study to be a scientist, what are some of the exciting (for you) things about being a scientist. You might also want to discuss their stereotype of a scientist (engage them in discussion) and give theme examples of diverse scientists to counter it. Definitely tell them about your work. And at the end give them lots of time for questions. (The teacher can ask the students to come up with questions beforehand). Be prepared the answer questions about dinosaurs.Ivahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10308453488306338594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-43450273287777042312010-03-15T22:51:51.451-05:002010-03-15T22:51:51.451-05:00I think one presents diversity best by saying what...I think one presents diversity best by saying what drew one to science, whether it lived up to expectations, and what one enjoys about doing science. Add epsilon to their impression of scientists, and this epsilon happens to be a woman.<br /><br />I think kids, especially the kids smart enough in deductive reasoning to enter science, are not going to do it because they were lectured that they could and should. They should be drawn in by an interest in the work.<br /><br />The most effective "diversity" lecture I've seen by a woman were the talks by a lively, young, articulate, brilliant astrophysicist explaining how she turned simple ideas of orbiting stars into confirmation of the black hole in the center of the galaxy. I imaged the whole audience, especially the women, signing up for such a career as soon as the talk was done.John Vidalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09871768524749705799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-87087373582708138462010-03-15T21:14:26.691-05:002010-03-15T21:14:26.691-05:00I would talk about the work you do and relate it t...I would talk about the work you do and relate it to why the kids should care. Before/after/somewhere in the talk, emphasize how people from all backgrounds can become scientists. Also mention that being poor may be a barrier but that going to state public schools up through undergrad and working hard would secure the student a place in many grad/professional programs. I hate the word "diversity" in relation to this because if it's true that minorities are at a disadvantage, it is because money is usually a major issue (and EVERYONE including whites have money problems). Make sure everyone knows that there are programs and grants available and make yourself available to contact if for some reason, a student actually takes what you say seriously and wants to contact you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-64578118058733139932010-03-15T20:48:43.479-05:002010-03-15T20:48:43.479-05:00how about paying a consultant - one of those motiv...how about paying a consultant - one of those motivational speakers and executive coaches that corporations hire and force their employees to go see - to help you come up with a game plan and presentation materials. charge it to your NSF budget as a "broader impact."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-51063539108416657592010-03-15T18:22:37.687-05:002010-03-15T18:22:37.687-05:00I think you want to convey two message: first, th...I think you want to convey two message: first, that the community of scientists is incredibly diverse; and second, that there are certain things all successful scientists have in common.<br /><br />Make the first point by asking the students how many of them grew up speaking a language other than English. Ask how many grew up eating goat or bugs or snakes for dinner. How many of them were raised in religions other than Christianity or Judaism. How many of them have a family member or friend who is gay or transsexual, etc. Then, talk about the many people in your field (broadly defined) that are so incredibly different from you (and the students). <br /><br />Then, ask how many people think that lying is good. Or plagiarism. Or theft. How many of them think you can win arguments by saying "well, you're ugly." How many of them enjoy learning something new and telling other people about it? How many of them like to solve difficult problems, challenge their minds, etc.?<br /><br />Then make it clear that EVERY scientist feels the same way about those issues.<br /><br />In fact, that is WHY there can be so much diversity in science--because scientists agree that how you were raised, what you eat, etc., has nothing to do with learning about the universe. What matters is that everyone holds similar values about science.<br /><br />I would also suggest that you close by acknowledging that OF COURSE women and minorities (and people with disabilities, etc.) can be scientists. I am not sure you need to belabor the fact that the majority of scientists are men.RJBhttp://www.johnson.cornell.edu/faculty/profiles/bloomfield/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-89861573864024156242010-03-15T18:22:37.686-05:002010-03-15T18:22:37.686-05:00Kevin (and everyone else who says drawing a scient...Kevin (and everyone else who says drawing a scientist won't work for middle school kids)- I actually agree, even though I told my story with the kids drawing pictures earlier in the comments. It works really well for younger kids (my mom taught 1st grade and 3rd grade), but I don't think it would work after about the age of 10.<br /><br />However, the general idea of getting kids to form a picture in their head of what a scientist looks like, and then having a real scientist show up and not match that picture- that would probably still be powerful, if you could think of an age-appropriate manner. I submit that it would probably be a powerful thing for a bunch of adults, too. I still get people who are visibly taken aback when I answer the "what do you do for a living?" question.<br /><br />Middle school was the age when my male classmates starting saying really sexist things just to be inflammatory, though. So I think it would be difficult to do well with this age group.<br /><br />Maybe you could pull some pictures from pop culture representations of scientists, and then talk about how in reality, scientists look just like everyone else, and show some pictures of real scientists. And then go on to talk about your awesome science and/or the awesome science done by some of the other people whose pictures you showed.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-84007340744732645722010-03-15T17:40:25.078-05:002010-03-15T17:40:25.078-05:00debunking stereotypes and getting kids or people t...debunking stereotypes and getting kids or people to think in different ways is great for diversity generally. I always thought physics at school was so boring as it was all about vehicles in motion and other topics (yawn, why would I care about cars?). Now that I am a scientist I find the physics of how insects walk vertically and upside down fascinating.<br />Female postdocAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-89729889223612890042010-03-15T17:24:16.823-05:002010-03-15T17:24:16.823-05:00I keep seeing the suggestion to have kids draw or ...I keep seeing the suggestion to have kids draw or sketch a scientist. I think that this will really irritate those who have limited drawing skills or who are shy about showing their drawings.<br /><br />I'm not in the target demographics (being white and male), but I know that anyone who had made me "draw a scientist" as a middle school student would have lost my respect and attention for anything they said subsequently.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14528751349030084532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-53256607013121701442010-03-15T16:51:28.631-05:002010-03-15T16:51:28.631-05:00A group in my field did a wonderful, quick video t...A group in my field did a wonderful, quick video that I found quite helpful when doing something similar. Check out:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH26Pu1M4sc<br />This may at least provide inspiration and incorporates several of the drawing suggestions raised by others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-34683375359417513552010-03-15T15:59:37.136-05:002010-03-15T15:59:37.136-05:00I talked to middle schoolers about being a scienti...I talked to middle schoolers about being a scientist on a couple of occasions, sometimes as a representative woman and sometimes in other capacities, such as helping with science fair projects. (I also worked at a summer camp one summer teaching archery and lived with ten 13-year-old girls, after which I apologized to my mother for having ever been 13.) I mostly went with the, "This is who I am, this is how I got there, and this is what a typical day looks like for me," angle and that seemed to go over well. Mainly kids are looking for something you have in common with them and they want to know if what you do is cool. I've found relating science to modern conveniences they like (like the i-phone, or an x-box, etc) gets their attention well. Most kids don't realize that scientists and engineers are needed to make those things. Demos also always go over well. Or something from your lab that they can touch and play with.<br /><br />Some facts about diversity and gender might be useful - like that both men and women will rank a male applicant for a (mock) job as more qualified and that both men and women will rate a paper as worse if they think the 1st author is a woman. Middle schoolers would find these things interesting. But middle schoolers don't like when things sound preachy and they can see through B.S - better, perhaps, than some professors. They're not adults but they want to be talked to as if they were adults and if you talk down to them, they won't listen. Your PhD doesn't mean anything to a bunch of twelve year olds. They know everything, after all. Anything that sounds remotely like the anti-drug campaigns I was subjected to as a middle schooler will probably not work and may backfire. I actually disagree with the most common suggestion to do an exercise where you have kids draw a scientist, at least for middle schoolers. It would be very hard to do well. It'd probably be easier for elementary schoolers, but middle schoolers will feel like you're treating them like elementary schoolers if you have them draw. I'd stay away from anything that could sound preachy or like you're telling them how to behave.<br /><br />One of the things that caught me off guard is that middle schoolers will sometimes come right out and tell you their insecurities. I'm not smart enough, I'm not good at math, I can't afford college. I made a mistake once - a girl asked about whether you could work at a national lab without a college degree, and I didn't really know how to respond so I just kind of mumbled something but I don't think it was ideal. So be prepared for comments like that. And for students to shout out insults aimed at other students - like, "you're not smart enough for that, Joe!"<br /><br />The background of the students matters a lot, too. Kids in middle class neighborhoods will probably be quieter and go along with whatever you want them to do - but they also don't need to hear what you're saying as much and probably already have their parents' support. Their parents also probably have a more accurate idea of what a scientist does. I've often found kids in poorer schools to be more interactive - they genuinely don't know, for instance, that you need to go to college to be a scientist.<br /><br />Of course, middle schoolers aren't that different from faculty - I have often thought that dealing with armed 13-year-olds prepared me quite well for academia.Madscientistgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11211394943035339771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-41006595135381430092010-03-15T15:22:02.534-05:002010-03-15T15:22:02.534-05:00I used to volunteer to teach science to first grad...I used to volunteer to teach science to first graders on a monthly basis before I arrived the teacher had the kids draw pictures of what scientists looked like. There were three classes, about 80 kids, and they drew 80 pictures of white men with crazy hair holding test tubes. When I arrived there was heated discussion as to whether I was really a scientist because I was a girl and young and wasn't wearing a lab coat. <br /><br />The drew me thank you cards at the end of the year and those were way more awesome, they showed me riding rockets to the moon, wrangling giant insects, traveling to foreign places, and of course holding test tubes. I taught them mainly about insects but it was obvious that being female while talking science changed their perceptions of what was possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-57332478557483886652010-03-15T15:07:28.634-05:002010-03-15T15:07:28.634-05:00While I think the teacher's approach was awkwa...While I think the teacher's approach was awkward to say the least, I think it's a great idea to have parents speak to middle school classes, particularly parents whose professions are not ones that most children are exposed to regularly. I would assume (perhaps incorrectly depending on the type of school your daughter attends) that most of her classmates do not have a scientist parent. That you are strong, positive female role model is an added bonus. I would use the opportunity to try to light a spark of interest in science in all the students, and let the fact that you are female and successful speak for itself. Also, if it were me, I would be careful to remember that you are there for all the students, not just the female ones (although I really, really wish I had had more female role models in science when I was in school!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-4078672159304333882010-03-15T13:50:30.857-05:002010-03-15T13:50:30.857-05:00I would also go with a focus on "following yo...I would also go with a focus on "following your passion" instead of diversity per se. Your own story of how discovered a love of science and how you figured out the path towards academic science is probably compelling, even for middle-schoolers. Lots of kids don't have any idea what physical scientists DO-- that alone is likely to open up a new world to them.<br /><br />And a lot depends on the demographic. My 1st grade daughter thinks mostly women are scientists (like her Mom) but men are sometimes science teachers (like Dad). And I'm in no hurry to explain otherwise...ALnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-64761358868647398502010-03-15T12:59:54.914-05:002010-03-15T12:59:54.914-05:00Yeah, I would make sure to communicate what you lo...Yeah, I would make sure to communicate what you love about science. It is good to get across the difficulty of the minority experience, but there really is only so much you can do in this context. You have been given a very limited platform. You can't expect to undo years of socialization in a single classroom visit. But if you can supply an image of a person who successfully combines woman+scientist, seems to enjoy her life, and is seems worthy of respect/admiration, then you have accomplished something.yoliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377530393720341372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-4269486798247554522010-03-15T12:26:44.557-05:002010-03-15T12:26:44.557-05:00I've always found supplying candy helps prolon...I've always found supplying candy helps prolong attention span in middle schoolers. (Especially if you reward thoughtful questions with tossed candies.) Lets you talk about science, too... Either chemistry or metabolism/biology.<br /><br />Good luck with the diversity! I've seen some good comments.Tristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14015006061840282944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-7262056128771641252010-03-15T12:23:30.059-05:002010-03-15T12:23:30.059-05:00Anon 10:58, the age of White Male Scientist is sti...Anon 10:58, the age of White Male Scientist is still here. People still introdeuce this bias in selecting interviewees at my R1 university, there are still more old, white deans that young, diverse individuals, and I still hold a non-tenure track position in order to raise a family (I recognize that FSP is raising a fam with a kid, but there are still large hurdles necessitating the "choice" to go NTT). Middle school girls and boys still need to see that women and non-whites can be cool scientists. <br /><br />As an example of the white guy culture, look at 2009's http://www.rockstarsofscience.org/photoshoot.asp. The diversity is in the rock stars, not the scientists!womenrolemodelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-67886179876161038672010-03-15T11:59:49.998-05:002010-03-15T11:59:49.998-05:00I spent some time as a grad student talking to mid...I spent some time as a grad student talking to middle and elementary schoolers about my field and always really enjoyed it. I like the idea of showcasing different scientists (I am envisioning the slideshows we had for art appreciation in school but for scientists), and highlighting the science stereotypes. (This reminds me of a board book my young daughter has about my Alma Mater. Under "Professor" there is a picture of a bearded old man wearing a three-piece suit.) <br /><br />I can remember being in middle school and having chemistry students come from the local university to do a science demo. They were all white males, but I don't think I noticed it at the time. What I did notice was that they all used yellow legal pads (probably supplied by their department) and so all through high school and college I used yellow legal pads because "that's what scientists use." <br /><br />The point of that story was that I expect there are at least some students who are there who are interested, and your very presence might be enough for them to grab on to and go ahead in their chosen field. Go get 'em, and have fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-35519519584257679042010-03-15T11:33:50.188-05:002010-03-15T11:33:50.188-05:00I have always considered one of the most valuable ...I have always considered one of the most valuable aspects of diversity to be the variety of points of view that you get. As scientists, we all know that sometimes all you need to solve a problem is to look at it from a completely different point of view. <br /><br />Could you have the students work in teams to solve a scientific problem? You could make it so each team could only see the problem from one point of view (or measure one type of thing) and they would need to gather all that information to get the whole picture. It might be a nice analogy. <br /><br />Though, really, just being a professional woman scientist who is excited about your work will be great. You can tell them about something exciting that you're working on that will help get them excited about the subject.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04257111640684430085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-20149467740740137802010-03-15T11:32:45.849-05:002010-03-15T11:32:45.849-05:00The fact that you are a scientist and in front of ...The fact that you are a scientist and in front of the middle schoolers gives them an intro to diversity in science. <br /><br />Little kids are always shocked/surprised when I give demos that I'm actually the one doing the demos. The most common question I get from the young ones is "how old are you" (31, but I look about 23-24). I think that just my presence in doing the demos helps them understand diversity in science.siznoreply@blogger.com