Happy Women’s History Month Girl w/Pen Family!!
The best and worst part of being a science grrl is that most people in my life know that I’m all “Women can do math and science!” I’m such a big cheerleader for math and science that some people are fearful to admit to me that they think science is boring or they hate math. When I go into mini-lectures diagnosing why someone thinks they are bad at math or is in fact bad at math, I usually discover that there was a bad teacher who specifically told my friend that they couldn’t do math, sometimes because my friend was a girl. There are times when we chat and realize that science and engineering was never fully explained or explored.
That’s why I love science documentaries! How else is a kid in the middle of Kansas going to know the amazement of marine biology? How else was math going to reel me in if it weren’t for Donald Duck and his magic billiard shots in Mathmagic Land? We, grown-ups/parents/mentors/awesome aunties, need to find ways to show how awesome science, math, technology and engineering can be for the young people in our lives.
In that spirit, the Smithsonian Channel launched a new series of shows on Sunday focused on women in science with “A Woman Among Wolves.” The show is exciting, highlights women and did I mention exciting? Toss out the old image of scientists stuck inside with shiny white lab coats! They are outside with wolves and bats.
So what if these shows don’t spark an interest in science? Use it as a springboard to talk about other fields. Are the bats too gross? What other animals would the kid in your life want to follow around and watch? Maybe animals aren’t their thing? Plants? Stars? Their MP3 player?
Science is everywhere and with the proper prompt a great conversation can help you introduce a kid to science or engineering. Need some help? Catch the 6th Annual 24 hour Global Marathon For, By and About Women in Engineering. Find a website like SciGirls.
Most of us were raised to think of math and science as intimidating. Something for the chosen few. As a chemistry professor I work with likes to say, “If I can do it, so can you.”
And to start you off in the wonderful world of science and fun, I am giving away a gift pack from the Smithsonian! Leave a comment with your email address and that’s your entry. That’s it.
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Do you live in the Cleveland area? Come meet me at the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women at Case Western Reserve University on Thursday, March 18th at 7 pm for “Translating the F-Word: Defining Feminism in a Multicultural Society” with Siobhan Brooks and Courtney Martin.
Comments
e.lee — March 10, 2010
Science is for everyone, regardless.
kim/hormone-colored days — March 10, 2010
Well, you know I'm down with boys and science, too, based on my progeny, but it's all good.
BTW, take a look at Discovery Channel's LIFE series later this month. Stunning footage to help girls (and boys) learn about the amazing variety of life forms on our planet. And narrated by Oprah, FWIW.
Kristen Norton — March 10, 2010
Wonderful post. I have recently read a book called "Still Failing at Fairness" about schools and parents and girls and boys. Among the many important issues that it raises, it most definitely speaks to those issues which you raise about expectations and encouragement and discouragement and misconceptions about the fields of math and science. I printed a copy of your article and will share it with my college students when we discuss women and work and related issues. Thank you!!
Kristen Norton — March 14, 2010
Hi again,
I posted the above comment but didn't leave you my email in case I win the Smithsonian pack :-) norton.kristen@gmail.com
Astronaut Wilson knows we have the right stuff | Girl with Pen — April 14, 2010
[...] Last month I held a giveaway and Kim won! In an effort for people to not think I rigged it for one of my good bloggy friends, I asked Twitter to pick a number 1-3 and ratsamy said ‘2.’ Congrats to Kim! [...]