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How Can We Discover Science Kinds of People? | Julia McQuillan | TEDxYouth@Lincoln


[Music]

[Music] so has anyone ever asked you what do you

so has anyone ever asked you what do you

so has anyone ever asked you what do you want to be when you grow up do you ever

want to be when you grow up do you ever

want to be when you grow up do you ever want to say I want to be happy I want to

want to say I want to be happy I want to

want to say I want to be happy I want to be serene or have you already figured

be serene or have you already figured

be serene or have you already figured out your plan do you know what you’re

out your plan do you know what you’re

out your plan do you know what you’re gonna do for education and a job and

gonna do for education and a job and

gonna do for education and a job and family well in high school I thought I

family well in high school I thought I

family well in high school I thought I knew what I was gonna do I went to

knew what I was gonna do I went to

knew what I was gonna do I went to college ready to learn everything I

college ready to learn everything I

college ready to learn everything I needed to learn to accomplish my modest

needed to learn to accomplish my modest

needed to learn to accomplish my modest goal I am not kidding when I tell you I

goal I am not kidding when I tell you I

goal I am not kidding when I tell you I just wanted to create world peace

just wanted to create world peace

just wanted to create world peace I was pretty original oh I’m a

I was pretty original oh I’m a

I was pretty original oh I’m a sociologist now but after that first

sociologist now but after that first

sociologist now but after that first year rough year of college I had dropped

year rough year of college I had dropped

year rough year of college I had dropped out and didn’t know what I wanted to do

out and didn’t know what I wanted to do

out and didn’t know what I wanted to do as a sociologist I get to answer pretty

as a sociologist I get to answer pretty

as a sociologist I get to answer pretty interesting questions for example how

interesting questions for example how

interesting questions for example how can we find science kinds of people how

can we find science kinds of people how

can we find science kinds of people how can we engage all youth with science to

can we engage all youth with science to

can we engage all youth with science to answer these questions I’m part of a

answer these questions I’m part of a

answer these questions I’m part of a team that studies identities identities

team that studies identities identities

team that studies identities identities are really important identities shape

are really important identities shape

are really important identities shape our beliefs and our behaviors when

our beliefs and our behaviors when

our beliefs and our behaviors when people ask what do you want to be I

people ask what do you want to be I

people ask what do you want to be I think they really want to know who are

think they really want to know who are

think they really want to know who are you but most people just don’t ask that

you but most people just don’t ask that

you but most people just don’t ask that question directly unless they’re a

question directly unless they’re a

question directly unless they’re a sociologist and they’re studying

sociologist and they’re studying

sociologist and they’re studying identities then we think it’s perfectly

identities then we think it’s perfectly

identities then we think it’s perfectly reasonable to ask people to tell us

reasonable to ask people to tell us

reasonable to ask people to tell us answers to the question Who am I at

answers to the question Who am I at

answers to the question Who am I at least 20 times when I think about this

least 20 times when I think about this

least 20 times when I think about this question I think about being a mom and a

question I think about being a mom and a

question I think about being a mom and a wife a friend I think about being white

wife a friend I think about being white

wife a friend I think about being white and female I think about being a

and female I think about being a

and female I think about being a professor that I can hear and that I can

professor that I can hear and that I can

professor that I can hear and that I can see maybe some of you are more visual

see maybe some of you are more visual

see maybe some of you are more visual maybe you’d prefer to draw a picture of

maybe you’d prefer to draw a picture of

maybe you’d prefer to draw a picture of yourself it can be difficult though to

yourself it can be difficult though to

yourself it can be difficult though to pick just one image to draw what would

pick just one image to draw what would

pick just one image to draw what would you be doing or wearing in your picture

you be doing or wearing in your picture

you be doing or wearing in your picture we let other people know about our

we let other people know about our

we let other people know about our identities in a variety of ways by what

identities in a variety of ways by what

identities in a variety of ways by what we wear maybe our t-shirts

we wear maybe our t-shirts

we wear maybe our t-shirts maybe our hair or tattoos other people

maybe our hair or tattoos other people

maybe our hair or tattoos other people can also make decisions about who we are

can also make decisions about who we are

can also make decisions about who we are even if we don’t claim the identity

even if we don’t claim the identity

even if we don’t claim the identity maybe based on our height or our skin

maybe based on our height or our skin

maybe based on our height or our skin color the way we talk our name or where

color the way we talk our name or where

color the way we talk our name or where we live other people can also act as

we live other people can also act as

we live other people can also act as mirrors how they see us shapes how we

mirrors how they see us shapes how we

mirrors how they see us shapes how we see ourselves okay now based on my

see ourselves okay now based on my

see ourselves okay now based on my interest in science I’d like you to

interest in science I’d like you to

interest in science I’d like you to imagine for a moment if you were gonna

imagine for a moment if you were gonna

imagine for a moment if you were gonna draw a scientist what would you draw

draw a scientist what would you draw

draw a scientist what would you draw what would your scientists be doing what

what would your scientists be doing what

what would your scientists be doing what would your scientists be wearing I have

would your scientists be wearing I have

would your scientists be wearing I have to warn you that one of my favorite

to warn you that one of my favorite

to warn you that one of my favorite phrases is there’s a study about that

phrases is there’s a study about that

phrases is there’s a study about that and there is a study about drawing

and there is a study about drawing

and there is a study about drawing scientists believe it or not there’s

scientists believe it or not there’s

scientists believe it or not there’s over 50 years of research on this topic

over 50 years of research on this topic

over 50 years of research on this topic we would expect that there would be

we would expect that there would be

we would expect that there would be change over 50 years but still the

change over 50 years but still the

change over 50 years but still the stereotype of a white man and a lab coat

stereotype of a white man and a lab coat

stereotype of a white man and a lab coat glasses crazy hair that persists this

glasses crazy hair that persists this

glasses crazy hair that persists this pattern raises a challenging question

pattern raises a challenging question

pattern raises a challenging question how can we engage all youth with science

how can we engage all youth with science

how can we engage all youth with science if some youth don’t fit the stereotype I

if some youth don’t fit the stereotype I

if some youth don’t fit the stereotype I spent years trying to answer this

spent years trying to answer this

spent years trying to answer this question one challenge has been my own

question one challenge has been my own

question one challenge has been my own assumptions I used to think that

assumptions I used to think that

assumptions I used to think that scientists were just born geniuses they

scientists were just born geniuses they

scientists were just born geniuses they didn’t have to work hard they could just

didn’t have to work hard they could just

didn’t have to work hard they could just do science or I thought scientists were

do science or I thought scientists were

do science or I thought scientists were just the natural scientists the chemists

just the natural scientists the chemists

just the natural scientists the chemists the physicists geoscientists even okay

the physicists geoscientists even okay

the physicists geoscientists even okay sorry alright so is it a problem is it a

sorry alright so is it a problem is it a

sorry alright so is it a problem is it a problem to have these images of

problem to have these images of

problem to have these images of scientists it is for me I want everyone

scientists it is for me I want everyone

scientists it is for me I want everyone to have the pleasure that I feel

to have the pleasure that I feel

to have the pleasure that I feel learning new discoveries maybe even

learning new discoveries maybe even

learning new discoveries maybe even creating new discoveries themselves

creating new discoveries themselves

creating new discoveries themselves science is a valuable resource people

science is a valuable resource people

science is a valuable resource people who have science knowledge science

who have science knowledge science

who have science knowledge science abilities scientific thinking they have

abilities scientific thinking they have

abilities scientific thinking they have power they have privileges I want

power they have privileges I want

power they have privileges I want everyone to have

everyone to have

everyone to have access to science people who know

access to science people who know

access to science people who know science they can now even tell the

science they can now even tell the

science they can now even tell the difference between more and less valid

difference between more and less valid

difference between more and less valid science and we learned today that’s

science and we learned today that’s

science and we learned today that’s really important okay so one of the

really important okay so one of the

really important okay so one of the questions that I was part of a team

questions that I was part of a team

questions that I was part of a team trying to answer was how can we find

trying to answer was how can we find

trying to answer was how can we find science kinds of people when I tell

science kinds of people when I tell

science kinds of people when I tell people that that’s what I want to talk

people that that’s what I want to talk

people that that’s what I want to talk about or I study oftentimes they just

about or I study oftentimes they just

about or I study oftentimes they just kind of look at me funny and say okay

kind of look at me funny and say okay

kind of look at me funny and say okay that’s what you want to study we had

that’s what you want to study we had

that’s what you want to study we had good intentions with this question we

good intentions with this question we

good intentions with this question we wanted to make sure that we did

wanted to make sure that we did

wanted to make sure that we did after-school clubs or we disseminated

after-school clubs or we disseminated

after-school clubs or we disseminated emerging science we reached everyone who

emerging science we reached everyone who

emerging science we reached everyone who might benefit from it to do that we did

might benefit from it to do that we did

might benefit from it to do that we did a survey in a middle school in a large

a survey in a middle school in a large

a survey in a middle school in a large Midwestern City we surveyed over 400

Midwestern City we surveyed over 400

Midwestern City we surveyed over 400 youth to measure science identities we

youth to measure science identities we

youth to measure science identities we first asked do other people see you as a

first asked do other people see you as a

first asked do other people see you as a science kind of person they could pick

science kind of person they could pick

science kind of person they could pick not at all a little bit somewhat or

not at all a little bit somewhat or

not at all a little bit somewhat or totally we average the scores and we

totally we average the scores and we

totally we average the scores and we should show up here yeah thank you that

should show up here yeah thank you that

should show up here yeah thank you that on average the scores were low about two

on average the scores were low about two

on average the scores were low about two or a little bit we next asked do you

or a little bit we next asked do you

or a little bit we next asked do you think of yourself as a science kind of

think of yourself as a science kind of

think of yourself as a science kind of person and the scores were a little bit

person and the scores were a little bit

person and the scores were a little bit higher a little bit above a two we could

higher a little bit above a two we could

higher a little bit above a two we could have stopped there we could have just

have stopped there we could have just

have stopped there we could have just figured that on average middle school

figured that on average middle school

figured that on average middle school kids have low science identities but we

kids have low science identities but we

kids have low science identities but we were worried what if some youth have the

were worried what if some youth have the

were worried what if some youth have the potential to engage in science but they

potential to engage in science but they

potential to engage in science but they don’t claim the identity because they

don’t claim the identity because they

don’t claim the identity because they don’t think they fit but how could we

don’t think they fit but how could we

don’t think they fit but how could we measure a discovery orientation a

measure a discovery orientation a

measure a discovery orientation a propensity without using the word

propensity without using the word

propensity without using the word science we discussed this on my team and

science we discussed this on my team and

science we discussed this on my team and we finally came up with an idea we could

we finally came up with an idea we could

we finally came up with an idea we could ask about characteristics that

ask about characteristics that

ask about characteristics that scientists have or engage in so are you

scientists have or engage in so are you

scientists have or engage in so are you curious about the world

curious about the world

curious about the world do you like exploring nature do you

do you like exploring nature do you

do you like exploring nature do you enjoy new discoveries now the average

enjoy new discoveries now the average

enjoy new discoveries now the average from those responses was much higher or

from those responses was much higher or

from those responses was much higher or about a three closer to somewhat

about a three closer to somewhat

about a three closer to somewhat even more important for those three

even more important for those three

even more important for those three questions

questions

questions there was only one respondent out of

there was only one respondent out of

there was only one respondent out of over 400 who said not at all to all

over 400 who said not at all to all

over 400 who said not at all to all three questions so do these scores

three questions so do these scores

three questions so do these scores differ by gender and race ethnicity yes

differ by gender and race ethnicity yes

differ by gender and race ethnicity yes for the science identity items but no

for the science identity items but no

for the science identity items but no for discovery orientation for discovery

for discovery orientation for discovery

for discovery orientation for discovery orientation very similar responses but

orientation very similar responses but

orientation very similar responses but for the identity items the boys who are

for the identity items the boys who are

for the identity items the boys who are white had significantly higher scores

white had significantly higher scores

white had significantly higher scores than the youth and the other categories

than the youth and the other categories

than the youth and the other categories I find these patterns disturbing I want

I find these patterns disturbing I want

I find these patterns disturbing I want all youth be able to be able to claim a

all youth be able to be able to claim a

all youth be able to be able to claim a science identity can we do anything

science identity can we do anything

science identity can we do anything about this yes and many people are

about this yes and many people are

about this yes and many people are working to make science more inclusive I

working to make science more inclusive I

working to make science more inclusive I had the good fortune to be part of

had the good fortune to be part of

had the good fortune to be part of another study where we randomly assigned

another study where we randomly assigned

another study where we randomly assigned comic books or essays to over 800 high

comic books or essays to over 800 high

comic books or essays to over 800 high school students again and a large

school students again and a large

school students again and a large Midwestern city so let’s go to the next

Midwestern city so let’s go to the next

Midwestern city so let’s go to the next slide and these are the comic books okay

slide and these are the comic books okay

slide and these are the comic books okay so after they could read the essays or

so after they could read the essays or

so after they could read the essays or the comics the youth took a survey we

the comics the youth took a survey we

the comics the youth took a survey we asked them would you want to read more

asked them would you want to read more

asked them would you want to read more material like this I’m sure you’re not

material like this I’m sure you’re not

material like this I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that the youth that

surprised to hear that the youth that

surprised to hear that the youth that got the comics wanted more more than the

got the comics wanted more more than the

got the comics wanted more more than the youth that got the essays what is really

youth that got the essays what is really

youth that got the essays what is really powerful though is that when we break it

powerful though is that when we break it

powerful though is that when we break it down by science identity the youth that

down by science identity the youth that

down by science identity the youth that got the comics with the low science

got the comics with the low science

got the comics with the low science identity they wanted to read more as

identity they wanted to read more as

identity they wanted to read more as much as the youth that got the essays in

much as the youth that got the essays in

much as the youth that got the essays in the high science identity group let that

the high science identity group let that

the high science identity group let that sink in for a minute

sink in for a minute

sink in for a minute that is really powerful that means it’s

that is really powerful that means it’s

that is really powerful that means it’s something about the way we communicate

something about the way we communicate

something about the way we communicate science not necessarily something about

science not necessarily something about

science not necessarily something about the kids I saw how the comics connected

the kids I saw how the comics connected

the kids I saw how the comics connected with youth in another setting we did an

with youth in another setting we did an

with youth in another setting we did an after-school Club with 5th graders in a

after-school Club with 5th graders in a

after-school Club with 5th graders in a high poverty school

high poverty school

high poverty school in the first week we gave all of the

in the first week we gave all of the

in the first week we gave all of the kids the comic books a couple months

kids the comic books a couple months

kids the comic books a couple months later we were doing an activity we were

later we were doing an activity we were

later we were doing an activity we were trying to understand the immune system

trying to understand the immune system

trying to understand the immune system so we had some kids who were an

so we had some kids who were an

so we had some kids who were an attacking virus we had some kids who

attacking virus we had some kids who

attacking virus we had some kids who were the skin a barrier to that virus

were the skin a barrier to that virus

were the skin a barrier to that virus and we had some kids that were the

and we had some kids that were the

and we had some kids that were the immune cells they were gonna play this

immune cells they were gonna play this

immune cells they were gonna play this out as soon as I said immune cells one

out as soon as I said immune cells one

out as soon as I said immune cells one boy jumped up ran over to his backpack

boy jumped up ran over to his backpack

boy jumped up ran over to his backpack pulled out the comic books from two

pulled out the comic books from two

pulled out the comic books from two months earlier ran over to me and showed

months earlier ran over to me and showed

months earlier ran over to me and showed me the page with the immune cells at

me the page with the immune cells at

me the page with the immune cells at that moment I realized his attachment to

that moment I realized his attachment to

that moment I realized his attachment to the comic book showed me how important

the comic book showed me how important

the comic book showed me how important access to science can be okay

access to science can be okay

access to science can be okay analogy alert I really want this point

analogy alert I really want this point

analogy alert I really want this point to come home okay so hang in there with

to come home okay so hang in there with

to come home okay so hang in there with me for a minute let’s imagine a mountain

me for a minute let’s imagine a mountain

me for a minute let’s imagine a mountain with a fantastic view and everyone wants

with a fantastic view and everyone wants

with a fantastic view and everyone wants to get to the top there’s two paths one

to get to the top there’s two paths one

to get to the top there’s two paths one path is well-maintained

path is well-maintained

path is well-maintained lots of encouraging people along the way

lots of encouraging people along the way

lots of encouraging people along the way helping people reach the top of the

helping people reach the top of the

helping people reach the top of the mountain the other path is rough not

mountain the other path is rough not

mountain the other path is rough not well-maintained for you and few people

well-maintained for you and few people

well-maintained for you and few people encouraging the travelers and maybe some

encouraging the travelers and maybe some

encouraging the travelers and maybe some it even discouraging them the people on

it even discouraging them the people on

it even discouraging them the people on each path they don’t know there’s

each path they don’t know there’s

each path they don’t know there’s another path who’s gonna make it to the

another path who’s gonna make it to the

another path who’s gonna make it to the top and how would each explain their

top and how would each explain their

top and how would each explain their success or their failure okay it can be

success or their failure okay it can be

success or their failure okay it can be tempting to think that there are some

tempting to think that there are some

tempting to think that there are some groups in the United States that just

groups in the United States that just

groups in the United States that just aren’t into science but our evidence

aren’t into science but our evidence

aren’t into science but our evidence suggests it’s not the kids the problem

suggests it’s not the kids the problem

suggests it’s not the kids the problem is the packaging the stories being

is the packaging the stories being

is the packaging the stories being relevant showing images of scientists

relevant showing images of scientists

relevant showing images of scientists from around the globe throughout history

from around the globe throughout history

from around the globe throughout history a great diversity of scientists who are

a great diversity of scientists who are

a great diversity of scientists who are doing amazing things amaya science kind

doing amazing things amaya science kind

doing amazing things amaya science kind of person when I started this work I

of person when I started this work I

of person when I started this work I didn’t think so but through the research

didn’t think so but through the research

didn’t think so but through the research process I changed my mind I realized I

process I changed my mind I realized I

process I changed my mind I realized I really loved the comic books I loved

really loved the comic books I loved

really loved the comic books I loved learning about microbes and genetics

learning about microbes and genetics

learning about microbes and genetics and viruses I loved learning along with

and viruses I loved learning along with

and viruses I loved learning along with the youth in our after-school programs I

the youth in our after-school programs I

the youth in our after-school programs I also realized I’m a social scientists

also realized I’m a social scientists

also realized I’m a social scientists that study is getting people into

that study is getting people into

that study is getting people into science and maybe that makes me a meta

science and maybe that makes me a meta

science and maybe that makes me a meta scientist okay so in my life

scientist okay so in my life

scientist okay so in my life there were many cues that I had a high

there were many cues that I had a high

there were many cues that I had a high discovery orientation even though I

discovery orientation even though I

discovery orientation even though I don’t remember anyone encouraging me to

don’t remember anyone encouraging me to

don’t remember anyone encouraging me to claim a science identity not even after

claim a science identity not even after

claim a science identity not even after I won a science fair in seventh grade

I won a science fair in seventh grade

I won a science fair in seventh grade and again in eighth grade as I mentioned

and again in eighth grade as I mentioned

and again in eighth grade as I mentioned I dropped out of college the important

I dropped out of college the important

I dropped out of college the important thing about that is that I had time to

thing about that is that I had time to

thing about that is that I had time to explore many possible future selves

explore many possible future selves

explore many possible future selves thankfully one of my cousin’s Patti she

thankfully one of my cousin’s Patti she

thankfully one of my cousin’s Patti she saw in me the social scientists I could

saw in me the social scientists I could

saw in me the social scientists I could become she urged me to take a sociology

become she urged me to take a sociology

become she urged me to take a sociology class I did and I was transformed all of

class I did and I was transformed all of

class I did and I was transformed all of a sudden the world makes sense like it

a sudden the world makes sense like it

a sudden the world makes sense like it had never had before I took another one

had never had before I took another one

had never had before I took another one I took another one I stayed for a decade

I took another one I stayed for a decade

I took another one I stayed for a decade and I earned three degrees and now I

and I earned three degrees and now I

and I earned three degrees and now I teach sociology okay a little bit

teach sociology okay a little bit

teach sociology okay a little bit passion there all right

passion there all right

passion there all right so I’m I’m just so grateful I had people

so I’m I’m just so grateful I had people

so I’m I’m just so grateful I had people who could see Annie the social scientist

who could see Annie the social scientist

who could see Annie the social scientist I could become I want everyone to have

I could become I want everyone to have

I could become I want everyone to have that finally the answers to my burning

that finally the answers to my burning

that finally the answers to my burning questions how can we find science kinds

questions how can we find science kinds

questions how can we find science kinds of people we don’t have to search we are

of people we don’t have to search we are

of people we don’t have to search we are all science kinds of people how can we

all science kinds of people how can we

all science kinds of people how can we engage all youth with science that’s

engage all youth with science that’s

engage all youth with science that’s where we need to invest we need creative

where we need to invest we need creative

where we need to invest we need creative connections to help youth find the kind

connections to help youth find the kind

connections to help youth find the kind of science that will matter to them what

of science that will matter to them what

of science that will matter to them what will engage them what will be

will engage them what will be

will engage them what will be interesting that’s what we need to

interesting that’s what we need to

interesting that’s what we need to really work on I kept wait to find out

really work on I kept wait to find out

really work on I kept wait to find out the creative connections that all of you

the creative connections that all of you

the creative connections that all of you will find to help all of us engage in

will find to help all of us engage in

will find to help all of us engage in science thank you

science thank you

science thank you [Music]

”

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