[Music] you
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[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
what makes us special what makes humans
what makes us special what makes humans unique what is the greatest thing that
unique what is the greatest thing that
unique what is the greatest thing that we as a species have achieved if you ask
we as a species have achieved if you ask
we as a species have achieved if you ask me the answer is science science allows
me the answer is science science allows
me the answer is science science allows us to constantly improve our quality of
us to constantly improve our quality of
us to constantly improve our quality of life it gives us a better understanding
life it gives us a better understanding
life it gives us a better understanding of our bodies and brains a better health
of our bodies and brains a better health
of our bodies and brains a better health it gives us technological advances on a
it gives us technological advances on a
it gives us technological advances on a daily basis science allows us to
daily basis science allows us to
daily basis science allows us to recognize short and long term threats on
recognize short and long term threats on
recognize short and long term threats on the environment that keep ourselves safe
the environment that keep ourselves safe
the environment that keep ourselves safe and now as our numbers are growing and
and now as our numbers are growing and
and now as our numbers are growing and the challenges that we face are growing
the challenges that we face are growing
the challenges that we face are growing with it we need science more than ever
with it we need science more than ever
with it we need science more than ever but here’s the bad news we are not doing
but here’s the bad news we are not doing
but here’s the bad news we are not doing science as well as we can we are not
science as well as we can we are not
science as well as we can we are not pushing the boundaries of our knowledge
pushing the boundaries of our knowledge
pushing the boundaries of our knowledge as hard as we can we are not improving
as hard as we can we are not improving
as hard as we can we are not improving our quality of life as fast as we can
our quality of life as fast as we can
our quality of life as fast as we can because the fact is we are not always
because the fact is we are not always
because the fact is we are not always giving the best and the brightest
giving the best and the brightest
giving the best and the brightest scientists a chance to excel we think we
scientists a chance to excel we think we
scientists a chance to excel we think we are if I ask you what does a scientist
are if I ask you what does a scientist
are if I ask you what does a scientist need to succeed in his or her career the
need to succeed in his or her career the
need to succeed in his or her career the answer that comes to mind is
answer that comes to mind is
answer that comes to mind is intellectual aptitude a scientist needs
intellectual aptitude a scientist needs
intellectual aptitude a scientist needs to be smart if you are a genius
to be smart if you are a genius
to be smart if you are a genius your papers will be published if you are
your papers will be published if you are
your papers will be published if you are brilliant you will succeed but it’s
brilliant you will succeed but it’s
brilliant you will succeed but it’s actually not that simple because if you
actually not that simple because if you
actually not that simple because if you are a woman in science your brilliance
are a woman in science your brilliance
are a woman in science your brilliance will not be as readily acknowledged as
will not be as readily acknowledged as
will not be as readily acknowledged as that of your male peers when I was a
that of your male peers when I was a
that of your male peers when I was a little girl I spent my summers lying on
little girl I spent my summers lying on
little girl I spent my summers lying on the grass staring up at the night sky
the grass staring up at the night sky
the grass staring up at the night sky and just marveling at the universe my
and just marveling at the universe my
and just marveling at the universe my dad had told me that the universe was
dad had told me that the universe was
dad had told me that the universe was Infinite so of course I wondered what
Infinite so of course I wondered what
Infinite so of course I wondered what would happen if I cross over to infinity
would happen if I cross over to infinity
would happen if I cross over to infinity which was not the most sensible question
which was not the most sensible question
which was not the most sensible question in hindsight I thought about black holes
in hindsight I thought about black holes
in hindsight I thought about black holes and I wondered about wormholes and I had
and I wondered about wormholes and I had
and I wondered about wormholes and I had all these questions about space and I
all these questions about space and I
all these questions about space and I wanted
wanted
wanted and then later on in high school I
and then later on in high school I
and then later on in high school I turned out to be pretty good at physics
turned out to be pretty good at physics
turned out to be pretty good at physics but even girls who excel at the Natural
but even girls who excel at the Natural
but even girls who excel at the Natural Sciences do not always consider it to be
Sciences do not always consider it to be
Sciences do not always consider it to be a valid career option because we’re
a valid career option because we’re
a valid career option because we’re constantly told by our friends our
constantly told by our friends our
constantly told by our friends our parents our teachers or maybe even just
parents our teachers or maybe even just
parents our teachers or maybe even just the TV that science is a boys thing at
the TV that science is a boys thing at
the TV that science is a boys thing at 15 I was one of these girls and I
15 I was one of these girls and I
15 I was one of these girls and I consider dropping the subject of physics
consider dropping the subject of physics
consider dropping the subject of physics but I was one of the lucky ones because
but I was one of the lucky ones because
but I was one of the lucky ones because my physics teacher found out and he knew
my physics teacher found out and he knew
my physics teacher found out and he knew that I liked physics and he knew that I
that I liked physics and he knew that I
that I liked physics and he knew that I was good at physics so he asked me what
was good at physics so he asked me what
was good at physics so he asked me what the heck I was doing and that simple
the heck I was doing and that simple
the heck I was doing and that simple question changed my life because he was
question changed my life because he was
question changed my life because he was right I really did enjoy physics and I
right I really did enjoy physics and I
right I really did enjoy physics and I really was pretty good at it so why did
really was pretty good at it so why did
really was pretty good at it so why did I not consider it to be my future I
I not consider it to be my future I
I not consider it to be my future I continued doing the subject and a couple
continued doing the subject and a couple
continued doing the subject and a couple of years later I enrolled the university
of years later I enrolled the university
of years later I enrolled the university as an astrophysics student which is
as an astrophysics student which is
as an astrophysics student which is still one of the best decisions of my
still one of the best decisions of my
still one of the best decisions of my life but my time at university wasn’t
life but my time at university wasn’t
life but my time at university wasn’t always smooth sailing in fact something
always smooth sailing in fact something
always smooth sailing in fact something really bothered me about being one of
really bothered me about being one of
really bothered me about being one of the very few girls in my physics classes
the very few girls in my physics classes
the very few girls in my physics classes I was really scared of saying something
I was really scared of saying something
I was really scared of saying something stupid I was scared of asking a silly
stupid I was scared of asking a silly
stupid I was scared of asking a silly question what if everybody else there
question what if everybody else there
question what if everybody else there already knew the answer and I’m sure
already knew the answer and I’m sure
already knew the answer and I’m sure that many of us have felt that way right
that many of us have felt that way right
that many of us have felt that way right but my fear came with an extra punch I
but my fear came with an extra punch I
but my fear came with an extra punch I was garroted if I said something stupid
was garroted if I said something stupid
was garroted if I said something stupid my classmates wouldn’t just think that I
my classmates wouldn’t just think that I
my classmates wouldn’t just think that I wasn’t very good at physics they would
wasn’t very good at physics they would
wasn’t very good at physics they would think that girls weren’t that good at
think that girls weren’t that good at
think that girls weren’t that good at physics it wasn’t just my reputation
physics it wasn’t just my reputation
physics it wasn’t just my reputation that was at stake do take a moment to
that was at stake do take a moment to
that was at stake do take a moment to realize that in some of those classes I
realize that in some of those classes I
realize that in some of those classes I was a sole representative so
was a sole representative so
was a sole representative so representatives of half of the world
representatives of half of the world
representatives of half of the world population that’s a pretty big burden to
population that’s a pretty big burden to
population that’s a pretty big burden to bear for an 18 year old and this matters
bear for an 18 year old and this matters
bear for an 18 year old and this matters because it wasn’t just in my mind it’s
because it wasn’t just in my mind it’s
because it wasn’t just in my mind it’s also the world that we live in women in
also the world that we live in women in
also the world that we live in women in science do get underestimated consider
science do get underestimated consider
science do get underestimated consider for instance a study that was done in
for instance a study that was done in
for instance a study that was done in undergraduate biology classrooms
undergraduate biology classrooms
undergraduate biology classrooms researchers are students from these
researchers are students from these
researchers are students from these classes to name another students who
classes to name another students who
classes to name another students who they thought performed well in class and
they thought performed well in class and
they thought performed well in class and as it renowned mill students would often
as it renowned mill students would often
as it renowned mill students would often select another mill students even though
select another mill students even though
select another mill students even though they were equally or even better
they were equally or even better
they were equally or even better performing women in those classes so men
performing women in those classes so men
performing women in those classes so men simply got better performance reviews
simply got better performance reviews
simply got better performance reviews women did get underestimated and this
women did get underestimated and this
women did get underestimated and this bias continues to exist for every step
bias continues to exist for every step
bias continues to exist for every step of a scientists career a study that was
of a scientists career a study that was
of a scientists career a study that was done by Yale scientists focused on
done by Yale scientists focused on
done by Yale scientists focused on resumes these scientists created a
resumes these scientists created a
resumes these scientists created a resume that belonged to the students who
resume that belonged to the students who
resume that belonged to the students who was applying for a laboratory manager
was applying for a laboratory manager
was applying for a laboratory manager position and assigned the center resumes
position and assigned the center resumes
position and assigned the center resumes out to over a hundred hundreds
out to over a hundred hundreds
out to over a hundred hundreds professors and they asked them to
professors and they asked them to
professors and they asked them to evaluate a candidate now half of the
evaluate a candidate now half of the
evaluate a candidate now half of the resumes had to name John at the top of
resumes had to name John at the top of
resumes had to name John at the top of the page and the other half was the
the page and the other half was the
the page and the other half was the exact same resume for with the name
exact same resume for with the name
exact same resume for with the name Jennifer at the top of the page these
Jennifer at the top of the page these
Jennifer at the top of the page these professors rated John to be more
professors rated John to be more
professors rated John to be more competent more qualified and they
competent more qualified and they
competent more qualified and they offered Jonah 15% higher salary than
offered Jonah 15% higher salary than
offered Jonah 15% higher salary than Jennifer and even if you’ve made it as a
Jennifer and even if you’ve made it as a
Jennifer and even if you’ve made it as a woman in science and you are authoring
woman in science and you are authoring
woman in science and you are authoring papers by the Dozen that bias is still
papers by the Dozen that bias is still
papers by the Dozen that bias is still going to be working against you a global
going to be working against you a global
going to be working against you a global study found that papers that are
study found that papers that are
study found that papers that are authored by women are less likely to be
authored by women are less likely to be
authored by women are less likely to be side it by other scientists and this is
side it by other scientists and this is
side it by other scientists and this is not about the content of the paper
not about the content of the paper
not about the content of the paper there’s nothing inherently different
there’s nothing inherently different
there’s nothing inherently different about the quality of the work it’s just
about the quality of the work it’s just
about the quality of the work it’s just the fact that a female name at the top
the fact that a female name at the top
the fact that a female name at the top of the page vehicle cost peers to think
of the page vehicle cost peers to think
of the page vehicle cost peers to think that the quality of that paper is less
that the quality of that paper is less
that the quality of that paper is less than a paper that is offered by men and
than a paper that is offered by men and
than a paper that is offered by men and since citations often play a very
since citations often play a very
since citations often play a very central role in the evaluation of
central role in the evaluation of
central role in the evaluation of scientists this can actually impact
scientists this can actually impact
scientists this can actually impact women’s careers tremendously not to be
women’s careers tremendously not to be
women’s careers tremendously not to be clear I may be talking about gender
clear I may be talking about gender
clear I may be talking about gender today but similar studies have been done
today but similar studies have been done
today but similar studies have been done to detect a bias against people of color
to detect a bias against people of color
to detect a bias against people of color so this argument sadly stands for every
so this argument sadly stands for every
so this argument sadly stands for every minority in science
now I work with scientists every day and
now I work with scientists every day and whenever this subject comes up there’s
whenever this subject comes up there’s
whenever this subject comes up there’s always somebody who will react
always somebody who will react
always somebody who will react defensively and that person will say we
defensively and that person will say we
defensively and that person will say we do not look at gender we look at the
do not look at gender we look at the
do not look at gender we look at the quality of a person’s work and we should
quality of a person’s work and we should
quality of a person’s work and we should look at the quality of a person’s work
look at the quality of a person’s work
look at the quality of a person’s work because if we would do anything but that
because if we would do anything but that
because if we would do anything but that we would actually be harming science and
we would actually be harming science and
we would actually be harming science and I completely agree we should be looking
I completely agree we should be looking
I completely agree we should be looking at the quality of a person’s work but as
at the quality of a person’s work but as
at the quality of a person’s work but as a studies I mention point out that is
a studies I mention point out that is
a studies I mention point out that is not what we’re doing
not what we’re doing
not what we’re doing implying that we are or even implying
implying that we are or even implying
implying that we are or even implying that we’re able to just goes to show
that we’re able to just goes to show
that we’re able to just goes to show that people don’t know how implicit bias
that people don’t know how implicit bias
that people don’t know how implicit bias works
works
works of course it’s understandably difficult
of course it’s understandably difficult
of course it’s understandably difficult to get scientists to realize that they
to get scientists to realize that they
to get scientists to realize that they are unable to be objective
are unable to be objective
are unable to be objective it’s a scientists core business to
it’s a scientists core business to
it’s a scientists core business to analyze the data to analyze the facts
analyze the data to analyze the facts
analyze the data to analyze the facts and to reach an objective conclusion so
and to reach an objective conclusion so
and to reach an objective conclusion so it’s jarring to say the least when
it’s jarring to say the least when
it’s jarring to say the least when somebody tells you that you’re actually
somebody tells you that you’re actually
somebody tells you that you’re actually unable to be objective I understand why
unable to be objective I understand why
unable to be objective I understand why people are resistant to that idea but
people are resistant to that idea but
people are resistant to that idea but the studies have been done the numbers
the studies have been done the numbers
the studies have been done the numbers have been crunched the results are in
have been crunched the results are in
have been crunched the results are in and if there’s anything that scientists
and if there’s anything that scientists
and if there’s anything that scientists should respect it’s data so we need to
should respect it’s data so we need to
should respect it’s data so we need to step up and do better for us for
step up and do better for us for
step up and do better for us for Humanity to keep pushing we need to
Humanity to keep pushing we need to
Humanity to keep pushing we need to maximize our intellectual capital we
maximize our intellectual capital we
maximize our intellectual capital we simply can’t ignore the intellectual
simply can’t ignore the intellectual
simply can’t ignore the intellectual contributions of half of the world’s
contributions of half of the world’s
contributions of half of the world’s population and still expect the best
population and still expect the best
population and still expect the best results just take a moment to realize
results just take a moment to realize
results just take a moment to realize how absurd that idea is if you want to
how absurd that idea is if you want to
how absurd that idea is if you want to keep pushing if we want to face the
keep pushing if we want to face the
keep pushing if we want to face the challenges that are coming our way we
challenges that are coming our way we
challenges that are coming our way we need to make sure that the doors of our
need to make sure that the doors of our
need to make sure that the doors of our labs are wide open to everyone
labs are wide open to everyone
labs are wide open to everyone science needs diversity and if we do
science needs diversity and if we do
science needs diversity and if we do manage to get a more diverse workforce
manage to get a more diverse workforce
manage to get a more diverse workforce there’s actually an additional advantage
there’s actually an additional advantage
there’s actually an additional advantage waiting for us studies have shown that
waiting for us studies have shown that
waiting for us studies have shown that more diverse teams are actually more
more diverse teams are actually more
more diverse teams are actually more creative they come up with more
creative they come up with more
creative they come up with more innovative ideas more technological
innovative ideas more technological
innovative ideas more technological advances and the reason for this is
advances and the reason for this is
advances and the reason for this is really simple in the first team you will
really simple in the first team you will
really simple in the first team you will be control
be control
be control with a lot of different perspectives so
with a lot of different perspectives so
with a lot of different perspectives so you will be forced to think harder you
you will be forced to think harder you
you will be forced to think harder you will be forced to reconsider what you
will be forced to reconsider what you
will be forced to reconsider what you think you know and these teams are
think you know and these teams are
think you know and these teams are actually better at solving problems so
actually better at solving problems so
actually better at solving problems so striving to increase workplace diversity
striving to increase workplace diversity
striving to increase workplace diversity it’s not something that we should just
it’s not something that we should just
it’s not something that we should just be doing for comma points it’s also the
be doing for comma points it’s also the
be doing for comma points it’s also the smart thing to do so science needs
smart thing to do so science needs
smart thing to do so science needs diversity but what can we do what I
diversity but what can we do what I
diversity but what can we do what I believe the problem boils down to is
believe the problem boils down to is
believe the problem boils down to is actually about the image that we have in
actually about the image that we have in
actually about the image that we have in our minds of what a scientist is if I
our minds of what a scientist is if I
our minds of what a scientist is if I ask you to picture a scientist you are
ask you to picture a scientist you are
ask you to picture a scientist you are most likely to picture a white older
most likely to picture a white older
most likely to picture a white older male we need to change that we need to
male we need to change that we need to
male we need to change that we need to make sure that minorities can consider
make sure that minorities can consider
make sure that minorities can consider science to be a valid career option we
science to be a valid career option we
science to be a valid career option we need to make sure that all children can
need to make sure that all children can
need to make sure that all children can look up the scientists and see their
look up the scientists and see their
look up the scientists and see their future selves and we need to make sure
future selves and we need to make sure
future selves and we need to make sure that scientists can look at our female
that scientists can look at our female
that scientists can look at our female colleagues see legitimate scientists and
colleagues see legitimate scientists and
colleagues see legitimate scientists and judge them accordingly so what can we do
judge them accordingly so what can we do
judge them accordingly so what can we do I believe that all of us can contribute
I believe that all of us can contribute
I believe that all of us can contribute to making this difference because even
to making this difference because even
to making this difference because even the smallest steps matter so for
the smallest steps matter so for
the smallest steps matter so for instance by your niece a toy telescope
instance by your niece a toy telescope
instance by your niece a toy telescope by our science kit if your daughter
by our science kit if your daughter
by our science kit if your daughter wants to throw a birthday party consider
wants to throw a birthday party consider
wants to throw a birthday party consider hosting it at a Science Museum have your
hosting it at a Science Museum have your
hosting it at a Science Museum have your kids boys and girls talk to female
kids boys and girls talk to female
kids boys and girls talk to female scientists if you are a female scientist
scientists if you are a female scientist
scientists if you are a female scientist share your work on social media show the
share your work on social media show the
share your work on social media show the world what a scientist looks like and if
world what a scientist looks like and if
world what a scientist looks like and if your 15 year old daughter considers
your 15 year old daughter considers
your 15 year old daughter considers dropping the subject of physics that
dropping the subject of physics that
dropping the subject of physics that she’s so good at pointer in my direction
she’s so good at pointer in my direction
she’s so good at pointer in my direction because if we can make science for
because if we can make science for
because if we can make science for everyone we can finally know what it’s
everyone we can finally know what it’s
everyone we can finally know what it’s like to push the boundaries of human
like to push the boundaries of human
like to push the boundaries of human knowledge without letting anything hold
knowledge without letting anything hold
knowledge without letting anything hold us back thank you
us back thank you
us back thank you [Music]
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