For those of you who don't know, while I love fashion and sewing and all of that good stuff, my real love and focus in life lies in science. I am currently studying to become a kickass researcher in either Neuroscience, Immunobiology or something to do with Biochemistry (I haven't decided yet, but need to get onto choosing a major soon!) Another thing that I'm pretty passionate about is how people perceive science, and the work being done by scientists. When the scientist in the movie is always either the Dr Frankenstein-type baddie or the super altruistic guy who just went too far (and pretty much always a male-type of guy), or 66% of Americans can't name a living Scientist, it makes me pretty darn sad.
I've been working with a fellow blogger and scientist Tempest who had an amazing idea of writing a series of blog posts featuring scientist fashion bloggers in order to try and challenge the stereotypes of both what a scientist is, and what a fashion blogger is.
I'm going to say that on balance, most scientists probably don't look like this:
Yet type "Scientist" into google images and you predominately get a whole variety on the white-haired bubbling-test-tubes middle-aged male mad scientist stereotype.
Basically, I want to put myself out there and say "hey, science is really damn cool" and to be of some assistance in dismantling this stereotype by not being a mad, middle-aged man constantly holding a bubbling test-tube and waving my arms about. Because these stereotypes not only have negative effects on kids choosing a future career, but also on women already in science.
(source: Rock Paper Cynic)
I don't want to quote the whole article here and wrongly take all the credit, so you can read the interview I did with Tempest (which is at the end of the post), and her amazing article by clicking here.
Much love,
 |
Saturday 15 September 2012
Hello, I'm a Scientist
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YES!! Science nerds are the best <3 I love Biology, it was definitely my favorite class in high school, so much that I can't get used to Physics! I love seeing variety in posts, and knowing more about you than just the "fashion blogger"!
ReplyDeletexx maggie
saltandleather.blogspot.com
ah yes! another science gal like me :) i majored in neuro and did a lot of molecular bio and immuno work in undergrad. now i'm in med school which is my favourite way of applying science. i feel frustrated when people think scientists are just nerds, antisocial, or the "mad scientist" type too. good luck! research takes mad patience which i barely have but i still learned a lot through my projects and that harrowing thesis
ReplyDeletepandaphilia style
I actually just discovered your blog - and the fact that you are a neuroscientist - earlier today! I was pretty excited about it actually, haha. So it's awesome to have you commenting on this.
DeleteWaaahh wow that's basically exactly what I want to do with my undergraduate career. A bit of neuro and a bit of immuno. Your whole career sounds inspiring :) Thanks so much for your comment!
power to us :) ! i'm sure things work a little differently in aussie than in the states but if you ever have questions i'd be happy to help. meanwhile i'm going to continue to be inspired by your unapologetic sense of style and abundance of pastel outfits <3
DeleteHeck yes & thank you so much, I will remember that!
DeleteYes! Science is certainly damn cool. If I hadn't chosen my telecommunications path in school I've often thought about how I would have liked to do something in biology. I hold scientists in very high regard and they're definitely not the mad scientist stereotype. My cousin is actually a chemist and she's very stylish and cool! Hooray for women scientists!
ReplyDeleteAw yay!! You're awesome.
DeleteAwesome! I'm a nursing student and I love microbiology/anatomy and physiology. Not the same thing, but at uni I get asked by other students what discipline I'm in and they're always shocked to find out something with green/blue/whatever coloured hair isn't in an art/fashion degree.
ReplyDeleteHaha yep. I have been asked so many times if I am an arts student, especially when I had my fairy floss hair.
Deletejust wonderful. Adore your hair!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post dear, science is really cool! :)
ReplyDeletePs. your hair...oh, gorgeous.
Oh, this is so interesting! I was never very good at science at school but it's great to see pretty young women involved in it- Too many people think it's the reserve of crazy old men!
ReplyDeleteBecky
xx
Great post Annika, and thanks so much for doing the interview! I'm glad there has been such a positive response. Who knows, maybe in ten years time somebody will reference this as their inspiration!
ReplyDeletex
PS- very interesting article on Stereotype Threat
ReplyDeleteyou're AWESOME! and i totally agree with you! there's absolutely no reason why you can't be a fashionable scientist. =]
ReplyDeleteI am already a huge admirer, but knowing that you're a scientist just makes me <3 you more, girl!
ReplyDeletexoxo
C
Oh wow, you will never stop surprise me :) your hobby is cute ^_^ <3 + you look AWESOME!
ReplyDeletehttp://coeursdefoxes.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/CoeursDeFoxes
I love your blog! <3
ReplyDeleteIf you want, we could follow each other :)
http://moonlightdreams-miadra.blogspot.sk
Yes. I find it funny how people, seeing I'm into fashion, assume that I am an artistic type of person. They always are pretty surprised when I tell them I want to be a chemist and my favorite subjects are chemistry and maths.
ReplyDeleteAnd I actually suck in art XD
Wooo hoo, do it! chemistry is so cool. Maths is as well, and I wish I were better at it!
DeleteI sucked at art at school as well :| well, the painting and drawing parts anyway haha
I love the topic of this post. I'm really into fashion and aesthetic things and I go to this great liberal arts university, and people are always surprised to find out that I'm a Chemistry major.
ReplyDeleteI love not being what people expect. I definitely stick out, in terms of my style, in lab. I'm the one with the lab goggles, tights, and my combat boots. It's a pretty funny sight. :)
Kathy
dreamersanddrifters.blogspot.com
Aww cool! I love chemistry at uni so much. And I always look like that too - under my lab coat I often wearing crazy patterned tights and poofy dreses which make my lab coat stick out around me haha.
DeleteAh, that's so cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently doing my 2nd year of a Neuroscience (w. cognitive science) degree but I don't think anyone would ever guess. Usually they assume I do something to do with art or fashion.
L.
Good Morning Angel.
Hey, this is something that always makes me surprised to max. I'm watching your blog for pretty long now but I didn't know this.
ReplyDeleteI always get excited when I get to know somebody who's style I like is interested in "deeper" matters than just fashion and I do appreciate these people so much for their broaden spectrum of hobbies.
Regarding myself - I study medicine, this year I'm finnishing my studies and soon I'll become a doctor with a particular interest in abdominal surgery.
Great post! It actually brings to mind this tumblr blog - http://lookslikescience.tumblr.com/ - which is also trying to challenge the stereotypical notion of what a scientist looks like.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see all the students of science on here! I'm almost done with my Bachelor of Science degree in biology (concentrating on biotechnology) and have been working in a research molecular cytogenetics research lab for the medical school here almost my entire time as an undergrad student.
audrey
(undeaddandy.blogspot.com)
ps. I love your wig :)
I actually submitted a photo of myself and a link to tempest's article to that yesterday. such a good tumblr.
DeleteThat sounds like such an interesting field of research, Cytogenetics is studying chromosones and genes right? that's so awesome. I isolated DNA for the first time in a lab the other day and it was so cool!
Thanks so much for your comment!
xx Annika
oh cool, I'm looking forward to seeing your submission then!
DeleteYes, cytogenetics is the study of chromosomes, and the lab I'm working at focuses on human chromosomal abnormalities, specifically genotype-phonotype correlations of specific human diseases.
hurrah on your first DNA isolation, lol! Did you have to do anything with it after isolating it?
<3
woo hoo! as I chemistry nerd myself I know exactly where this post comes from. It frustrates me when people in class can't see the relevancy or point in what we study. But I will admit, I dabble in many pools of nerd-dom - science, literature, maths. I'm quite an indecisive all-rounder nerd. :D
ReplyDeleteHigh school science unfortunately doesn't make science seem all too relevant (unless you have a really good teacher), but that's so awesome that you're really into it! I mean, come on - chemistry explains how everything we take for granted works and what it's all made up of! It's amazing! I get very frustrated when people can't see the relevance in that, so I know what you mean. *sigh*
DeleteThis is absolutely awesome! I've always loved science and I think it's great how you're kicking all of those wacky stereotypes to the curb! I admire you for that :)
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to hear! I too am a female with a science degree who likes to look nice. Ive been a science communicator for a while now with the aim of changing stereotypes. In fact, I do science themed burlesque so as to give a wider audience to science. My stage name is Petra Dish if you are interested in checking me out on YouTube
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE SO AWESOME!!!! I sure did look you up on youtube. And holy crap, your show is so cool! Your stage name is fantastic as well. Thanks so much for commenting!
DeleteSweet, I'm doing neuroscience too. AND I like fashion. It's nice to see other girls like me out there. :) (I wish I'd seen this sooner, but I was living without internet back in September. The horror.)
ReplyDeleteYAY! It's nice to meet a fellow fashion lover/science lover and a blog that fuses the two together!!! YAY!
ReplyDelete<3
Samantha
biochicgeek.blogspot.com
YESYESYES! I too love sustainable style and work as a researcher. Yeah represent us smart and fashion savvy females!
ReplyDelete^______^
DeleteAnother scientist fashion blogger! yay yay. Well I'm not a scientist yet, but I do plan to study Physics with Astrophysics at uni. Think I'm gonna have to check those blog posts out :D <3
ReplyDeleteThe Quirky Queer
Lets all get together and have tea! I was headed to uni and then realized I was too shit poor to attend uni, so I gave up but when I finally save up enough money, I'll probably head for a biology degree. But right now I just want to sew and have pretty hair. I have a keen interest in genetics to the point of observing my three kitty brothers to see how they differ but also see how they are different. Keep being awesome ^_^
ReplyDeletesimilar
Yes! this is so inspiring! I am a 15 year old girl who wants to be become a parasiteologist and it is so cool to see other artsy females have a passion for science too!
ReplyDelete