today I’m going to be talking about science and stereotypes and the start
science and stereotypes and the start
science and stereotypes and the start off I have a question for you who is a
off I have a question for you who is a
off I have a question for you who is a scientist now when I ask this question a
scientist now when I ask this question a
scientist now when I ask this question a common figure normally comes to mind who
common figure normally comes to mind who
common figure normally comes to mind who looks a lot like this
now if these figures are looking
now if these figures are looking familiar then you are not alone a lot of
familiar then you are not alone a lot of
familiar then you are not alone a lot of kids would agree with you in 2000
kids would agree with you in 2000
kids would agree with you in 2000 researchers at Fermilab a particle
researchers at Fermilab a particle
researchers at Fermilab a particle physics laboratory in Illinois as
physics laboratory in Illinois as
physics laboratory in Illinois as seventh graders what is your perception
seventh graders what is your perception
seventh graders what is your perception of this ubiquitous nerd overlord what
of this ubiquitous nerd overlord what
of this ubiquitous nerd overlord what they found was that if you ask seventh
they found was that if you ask seventh
they found was that if you ask seventh graders to draw their response to who is
graders to draw their response to who is
graders to draw their response to who is a scientist they will draw an old white
a scientist they will draw an old white
a scientist they will draw an old white guy who plays with chemicals indoors by
guy who plays with chemicals indoors by
guy who plays with chemicals indoors by himself so it doesn’t really take an
himself so it doesn’t really take an
himself so it doesn’t really take an Einstein to see that science has a bit
Einstein to see that science has a bit
Einstein to see that science has a bit of an image problem in media science is
of an image problem in media science is
of an image problem in media science is not portrayed as a career or calling it
not portrayed as a career or calling it
not portrayed as a career or calling it is portrayed as a person you know him
is portrayed as a person you know him
is portrayed as a person you know him well his name is the scientist and he
well his name is the scientist and he
well his name is the scientist and he acupiont evey shows like the Big Bang
acupiont evey shows like the Big Bang
acupiont evey shows like the Big Bang Theory
Theory
Theory he is the owner of a gloomy attitude and
he is the owner of a gloomy attitude and
he is the owner of a gloomy attitude and an imposing lab coat the awkward a kind
an imposing lab coat the awkward a kind
an imposing lab coat the awkward a kind of adorable nerd and based on these
of adorable nerd and based on these
of adorable nerd and based on these common themes of what we’ve seen so far
common themes of what we’ve seen so far
common themes of what we’ve seen so far I think we can give it a go and
I think we can give it a go and
I think we can give it a go and synthesize our own stereotypical
synthesize our own stereotypical
synthesize our own stereotypical scientists using what I dub that build a
scientists using what I dub that build a
scientists using what I dub that build a brainiac equation an equation which
brainiac equation an equation which
brainiac equation an equation which neatly summarizes some of the trends
neatly summarizes some of the trends
neatly summarizes some of the trends we’ve been seeing thus far social
we’ve been seeing thus far social
we’ve been seeing thus far social awkwardness plus unruly hair plus lab
awkwardness plus unruly hair plus lab
awkwardness plus unruly hair plus lab coat yields the scientist sound familiar
coat yields the scientist sound familiar
coat yields the scientist sound familiar but if you had asked five-year-old me
but if you had asked five-year-old me
but if you had asked five-year-old me who is a scientist I would have drawn a
who is a scientist I would have drawn a
who is a scientist I would have drawn a very different picture as the child of
very different picture as the child of
very different picture as the child of two scientists I had actually a
two scientists I had actually a
two scientists I had actually a horrifyingly human peek into what a
horrifyingly human peek into what a
horrifyingly human peek into what a scientist can
scientist can
scientist can like to me scientists didn’t spend their
like to me scientists didn’t spend their
like to me scientists didn’t spend their days in the lab wearing a lab coat they
days in the lab wearing a lab coat they
days in the lab wearing a lab coat they would spend time outside in the garden
would spend time outside in the garden
would spend time outside in the garden with family and friends although they
with family and friends although they
with family and friends although they were in the lab they didn’t live the lab
were in the lab they didn’t live the lab
were in the lab they didn’t live the lab rat stereotype 24/7 as a result what I
rat stereotype 24/7 as a result what I
rat stereotype 24/7 as a result what I saw and learned from this was that
saw and learned from this was that
saw and learned from this was that science was the way to change the world
science was the way to change the world
science was the way to change the world and by ninth grade I knew I wanted in my
and by ninth grade I knew I wanted in my
and by ninth grade I knew I wanted in my first step into science took the form of
first step into science took the form of
first step into science took the form of a question how can I tell if a lettuce
a question how can I tell if a lettuce
a question how can I tell if a lettuce plant will be red or green red plants
plant will be red or green red plants
plant will be red or green red plants led us among them puppies serious
led us among them puppies serious
led us among them puppies serious antioxidant punch thanks to a very
antioxidant punch thanks to a very
antioxidant punch thanks to a very special plant pigment called
special plant pigment called
special plant pigment called anthocyanins in Tosa annan which is
anthocyanins in Tosa annan which is
anthocyanins in Tosa annan which is shown in the red leaf color here can
shown in the red leaf color here can
shown in the red leaf color here can help offset the effects of malnutrition
help offset the effects of malnutrition
help offset the effects of malnutrition today no world were 795 million people
today no world were 795 million people
today no world were 795 million people worldwide are affected by food
worldwide are affected by food
worldwide are affected by food insecurity and malnutrition red
insecurity and malnutrition red
insecurity and malnutrition red vegetables have a very important and
vegetables have a very important and
vegetables have a very important and prominent place in resolving that issue
prominent place in resolving that issue
prominent place in resolving that issue alternative solutions like GMOs do exist
alternative solutions like GMOs do exist
alternative solutions like GMOs do exist but they face a lot of international
but they face a lot of international
but they face a lot of international scrutiny in order to improve the quality
scrutiny in order to improve the quality
scrutiny in order to improve the quality of our diets food needs to be revised
of our diets food needs to be revised
of our diets food needs to be revised from the farm up in order to solve this
from the farm up in order to solve this
from the farm up in order to solve this urgent problem I took a look at a
urgent problem I took a look at a
urgent problem I took a look at a different type of Agriculture called
different type of Agriculture called
different type of Agriculture called traditional breeding traditional
traditional breeding traditional
traditional breeding traditional breeding has several distinct advantages
breeding has several distinct advantages
breeding has several distinct advantages the first being that it does not carry
the first being that it does not carry
the first being that it does not carry the stigma of GMOs and then as a
the stigma of GMOs and then as a
the stigma of GMOs and then as a sustainable and diversified way to feed
sustainable and diversified way to feed
sustainable and diversified way to feed the world however like all solutions
the world however like all solutions
the world however like all solutions traditional breeding is not without its
traditional breeding is not without its
traditional breeding is not without its own set of disadvantages specifically it
own set of disadvantages specifically it
own set of disadvantages specifically it being that it takes ten years to go from
being that it takes ten years to go from
being that it takes ten years to go from a seed to a plant that you can sell in
a seed to a plant that you can sell in
a seed to a plant that you can sell in the market this is not feasible in order
the market this is not feasible in order
the market this is not feasible in order to be able to cater to increase in
to be able to cater to increase in
to be able to cater to increase in global nutritive and consumer demands we
global nutritive and consumer demands we
global nutritive and consumer demands we need to make better plants faster so how
need to make better plants faster so how
need to make better plants faster so how do we make better plants faster well
do we make better plants faster well
do we make better plants faster well based on my experience which really was
based on my experience which really was
based on my experience which really was getting at the core of this question as
getting at the core of this question as
getting at the core of this question as to how to make traditional breeding a
to how to make traditional breeding a
to how to make traditional breeding a more sustainable agricultural model all
more sustainable agricultural model all
more sustainable agricultural model all you really need is the revised build a
you really need is the revised build a
you really need is the revised build a brainiac equation creativity plus grit
brainiac equation creativity plus grit
brainiac equation creativity plus grit plus growth mindset yields science
plus growth mindset yields science
plus growth mindset yields science one of my favorite parts of being a teen
one of my favorite parts of being a teen
one of my favorite parts of being a teen scientist it’s not only do I get to
scientist it’s not only do I get to
scientist it’s not only do I get to relentlessly churn out ideas and ask
relentlessly churn out ideas and ask
relentlessly churn out ideas and ask some questions I also get to be creative
some questions I also get to be creative
some questions I also get to be creative creativity is important because it’s
creativity is important because it’s
creativity is important because it’s celebrating uncertainty through Play in
celebrating uncertainty through Play in
celebrating uncertainty through Play in a scientist toolbox creativity is an
a scientist toolbox creativity is an
a scientist toolbox creativity is an essential element because it allows you
essential element because it allows you
essential element because it allows you to think in off-the-wall nonlinear ways
to think in off-the-wall nonlinear ways
to think in off-the-wall nonlinear ways for example in my own research just the
for example in my own research just the
for example in my own research just the set up of my experiment was pretty
set up of my experiment was pretty
set up of my experiment was pretty off-the-wall I used something called a
off-the-wall I used something called a
off-the-wall I used something called a PCR microplate a plastic plate which is
PCR microplate a plastic plate which is
PCR microplate a plastic plate which is normally supposed to be completely
normally supposed to be completely
normally supposed to be completely sterile with nothing growing in it for
sterile with nothing growing in it for
sterile with nothing growing in it for my experiment I turned that idea on its
my experiment I turned that idea on its
my experiment I turned that idea on its head a little bit
head a little bit
head a little bit I took the Micra plate and I would put
I took the Micra plate and I would put
I took the Micra plate and I would put seeds in it I would have lettuce plants
seeds in it I would have lettuce plants
seeds in it I would have lettuce plants growing along with a host of molecular
growing along with a host of molecular
growing along with a host of molecular mischief-makers like fungi and bacteria
mischief-makers like fungi and bacteria
mischief-makers like fungi and bacteria however this wasn’t the only time when I
however this wasn’t the only time when I
however this wasn’t the only time when I veered away from the lab standard in
veered away from the lab standard in
veered away from the lab standard in order to get these plants to grow I had
order to get these plants to grow I had
order to get these plants to grow I had to modify that micro plate I took a nail
to modify that micro plate I took a nail
to modify that micro plate I took a nail clipper from home and I punched off the
clipper from home and I punched off the
clipper from home and I punched off the bottoms of the wells after that I added
bottoms of the wells after that I added
bottoms of the wells after that I added the seeds and I would nest the modified
the seeds and I would nest the modified
the seeds and I would nest the modified micro plate on top of an unmodified
micro plate on top of an unmodified
micro plate on top of an unmodified micro plate with my nested micro plate
micro plate with my nested micro plate
micro plate with my nested micro plate made
made
made I now need a way to grow the seats but
I now need a way to grow the seats but
I now need a way to grow the seats but plant growth chambers cost thousands of
plant growth chambers cost thousands of
plant growth chambers cost thousands of dollars I simply did not have in order
dollars I simply did not have in order
dollars I simply did not have in order to ensure that the plants would be able
to ensure that the plants would be able
to ensure that the plants would be able to grow successfully I took a plastic
to grow successfully I took a plastic
to grow successfully I took a plastic zipper bag I put the nested micro plate
zipper bag I put the nested micro plate
zipper bag I put the nested micro plate in the back and I let them grow as a
in the back and I let them grow as a
in the back and I let them grow as a mini greenhouse in that way instead of
mini greenhouse in that way instead of
mini greenhouse in that way instead of investing thousands of dollars in
investing thousands of dollars in
investing thousands of dollars in equipment I simply couldn’t afford
equipment I simply couldn’t afford
equipment I simply couldn’t afford without creativity the leap from using
without creativity the leap from using
without creativity the leap from using PCR micro plates as a means to analyze
PCR micro plates as a means to analyze
PCR micro plates as a means to analyze samples to use them as a means to make a
samples to use them as a means to make a
samples to use them as a means to make a mini greenhouse would not have been
mini greenhouse would not have been
mini greenhouse would not have been possible grits is also a very important
possible grits is also a very important
possible grits is also a very important element in science because in science
element in science because in science
element in science because in science that basically means skill times effort
that basically means skill times effort
that basically means skill times effort squared grit makes a difference because
squared grit makes a difference because
squared grit makes a difference because science can get pretty brutal in fact I
science can get pretty brutal in fact I
science can get pretty brutal in fact I would say the type of grit you encounter
would say the type of grit you encounter
would say the type of grit you encounter in a research lab is not that far
in a research lab is not that far
in a research lab is not that far removed from the type of grit you would
removed from the type of grit you would
removed from the type of grit you would encounter in a spaghetti western
although you’ll find more scientists
although you’ll find more scientists troubleshooting than sharpshooting basic
troubleshooting than sharpshooting basic
troubleshooting than sharpshooting basic daily lab procedures require the same
daily lab procedures require the same
daily lab procedures require the same amount of high-level intensity and
amount of high-level intensity and
amount of high-level intensity and mental resilience in my personal
mental resilience in my personal
mental resilience in my personal experience just designing the nested
experience just designing the nested
experience just designing the nested micro plate model took a year and then
micro plate model took a year and then
micro plate model took a year and then two years later still tweaking and still
two years later still tweaking and still
two years later still tweaking and still improving at times the pace of my
improving at times the pace of my
improving at times the pace of my research was torturous the obstacles
research was torturous the obstacles
research was torturous the obstacles seemed never-ending the first time I
seemed never-ending the first time I
seemed never-ending the first time I tried to actually grow the plants in the
tried to actually grow the plants in the
tried to actually grow the plants in the micro plate they all died before the
micro plate they all died before the
micro plate they all died before the seeds could germinate the water had
seeds could germinate the water had
seeds could germinate the water had evaporated from the lower wells
evaporated from the lower wells
evaporated from the lower wells resulting in a plate of dead plants not
resulting in a plate of dead plants not
resulting in a plate of dead plants not to be deterred
to be deterred
to be deterred I had to readjust my approach instead of
I had to readjust my approach instead of
I had to readjust my approach instead of using water I used a gel that wouldn’t
using water I used a gel that wouldn’t
using water I used a gel that wouldn’t evaporate however after that roadblock
evaporate however after that roadblock
evaporate however after that roadblock was solved I had another hurdle in my
was solved I had another hurdle in my
was solved I had another hurdle in my path I had to find a way to actually
path I had to find a way to actually
path I had to find a way to actually track down the genes responsible for a
track down the genes responsible for a
track down the genes responsible for a red leaf color and lettuce responsible
red leaf color and lettuce responsible
red leaf color and lettuce responsible for anthocyanins when I looked at the
for anthocyanins when I looked at the
for anthocyanins when I looked at the database however the data that should be
database however the data that should be
database however the data that should be there was not there sequences were
there was not there sequences were
there was not there sequences were nowhere to be found in order to actually
nowhere to be found in order to actually
nowhere to be found in order to actually get access to the sequences I had to do
get access to the sequences I had to do
get access to the sequences I had to do a lot of molecular footwork that
a lot of molecular footwork that
a lot of molecular footwork that normally would not have been required
normally would not have been required
normally would not have been required and took a lot longer than normal
and took a lot longer than normal
and took a lot longer than normal although I could have been discouraged
although I could have been discouraged
although I could have been discouraged by this I chose to to find it as a way
by this I chose to to find it as a way
by this I chose to to find it as a way instead to hone my grid and my mental
instead to hone my grid and my mental
instead to hone my grid and my mental resilience and intensity this rigorous
resilience and intensity this rigorous
resilience and intensity this rigorous process would sometimes leave me feeling
process would sometimes leave me feeling
process would sometimes leave me feeling like I want to give up would sometimes
like I want to give up would sometimes
like I want to give up would sometimes make me feel like I wasn’t in control of
make me feel like I wasn’t in control of
make me feel like I wasn’t in control of the experiment but sometimes some very
the experiment but sometimes some very
the experiment but sometimes some very rare sometimes I found the answer I
rare sometimes I found the answer I
rare sometimes I found the answer I needed to keep coming back to the lab
needed to keep coming back to the lab
needed to keep coming back to the lab this intense process instilled in me an
this intense process instilled in me an
this intense process instilled in me an appreciation for stick-to-itiveness and
appreciation for stick-to-itiveness and
appreciation for stick-to-itiveness and self-control through this process I
self-control through this process I
self-control through this process I learned that grit was the key instrument
learned that grit was the key instrument
learned that grit was the key instrument that allowed me to turn an idea into
that allowed me to turn an idea into
that allowed me to turn an idea into something actionable that can affect
something actionable that can affect
something actionable that can affect change in other people’s lives
change in other people’s lives
change in other people’s lives however grit isn’t alone to this a
however grit isn’t alone to this a
however grit isn’t alone to this a growth mindset is also very important in
growth mindset is also very important in
growth mindset is also very important in science a growth mindset can be defined
science a growth mindset can be defined
science a growth mindset can be defined as exponential opportunity it makes a
as exponential opportunity it makes a
as exponential opportunity it makes a difference because well no one knows
difference because well no one knows
difference because well no one knows everything for an allegedly intelligent
everything for an allegedly intelligent
everything for an allegedly intelligent species we don’t
species we don’t
species we don’t a heck of a lot about why we’re here as
a heck of a lot about why we’re here as
a heck of a lot about why we’re here as a lab where I work through a high school
a lab where I work through a high school
a lab where I work through a high school internship program the bird s Bloomberg
internship program the bird s Bloomberg
internship program the bird s Bloomberg Institute I am in a crowd of people who
Institute I am in a crowd of people who
Institute I am in a crowd of people who are all experiencing the same battle
are all experiencing the same battle
are all experiencing the same battle constantly dancing along the edge of
constantly dancing along the edge of
constantly dancing along the edge of uncertainty where there are plenty of
uncertainty where there are plenty of
uncertainty where there are plenty of questions not a lot of answers as you
questions not a lot of answers as you
questions not a lot of answers as you can imagine this makes for a great
can imagine this makes for a great
can imagine this makes for a great conversation starter I treasure the
conversation starter I treasure the
conversation starter I treasure the conversations I have with innovative
conversations I have with innovative
conversations I have with innovative minds from all ages and all backgrounds
minds from all ages and all backgrounds
minds from all ages and all backgrounds for example two weeks ago I was
for example two weeks ago I was
for example two weeks ago I was encountering a lot of problems more than
encountering a lot of problems more than
encountering a lot of problems more than normal with my nested microplate model I
normal with my nested microplate model I
normal with my nested microplate model I just didn’t know if the cells I wanted
just didn’t know if the cells I wanted
just didn’t know if the cells I wanted were shedding and if I couldn’t obtain
were shedding and if I couldn’t obtain
were shedding and if I couldn’t obtain DNA using the model well the entire
DNA using the model well the entire
DNA using the model well the entire point was moot all the work I had done
point was moot all the work I had done
point was moot all the work I had done would have been for nothing when I
would have been for nothing when I
would have been for nothing when I shared my troubles with a researcher he
shared my troubles with a researcher he
shared my troubles with a researcher he showed me how to use a fluorescence
showed me how to use a fluorescence
showed me how to use a fluorescence microscope suddenly it would allow me to
microscope suddenly it would allow me to
microscope suddenly it would allow me to tag the cells and then visually verify
tag the cells and then visually verify
tag the cells and then visually verify if their presence was there or not
if their presence was there or not
if their presence was there or not through his help I was unable to
through his help I was unable to
through his help I was unable to continue my research to increase the
continue my research to increase the
continue my research to increase the concentration of DNA in the walls and to
concentration of DNA in the walls and to
concentration of DNA in the walls and to make my research easier to replicate by
make my research easier to replicate by
make my research easier to replicate by other scientists the creative processes
other scientists the creative processes
other scientists the creative processes that you see in the lab made an
that you see in the lab made an
that you see in the lab made an excellent incubator for my ideas as a
excellent incubator for my ideas as a
excellent incubator for my ideas as a teen who is very familiar with the idea
teen who is very familiar with the idea
teen who is very familiar with the idea of empty creativity of having ideas but
of empty creativity of having ideas but
of empty creativity of having ideas but not enough money or mentorship to see
not enough money or mentorship to see
not enough money or mentorship to see that idea through the resource is an
that idea through the resource is an
that idea through the resource is an openness at the lab makes it feel like
openness at the lab makes it feel like
openness at the lab makes it feel like an oasis to me every day I go into the
an oasis to me every day I go into the
an oasis to me every day I go into the lab taking comfort in the fact the story
lab taking comfort in the fact the story
lab taking comfort in the fact the story of scientific inquiry is never-ending
of scientific inquiry is never-ending
of scientific inquiry is never-ending and I will always be able to refresh
and I will always be able to refresh
and I will always be able to refresh renew and retool in my research a growth
renew and retool in my research a growth
renew and retool in my research a growth mindset made a difference because it
mindset made a difference because it
mindset made a difference because it allowed me to find truth when there was
allowed me to find truth when there was
allowed me to find truth when there was no pre-existing road map throughout my
no pre-existing road map throughout my
no pre-existing road map throughout my time I was there at home at school or in
time I was there at home at school or in
time I was there at home at school or in the lab three key qualities gave me the
the lab three key qualities gave me the
the lab three key qualities gave me the inspiration and direction to find my
inspiration and direction to find my
inspiration and direction to find my passion in science creativity grits and
passion in science creativity grits and
passion in science creativity grits and a growth mindset as modeled by my
a growth mindset as modeled by my
a growth mindset as modeled by my parents my peers teachers and my lab
parents my peers teachers and my lab
parents my peers teachers and my lab colleagues
colleagues
colleagues his key traits allow me to see science
his key traits allow me to see science
his key traits allow me to see science as more than just the scientist in fact
as more than just the scientist in fact
as more than just the scientist in fact over the course of my lifetime science
over the course of my lifetime science
over the course of my lifetime science has rapidly increased its inclusivity
has rapidly increased its inclusivity
has rapidly increased its inclusivity and its diversity between 1970 and
and its diversity between 1970 and
and its diversity between 1970 and present the proportion of female stem
present the proportion of female stem
present the proportion of female stem workers has increased from 14 to 41
workers has increased from 14 to 41
workers has increased from 14 to 41 percent nationally and for non-white
percent nationally and for non-white
percent nationally and for non-white stem workers it has increased by 23
stem workers it has increased by 23
stem workers it has increased by 23 percent at the brew Cass Bloomberg
percent at the brew Cass Bloomberg
percent at the brew Cass Bloomberg Institute where I work 42 percent of the
Institute where I work 42 percent of the
Institute where I work 42 percent of the researchers are female and 55 percent of
researchers are female and 55 percent of
researchers are female and 55 percent of the researchers are non-white when we
the researchers are non-white when we
the researchers are non-white when we defy these stereotypes that limit our
defy these stereotypes that limit our
defy these stereotypes that limit our ability to innovate and to think
ability to innovate and to think
ability to innovate and to think creatively we open up our limitless
creatively we open up our limitless
creatively we open up our limitless scientific potential the time to retire
scientific potential the time to retire
scientific potential the time to retire the scientist is now although more work
the scientist is now although more work
the scientist is now although more work needs to be done to engage and enable
needs to be done to engage and enable
needs to be done to engage and enable minorities in science the new and
minorities in science the new and
minorities in science the new and changing face of scientific inquiry is
changing face of scientific inquiry is
changing face of scientific inquiry is united by three common denominators
united by three common denominators
united by three common denominators creativity grit and a growth mindset
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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