Track: School STEM Best Practices
We all know that scientific research is done in sterile labs by nerds in white lab coats, the results of which eventually makes its way to the public through government agencies or megacorporations who own the ‘science’. If you’ve not paid your dues in academia to get the appropriate science degrees, your capacity to participate in science is limited to the baking soda and vinegar volcano that you show off to your kids when it’s their Science Fair.
Wrong; and wrong.
Citizen Science may be the most widespread and important outsourcing enterprise ever attempted, and chances are you haven’t heard of it. Or if you have, you don’t know what’s out there or how you can get involved. We’d like to change that by introducing you to two prominent Citizen Science programs that encourage and facilitate participation in real scientific research projects.
SciStarter aims to facilitate citizen participation in formal and informal research projects and events around the world (and beyond!), allowing regular people to contribute needed and meaningful data towards scientific progress, and to see the results of their efforts. Science Cheerleader is a program made up of professional cheerleaders pursuing science careers who inspire young women to challenge stereotypes and consider Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) careers. Both programs were founded by Darlene Cavalier, Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Center for Engagement and Training, part of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.
Please consider attending this Panel Discussion as Ms. Cavalier is joined by Kaitlin Vortherms, a PhD student in Sustainable Engineering at Arizona State University and Miss Phoenix 2015, and worked with Science Cheerleaders on NASA’s Soil Moisture and Active Passive (SMAP) global warming Citizen Science Project. Rounding out the panel are René Tanner, Life Sciences Librarian at Arizona State University (and former Environmental Planner), and Dan Stanton, Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian at Arizona State University (and Past-President of the Arizona Library Association). Find out how we can move Citizen Science forward together.
Presenters:
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Darlene Cavalier, Professor of Practice, Arizona State University’s Center for Engagement and Training, Founder of SciStarter, Founder of Science Cheerleader, CoFounder of ECAST: Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology
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Rene Tanner, Librarian, Life Sciences, Arizona State University
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Dan Stanton, Librarian, Humanities and Social Sciences, Arizona State University
- Kaitlin Vortherms, PhD student, Sustainable Engineering, Arizona State University
Darlene Cavalier is a Professor of Practice at Arizona State University’s Center for Engagement and Training, part of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Cavalier is the founder of SciStarter, founder of Science Cheerleader, and cofounder of ECAST: Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology. She is a founding Board Member of the Citizen Science Association, a senior advisor at Discover Magazine, a member of the EPA’s National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology, and co-editor/author of the book, The Rightful Place of Science: Citizen Science, published by ASU’s Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes (June 2016) and The Science of Cheerleading ebook, supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
Rene Tanner is a Life Sciences Librarian at Arizona State University. She has contributed articles to American Libraries and College and Research Libraries News as well as authored book chapters in “Focus on Educating for Sustainability: Toolkit for Academic Libraries” and “Computer-Mediated Communication: Issues and Approaches in Education.” She is a frequent presenter in the classroom and at conferences and has earned certificates in public involvement from the International Association for Public Participation.
Dan Stanton is a Humanities and Social Sciences Librarian at ASU, responsible for the School of Film, Dance, and Theatre, and the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Dan was previously a Government Information Librarian for sixteen years, and is still recognized in certain circles as Dan – The Gov Docs Man.
Kaitlin Vortherms is passionate about building a sustainable and responsible world. She is a PhD student in Sustainable Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). Kaitlin’s Master’s research explored the role of empathy in engineering, an interested inspired by a trip to Uganda where she realized the disconnect that can happen when products are designed in a locale vastly different from where they will be used. She now incorporates her understanding of empathy in engineering design to her PhD research on the development of a building integrated solar thermal energy technology which she is also transforming into a business venture. Kaitlin understands the importance of empowering and breaking stereotypes for women and girls in science and engineering. She was crowned Miss Phoenix 2015 where she integrated STEM into her pageant experience and adopted STEM education reform as her pageant platform. She has also worked with the Science Cheerleaders to support an empowered image of women in STEM, and with SciStarter and on NASA’s Soil Moisture and Active Passive (SMAP) to help encourage greater engagement between science and our society!