Dear Reader,
I have been a science nerd for just about as long as I can remember, starting with a fascination with and hoarded collection of rocks. From there, it has expanded to a love of anatomy, physiology, and human biology, as well as a hopeful future career as an emergency medicine physician. Today, I am a current student at the University of California, Davis pursuing a bachelor's of science in Global Disease Biology and having the privilege of learning every single day.
I often think about all the things that allowed me to be where I am today. As a woman in STEM, I consider myself to be incredibly lucky that no one ever told me that my goals were too hard or that I couldn't achieve them growing up. From an early age, I was always told that I could do anything I put my mind to as long as I worked hard and kept my goals in sight. I think of my family who has never ceased to support and encourage my interests, and of all the educators who allowed me to get excited about STEM and passed on all that they knew. However, the striking reality is that not every kid experiences the same support I did. And so, this project was born out of an adoration of science, a thankfulness for all that has brought me here today, and a desire to help other kids find success in their journeys as I have in my own.Â
As I was putting this website together, I first hoped to be able to directly engage young kids and get them excited by creating resources made just for them, which is where the video experiment and slideshow come in. Both of these resources would be well-utilized in a classroom, but I also assumed that I might get a young straggler or two exploring on their own, so they can also be self-led and self-containing. Along the way, though, I realized that I didn't want to stop at just getting kids involved. It takes a lot more than a single website to support young scientists, engineers, technicians, and mathematicians, so my introduction and research provide a way for adults to learn more about why STEM education is so critical, as well as give them ready-made resources to help get their kids excited.
So, from one nerdy kid to you, thank you for taking steps to support your children, students, mentees, and more - it means more than you could ever know. And to any kids who happened to stumble upon this part of the site and have read this far, I hope you have fun exploring the site and that you leave having discovered something new and exciting.
Happy learning and warm regards,
Lindsay Hauf :)