Kids form cultural impressions early, deciding where and how they’ll fit into the world. Unfortunately, they don’t see science in their future often enough. Children as young as kindergarteners, when asked to draw a scientist, are likely to make a picture of a white man in a white lab coat (See Start Science Sooner—and they don’t see themselves that way.
But what if they saw that scientists come in all shapes and colors? And what if they saw how cool science actually is as a career? An absolutely charming site This Is What a Scientist Looks Likeinvites scientists to change perceptions about what a scientist is or isn’t by being themselves: contributors submit their picture and a short description about what they do. Allie Wilkinson, freelance science communicator and social media specialist, created the site to challenge cultural impressions. “The feedback for the project that I have seen across social media has been incredible both in quantity and enthusiasm,” she told me in an e-mail. “My inbox is overflowing with scientists, and each time I see the new submissions, I can’t help but smile at all of the heartwarming, fun or quirky photos that are coming in.”
(Source: se-smith)
