Why did you choose to take on this project?

I decided to start this project because I am always frustrated by how little is included in textbooks and scientific histories when it comes to women, people of colour, and people who identify as LGBTQ+. It is very important to me that all my students find people from both past and present who they can identify within STEM and that means that we need to spend time bringing all groups to the forefront.

Who/what does this project highlight?

I would like to highlight people from groups that are either underrepresented or invisible in the STEM world. So LGBTQ+ folks, people of colour or women (still a wildly underrepresented group in STEM worlds) who have contributed or are contributing to science, technology, engineering or mathematics in a meaningful way.

How long will each instalment be up, and how many instalments will there be?

I am hoping to have a new installment each week. I am still getting organized with which STEM people to feature when, but I would like to commit to a new person each week beginning in quarter 4. I don't actually have an end date since there are so many people from these groups that have been skipped over in history or who exist out there in the world today that as long as I have people to feature I will continue to do so in the hopes that my students will be inspired to broaden their view of people who can engage meaningfully in the STEM world.

Is there anyone you’re particularly drawn to and passionate about educating others on?

I am particularly fond of George Washington Carver...he was an agricultural scientist and as I love to garden and grow things I feel an affinity for his work. I also love both Florence Nightingale and Alan Turing. In addition, there is Rosalind Franklin, my first female science hero...oh and Mary Jackson for her brilliant mathematical mind and success as an engineer in the predominantly white, male environment of NASA! The list is long as I have many beloved STEM figures...come and check out the door as I am passionate about each person I feature up there!

What do you hope to achieve with this initiative?

I started this initiative as much for myself as for my students. I wanted to challenge myself to an act of inclusiveness and anti-racism as a way to support the idea that everyone has a place in STEM. I wanted to show the students of LSS that many of our scientific discoveries and achievements and current research can be linked to the work of people who never got to feature in the history books or in the news because they belonged to the "wrong" parts of society. I hope that these kinds of acts might help to challenge the social norms of STEM and promote change in future generations. I feel it is part of my responsibility as an educator in STEM to provide role models for all of our diverse and amazing students. If you can picture yourself through a role model in a career or a subject area then it is much easier to pursue that future!

Who do you plan on featuring next?

I am leaning towards Alan Turing as my next feature, followed by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier.

Are there any well-known figures in STEM that are more « woke » representing than is commonly known (presented as Caucasian but was really something else, had a hidden disability, was lgbtq+)?

The short answer is yes. There are untold numbers of STEM figures who had hidden identities they were unable to publicly embrace. For example, being LGBTQ+ was criminalized for so long and still is in many countries around the world there are many many people who contributed to scientific discoveries and technological advancements who were LGBTQ+ but were unable to be open about who they were for fear of being imprisoned, killed or discriminated against. There are scientists who lost their lives or took their own lives as a result of not being accepted for who they were by their peers. An example that springs to mind is Alan Turing (who I will feature coming up)...as well as Florence Nightingale. For every person who we now know was LGBTQ+ we must accept that there were many more who had to live their entire lives in secret because of both criminal laws and the rigid laws of society. The more acceptance and tolerance we can build the smoother the future will be for any up-and-coming STEM folks!