2. Why do girls not choose science?Why do girls not choose science?
• ImageImage
– Scientists portrayed in the media are never cool.
– They are geeks, egg‐heads, badly dressed, weird, ugly,They are geeks, egg heads, badly dressed, weird, ugly,
socially awkward
– If not one of the above they are evil
• Science is viewed as too abstract, removed from
pressing social problems, even socially irrelevant p g p y
– “I want to make a difference in the world and not
waste my time in a lab”
3. More reasonsMore reasons
• Lack of self‐confidenceac o se co de ce
– “You need to be very smart to be in science. I am not
that smart…”
• Poor Math skills
– “You need to be good in math to be in science and I
am bad in math”am bad in math
– “You need to like math, and I hate math”
• Unwilling to challenge themselves• Unwilling to challenge themselves
– “You need to work a lot to succeed in science. I want
to have a Life.”
4. Changing attitudesChanging attitudes
• “The real voyage of discovery consists not inThe real voyage of discovery consists not in
seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes”
Marcel Proust (1884)Marcel Proust (1884)
• The mission of science outreach is not to teach
new knowledge, it is to help in changing subtle,new knowledge, it is to help in changing subtle,
deeply hidden attitudes.
• It is a form of persuasion like advertisingIt is a form of persuasion, like advertising
– Project an image of something worth striving for
– Show the way to achieve itShow the way to achieve it
5. How can we help with outreach?How can we help with outreach?
• Imageg
– Be well dressed, look cool
– Spend some time to talk about yourself, your life,
friends what you did last weekendfriends, what you did last weekend
– Show that you are a normal person with a Life
– Project your fascination with science
– Emphasize it is not just study (job)
• it is your hobby.
– Talk about your scientist – friends about your– Talk about your scientist – friends, about your
professors … there are a many cool and fun people in
science
6. More waysMore ways
• Science is socially relevantScience is socially relevant
– What important problems in society are solved by
Science? Technology Medicine EntertainmentScience? Technology, Medicine, Entertainment…
– Science careers are well paid and stable
– With the “hotness” of the global warming theme– With the hotness of the global warming theme
in the media, young people really care about
environmental issues – exploit this to advocate p
science!
7. The Math hurdleThe Math hurdle
• Do not skirt the importance of Math when you try to p y y
make science look “cool”.
• Emphasize that Math is not just for the very smart ones
– Everyone can do Math!
– Resist the temptation to present yourself as being “super‐
smart”
– It is not “You either get it or you don’t”, it is a matter of
P3: patience, practice, perseverance
• “A genius is made of 90% perspiration and 10%
inspiration”
Book: “The Math Plague: How to survive school mathematics”,
by Sherry Mantyka
8. Emphasize the importance of practiceEmphasize the importance of practice
• Every skill needs practice – there is no easyEvery skill needs practice there is no easy
way in any career
– In Sports (ask any coach) Music (ask any– In Sports (ask any coach), Music (ask any
musician), Writing (ask any writer)
– “If I don’t practice one day I know it; if I don’tIf I don t practice one day, I know it; if I don t
practice two days, the critics know it; if I don’t
practice three days, the audience knows it.”
• Jascha Heifetz, violinist (1901‐1987)
9. Investing in regular outreach
activities
• Science clubsScience clubs
– Allow to focus practice and science related activities
towards a clear goal – team or individual competition g p
• Math clubs forMath clubs for
– after class practice – Kumon (www.kumon.com)
– preparation for math competitions ‐ Math
Kangaroo (http://www.math.concordia.ab.ca/kangaroo/ )
11. if it seems easy:if it seems easy:
many people will choose this path
there will be too many people just like you
what would be YOUR market value?
getting a job would be like winningg g j g
