
[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]
”
Be First to Comment