'The future of STEM depends on those already in science reaching out to the next generation.' This week's ScienceWorkingLife.
When I was in high school, I typed up a letter and mailed it to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, boldly asking for “all of their research on stroke.” I was working on a yearlong project that required me to reach out to experts. Several weeks later, a thick packet arrived in the mail, along with a personalized letter thanking me for my inquiry. I was thrilled. Whoever responded could have thought, “This is just a teenager, we don’t have time for her.
I participate in a variety of outreach activities—neuroscience demonstrations, science fairs, career panels, STEM camps. Those activities take time and energy away from my own research, as I found recently while completing my Ph.D. But they also benefit me in ways I didn’t necessarily expect, helping me grow and find satisfaction in my work as a scientist. Here are a few of the benefits.Kids are some of the best critics of science communication.
Science is full of failure, rejection, and impossibly challenging problems. But I’ve found that working with kids is a great antidote to the more frustrating aspects of my job. It’s hard to stay jaded after seeing the look of wonder on a kid’s face as you pull a frozen banana out of liquid nitrogen or help them perform their first-ever dissection.It’s gratifying to encourage young aspiring scientists in the same way others encouraged me.
Years later, when I was a Ph.D. student, I encountered a similarly enthusiastic middle schooler who loved black holes. When I told her to tell me all about them, her response startled me: “Do you really want to hear about black holes? Other kids tell me they’re a weird thing for a girl to like.” This led to a lengthy back and forth, during which I encouraged her to explore her scientific passions.
The future of STEM depends on those already in science reaching out to the next generation. Do what you can to share your knowledge and inspire curiosity. Along the way, you just might improve your own science as well.
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