Science Role Models: Who do we want to see in books and on TV?
The Media Representation Initiative Kick-off!
On January 18 we launched our Initiative with a fitting first event: The Importance of Science Role Models for Youth. An event that highlights the importance of inclusive representation in media and in media science.
Together with all speakers, our own Sindy Sumter, Birgit Bekker, Ilse Vranken, and Sisters in Science and all attendees – students, colleagues, and societal partners – we discussed how we can use media to make science for all Dutch young people.
What did the speakers talk about?
The event was supported and opened by Mill Hail, Diversity Officer of our faculty Social and Behavioural Sciences. The four speakers shared their insights on the role of media in shaping ideas of what science is and what a scientist looks like. Sindy Sumter discussed the relevance of representation of scientists for children and highlighted the new cartoon Ada Twist the Scientist.
Ilse Vranken from Leuven University talked about her research on the portrayal of women in atypical professions in entertainment series, such as in The Good Doctor, How to Get Away with Murder, Grey’s Anatomy and Lucifer.
Britt Bekker demonstrated the power of educational media with examples from Lil’ Scientist, a program that engages children in science. Through the lesson plan Who is the scientist? children learn that everyone can be a scientist and that science is more than chemistry and physics.
And THE Sisters in Science talked about why they decided to become their own STEM science role models on social media and gave compelling examples of young people they have inspired with their stories.
Who was there, and what did they share?
We welcomed 35 guests at our kick-off event. All shared their experiences, knowledge and wishes for future of science role models. And we discussed dilemmas of the speakers, what hurdles do they experience on the road to inclusive science, how can they be solved?
Students and alumni shared for example how the image of a scientist as a lone wolf deterred them from pursuing a science career. All audience members pitched in or listened and took notes – lecturers and researchers, policy makers involved in impactful science, Innovation Exchange Amsterdam (IXA), head of education at Beeld & Geluid, a talent manager active in the media industry and the director of Ancestors Unknown.
All tips and tricks were collected during brief post-it party intermissions.
Now what?
We compiled all tips and tricks on post-its and turned it into a GUIDE for what scientists we need to see in entertainment media.
You can find the GUIDE here. Please share with anyone who creates media!
A Dutch version will follow!
Read more?
This event was inspired by other projects working on the importance of role models in science.
I am a scientist is a project aimed at middle and high school students in which 22 scientists turned their experiences into inspirational science toolkits: https://www.iamascientist.info/
