"So what do you do?" seems innocent enough, but I've grown to dread this common
question. As a 28-year-old woman working on my PhD in chemistry I answer and can
almost mouth their response. "You must be really smart," or "Ugh, I hated chemistry,"
and then there's always, "Really? You're a chemist?"
I'm not sure what people expect, but yes, I'm a chemist and yeah, those are boobs.
Women -- even attractive ones -- are scientists and science is sexy. I'm not saying that
anyone would mistake Bill Nye for Brad Pitt, but what have we done is make your
gadgets smaller and faster, medicine and diagnostics more effective, and your cars
greener. Scientists brought fantasy to reality by demonstrating
quantum levitation;
watch out Harry Potter enthusiasts -- scientists have developed their version of an
invisibility cloak. We turn Mission Impossible to possible -- self-erasing inks can encrypt your
darkest secrets. If you're not sold yet, your make-up, sunscreen, beer, cologne, and
more are all improved thanks largely in part to innovations and applications of science.
But education is coming up short. I was fortunate to have really passionate and
interesting chemistry teachers in high school and college, coupled with a strong
math education -- the concepts didn't get lost in the algebra. This administration
has caught on, releasing results from the President's Council of Advisors on Science
and Technology report
Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College
Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
this month which provides a blueprint for improving STEM education during the
first two years of college.
We also have great
Department of Commerce statistics that show over the past
10 years, growth in STEM jobs was three times as fast as growth in non-STEM
jobs, STEM careers command higher wages (26% greater than their non-STEM
counterparts), and STEM careers are projected to grow by 18% through 2018. Who
wouldn't be turned on by those stats in this job climate?
Unfortunately, stereotypes and misconceptions are rampant. Many still view "The
Scientist" as one of the characters from
The Big Bang Theory. Although they do exist,
I know plenty of jocks, musicians, hipsters, and hippies that are also scientists; there
is no one-size fits all mold. We're probably to blame for a lot of this as we sometimes
perpetuate an air of superiority, which feeds the mystique. There's an elitism that could
use a healthy dose of checking our egos at the door.
Scientists must learn to communicate more effectively. The solutions to the most
pressing problems our planet will face in the next century will be found in science.
Translating our work is much more than dumbing it down. We must integrate and
educate people in a clear manner -- because not everyone is destined for careers in STEM
fields, just like I'm not destined to work with children (kids scare the hell out of me).
For those of you who have chosen this career, I challenge you to be conscientious
consumers of science in the media. Be mindful of agenda, opinion versus fact, and
origin. Also be aware of how you're communicating the information, and the image
you're portraying -- we are more than a bunch of socially awkward, misunderstood
geeks playing with beakers and Bunsen burners. We are bright and talented thinkers
and doers who happen to use science to make our world a little better, one molecule at
a time.
I guess we all have different priorities...
Academia and industry are accepting of women scientists. It is popular culture that is and remains intensely anti-intellectual.
I'll take "I hated chemistry" over "So you can make meth?" any day.
Is it hard to grasp why I get more comments about my hair in such environments? Of course not. Men with long hair are far more rare in conservative areas, so it is much more shocking to see it, which leads to more comments. I have absolutely no problem with stares and innocent questions. I only find it offensive when they start asking me if I'm gay, or if I wear dresses, etc. IE, when they are insulting.
There is a notable difference between valid expectations based on experience, and invalid expectations based on ideology. Which is why i find articles like this annoying. There is absolutely nothing wrong with people being surprised by that which falls outside of their experience.
My Ph.D training and Post Doctoral training was filled with women. I have worked and trained women over the years. Never really noticed much odd about that either.
Seems that more women are in the sciences. Some stay in research, some transition into business, and guess what, they were trained in Chemistry.
Even though my PhD was in Chemistry/ Biochemistry and I know/knew many chemists on the business side and science side. Guess I forgot that women did not participate in the sciences.
Oddly enough, when I was CEO of two companies and interacting with other Ph.D chemists/biochemists runnning companies. Guess was not paying attentiion.
Even now that I coach teams which have women Chemists I will have to tell them they may want to look for a new profession.
The point being, that people get into a narrow way of seeing the world too often. It is time to open up the mind and realize that people can be what ever they want. It is more important that they contribute in positive ways. It does not matter if they are female or male.