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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Time for the New Year

Hello World!
Can you believe the year is nearly over? Where did the time go? What is time anyway and how will you celebrate? Here are some cool facts about time- taken from http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/time2.htm
Do you know the Egyptians are believed to have started recording time? They have the oldest device known to humans and it still works! We move to Roman times for more time history, have you ever wondered what AM and PM stand for? "These abbreviations stand for ante meridiem, before midday, and post meridiem, after midday.... A day is defined as 86,400 seconds, and a second is officially defined as 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a cesium-133 atom in an atomic clock." Science is historical as well as fun! Want to learn more? Here is a link to the international association for the study of time http://www.studyoftime.org, journals meeting and more await you. Until next time, Happy New Year! 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Night before Christmas NASA style

Hello World!
Here is a fun take on the classic poem that I found on http://www.physlink.com/fun/nasachristmas.cfm 
Have a STEM filled holiday!

Twas The Night Before Christmas, NASA-style
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the stars
Not a creature was stirring, not even on Mars.
The space boots were hung by the airlock with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
The robots were nestled all snug on their tires,
As visions of upgrades danced through their wires;
Mom put on her headset while I counted prime numbers,
We had settled our brains for a long winter's slumber,
When out on the dome there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my sack to see what was the matter.
Away to the porthole I flew like a flash,
And tore open the air filter with a great clash.
The moons on the crest of a new volcano,
Gave an alien luster to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a small UFO, and eight rocket reindeer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than light, his rockets they came,
And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name:
"Now Saturn! now, Sputnik! now, Titan and Atlas!
On, Redstone! on, Delta! Apollo, Polaris!
To the top of the dome! to the top of the wall!
Now blast away! blast away! blast away all!"
As meteors blaze through the heavens up high,
When they meet with the atmosphere and burn in the sky,
So up to the dome-top the rockets they flew,
With a ship full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.
And then in a twinkling, I felt on the ceiling
The heat of the thrusters and landing tiles peeling.
As I covered my head, and was turning around,
Through the airlock old Santa Claus came with a bound.
He was dressed all in plastics, from his feet to his head,
And his clothes were all covered in dust that was red;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a scientist opening his pack.
His visor- how it twinkled! his filter how scary!
His gloves were from Earth, the logos quite merry!
His space boots, how costly! they played songs and glowed!
The frost on his suit was as cold as Pluto;
The stump of his air tube held tight in his teeth,
And oxygen swirled round his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook, when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a nod of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the space boots; then turned with a jerk,
And spreading his fingers just like Dr. Spock,
He quietly exited out the airlock.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like a high flying missile.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."

Copyright: Gail Koske Phillips and Patrick Koske-McBride

:)

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Well Heeled International STEM

Hello World,
This season you may be stepping out to STEM events in style but what will you wear? Have you ever wondered where your clothes come from? Or how? Or what heels do to your feet? How about these lovely shoes? 



I have a thing for functional art and design, but just how functional are these?


Here are a few articles to learn more about the physics of wearing high heels.

Basic Intro
http://t.healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/women/your-body-on-…-high-heels

A more STEM based article
https://illumin.usc.edu/printer/81/walking-in-high-heels-the-physics-behind-the-physique/
 
Here is a cool blog from "the science babe" with more information on STEM and fashion from a cool woman in STEM http://www.thesciencebabe.com

And just where did the shoes I found so cute come from? Were they made ethically? If you have you ever wondered where your t-shirt came from, I recommend you read this fantastic book by a great woman in economics. 


It describes the process- start-from Texas cotton-to finish- the freecycled markets in several countries on the African continent. You will truly see how STEM, fashion, and international relations all come together.  As far as why we might choose fashion over function or vice versa- that is another post.

Whatever your style, Have a fashionably international STEM day!
:)



Kennedy Space Center

Hello World!
I had the recent fun of going to Kennedy a Space Center. It is so incredible to think about space, style, diversity, and all the STEM involved. It is inspiring to know that women are pioneering the way! Here are some exhibits from the day that educated or inspired me, maybe you will be inspired too! 








Have a far out STEM day!
:)

STEM Bling

Hello World!
Here is a cool necklace, molecular structures! This structure is oxytocin, the bonding chemical. 
If you want to learn more about oxytocin, check out this link http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/oxytocin

If you want to learn more about a cool science of jewelry exhibit check this out, 
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Bruce-Museum-explores-the-science-of-jewelry-in-1456619.php
 
If you want to learn about diamonds, check out http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/chemistry/diamond.html

Have fun checking out STEM bling!
:)

Monday, December 9, 2013

Hour of Code

Hello World!
Have you ever wondered why I always start with that greeting? No? I will tell you anyway :> "hello world" is usually the first line a person learns to code. It was the first line I remember, in several computer languages. It is a neat thing to tell your computer what to say or do (in its native language) and then watch it happen! Today we have games, apps, programs, robots, and more waiting for You! Want to learn more or get FREE coding tutorials? Check out http://csedweek.org
Happy Coding!
:)

Friday, November 29, 2013

Buying science

Hello World!

Do you like studying the buying behavior of others? Wonder what makes people buy or not today? You might be interested in the career of consumer science, check out this link to learn more! http://www.aafcs.org

:)

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Turkey Science part 2

Hello World,
In my last post we learned about turkey's and tofu, now we learn how science helps them cook. Turkey or tofurkey, On to the cooking science! This link share tips for cooking from a test kitchen where they break down the chemistry and physics of cooking for the best taste! 
http://m.livescience.com/41508-thanksgiving-cooking-tips-science.html
Isn't science tasty?! 
:)

Science of gratitude

Hello World!
Thanks for reading this! Today's post is all about gratitude, I am thankful for science and thankful that there's even a study of thanks! Did you know that gratitude has a positive physiological impact? From lower blood pressure to higher immune system, it is good to be grateful. To learn more check out this site!
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/expandinggratitude
Happy thanksgiving! 

:)

Turkey science part 1

Hello World!
With holidays around the corner, I got curious about turkey. Did you know that the big turkey you see in the store is a result of science? Over the years genetics (selective breeding) and diet have enabled the turkey to be bigger and meatier. It also makes it impossible to mother their young and stand normally, (which I find sad) According to this interesting post http://biology.about.com/od/basicgenetics/a/aa111904a.htm
For those who don't eat meat, there is tofu turkey, which makes the journey from farm to table by way of  a 200 horsepower blender and a mechanical mouth. To learn more about tofurkey check this link out http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/11/st_processtofurkey/
So now you know the science of turkey!
:)

Miss Representation

Hello World,
I had the joy of hanging out with a diverse group of ladies the other day for a film screening of Miss Representation. This documentary highlights how the media portrays people, primarily women in very unrealistic ways. A model for example was not only airbrushed but also altered to have physical dimensions that don't exist! The social messages as well, are influential- does your environment tell you are strong, smart, beautiful, just as you are? Probably not. Teenage girls in particular are susceptible to negative messages in the media, according to studies cited in the film. Boys also may have expectations that do not match reality. When you see a woman in the news, do you pay more attention to what she says or what she looks like? That is just one way we can make a difference, by noting how we act and modifying to support each other. We can also send a message with the products we buy and ads we respond to (purchasing power is in our hands statistically!). To learn more or host your own screening, check out http://film.missrepresentation.org
:)

Taste the science

Hello World, 
Here is something interesting, just in time for the holidays, a digital lollipop! http://news.yahoo.com/digital-lollipop-zap-tongue-flavor-130503126.html?soc_src=copy 
Science is seriously techie & tasty! :)

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Arithmophobia no more

Hello World!
Did you know that Arithmophobia is the fear of numbers? It is true. Maybe numbers are not the problem so much as it is what you have to do with them that frightens you; two-thirds of Americans loathe or fear math... The good news is, it can be overcome! Here are some simple ways to work at it http://www.radford.edu/content/LARC/home/learning-guides/math/math-anxiety.html (pairing it with chocolate helps too, I have found).
:)

Don't be fearful of Science or STEM!

Hello World,
I am back, haunting the html world. Things have been quite busy, with giving STEM talks, creating STEM programs and actually doing research. That is the life of a scientist, always something to do! In honor of the 31st, I share this fun article on the science of fear.
http://www.today.com/health/why-we-be-scared-science-behind-scream-8C11469347
Don't be frightened though, science is fun!
:)

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Science smells good

Hello World!
Today I had the fun of seeing and smelling my friend's perfumery. 
The science of scent (olfactory sense) is really quite interesting. From the million dollar perfume industry to the chemistry of odors to the psychology of scent to capitalizing off your sensitive sniffing capabilities there is a scented STEM path for you if you are interested. Did you know that dogs and humans have the same type of olfactory receptors? We do! The big difference is that dogs have millions more. To learn about the science of smell check out this site or read a good sensation and perception book (I like Goldstein)
http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/human-biology/smell.htm
Have a great smelling STEM day!
:)

Saturday, September 28, 2013

What do braces, power tools, swimsuits, and water filters have in common?

Hello World!
What do invisible braces, ear thermometers, swimsuits, memory foam, water filters,hand power tools (and more) have in common? They were all brought about by NASA! See this link for more information, who knows, maybe You will invent something for society too! 

:)

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Whale earwax

Hello World!
The other day I was talking to my local librarian and we got to the discussion of whale earwax. I don't remember how that happened, but what I do remember is that she told me that whale ear canals absorb all the toxins in the environment. They wax acts as a sort of thermometer for how well anti pollution efforts are going and to help determine whether or not there are still chemicals that have long since been banned (sadly, these agents are still lurking!). I will share the source of this knowledge soon. In the meantime, just imagine all the other careers out there! I certainly didn't know analyzing whale ear wax was one, but science never ceases to amaze!
:)

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Science of sound

Hello World!
Did you know that you can study both music and the brain? You can! Music has a unique impact on brain waves, from helping people with Alzheimer's to motivating people to move. One of my favorite films is "the musical brain", you can also read more in this recent article 

May we all find our rhythm in STEM 
:)

Monday, September 9, 2013

You are CuTe

Hello World!
Today we have fun with the elements!
I did not come up with that but I think it is hilarious, fun, and well, 1+ 53+15 ;) to figure out what  word I spelled using the atomic number of element in the periodic table or have fun learning about chemistry check out 
http://science.howstuffworks.com/periodic-table.htm
And
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/elem_pertable.html

Friday, August 23, 2013

Science of Roller Coasters

Hello World!
I apologize I have been slacking on the blog department lately, things have been quite busy... lots of fun science from diversity and culture to vision and STEM advocacy, even a little break for a theme park! Which brings me to today's topic- Roller Coasters! To me they are the definition of summer (almost over or almost beginning depending on where you are in the world). The speed, the thrill, the physics! The science of perception! What's not to love?
Picture I took at Universal

One of my favorite rides was advertised as a "psychological thriller" and involved cognitive elements of surprise, fear, falling, and more, in addition to the elements of speed, thrill of inversion, and surprise twists and turns. What is even cooler than the experience is the elements of STEM that go into it! Just think, you could design the ride, the safety measures, the lines that people must wait in, or the rides themselves. This woman didn't realize she was going to be a roller coaster professional, but she loves it!
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2004_12_24/nodoi.4287329994723845200 Every think about the history of roller coasters? You can see that Granville T. Woods was a major force behind roller coaster (and many other!) designs.



Interested in designing your own coaster? Check out this link http://www.discoverengineering.org/
or this blog about roller coasters http://www.coasteroftheday.com/how-to-design-roller-coasters.html  it highlights the importance of passion and imagination in conjunction with science skills. Parents or teachers who wish to help your kids might find this link helpful http://faculty.education.ufl.edu/JonesG/articleCoasters.htm

Well, back to my roller coaster ride of life!
:)

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Bling and your eyes

Hello World!
 In my last post, I spoke about celebrity news articles that speak of "cornea searing" rings. I thought it would be fun to examine this concept more closely. The cornea is the clear part of your eye, front and center, it provides shape, protection and refracting (bends light) power. It is kind of like gel. To speak of cornea searing rings refers to the exponential increase (10x) in brightness that occurs when light bounces off shiny, reflective objects such as bodies of water, snow, and maybe some rings but that would be a really big diamond! What you really need to worry about though is the damage you get from the UV light you don't even see. That is why it is so important to wear sunglasses! You can learn more about that here  http://www.visionweb.com/content/consumers/dev_consumerarticles.jsp?RID=52 
This picture from a rocket launch shows how bright light reflects off water, now that is some bling!

Have a super day!
:)

Monday, July 22, 2013

Bling in the night sky

Hello World, 
Do you like shiny sparkly things? I know I do! The best sparkle, I think, comes from our night sky. 
                    (Image from NASA)
But for those who prefer gemstones, stay tuned! Next time we will discuss the science & truth (or not) of recent news on celebrity "cornea searing" rings :) 

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Hurray for GoldieBlox!

Hello World!
I was so pleased to see this article
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/no-more-ironing-boards-engineer-aims-reinvent-toys-girls-6C10629732
A female engineer has put together kits that encourage girls to build, design, and engineer their way through a story with GoldieBlox, the main character. This kit will be sold in major toy stores. This product is very important because socially girls do not grow up tinkering with engines or building things, which inhibits spatial skills needed in many STEM careers. Now girls can obtain those skills in a manner that speaks to them! Plus, not everyone has old cars or lives in a space that will allow for such tinkering. (For girls who did not get spatial skill development, there are training programs that will help you catch up (see prior post or AAUW report why so few?)).

GoldiBlox inventor Debbie Sterling. Picture from MSN news article and GoldieBlox
 
I didn't grow up looking at engines, but I do remember watching and helping my dad build barns, sheds, and all manner of things. I also remember trying to play with my brothers electronic set too (it was a boring gray color). I like that she based her product on research and watched the difference in play between boys and girls. She found a way to merge differences in styles and I appreciate that she doesn't just paint it pink, nor take away from "being a girl". I hope her future products feature characters that represent women from all cultures and stories. In any case, pretty awesome that you can be a women, an engineer, an entrepreneur, and a major positive social change agent! Love this!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

How to Wash Your Hair in Space

Hello World!
I was just thinking it might be time for a fashion related entry... Thankfully I saw this article http://www.nbcnews.com/science/shampooing-outer-space-will-make-your-hair-stand-end-6C10597634
with great advice on how to wash your hair in space! 
It is far out, yes, but not impossible to think this may come in handy someday. STEM can take you pretty neat places you never expected to go. It has for me and I hope it will for you.

 :)

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Moon illusion explained

Hello World!
I thought I'd finally share what makes the moon so pretty and big on the horizon but so normal overhead. 
We know the moon is not changing size as it travels, so why the difference? 
It is our eyes! And our brain. Most people can relate to pain as an external stimulus felt internally and subject to interpretation. Vision is the same! We have physical stimuli that is translated by our brain into the world we see- what we see is an interpretation of physical stimuli. This translation comes with rules learned over time for most, which can lead the brain to see things not as they are but as it believes it to be, which can be incorrect, as in the moon, but beautiful. For a more STEM specific explanation, check out the links below!
:)

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Scenes from an airport

Hello World!
I'm traveling again and learning all kinds of cool stuff meeting cool people learning about culture, STEM, and more- I have so much to share and not enough time! I did find this airport display STEM-tastic though, the power of drones for good- saving lives in disaster and more- you could be a drone designer, manufacture, pilot... lots of STEM possibilities!
:) next time I will explain the moon illusion... Time to fly!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

To the moon and back

Hello World!
The moon is romantic, significant, and pretty no matter what stage it is in, to me. I love it when it looks so close and low on the horizon you could reach out and touch it! The moon will be in such a state of magnificence tonight :)

The big beautiful moon that gets smaller as it makes its way overhead is an illusion, a trick to our eyes. View the moon upside down and you will see the truth (though your friends might find you strange). Tomorrow we will discuss the moon illusion, for tonight, be sure to catch the moon and enjoy :)

Friday, June 21, 2013

Wise words

Hello World!
STEM provides both process and outcome to worlds unknown, be it Mars, or Earth! It starts with education :)

Sky is not the limit

Hello World!
NASA published their recent astronaut corp selections
I love that so many are women, but no matter who you are, the sky is Just the beginning! :) 

Green goodness

Hello World!
Things have been busy! So much fun STEM to share. Today I saw the world's most technologically advanced green building, it actually gives back to the environment through automated smart systems, and of course, STEM! And it was a good looking stylish building! I can't wait to see what is next!
:)

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Have science will travel

Hello World!
I hope you are well, I am on part two of my travels. I am very excited by the many things I've learned and the neat fashions I've seen. Science is truly a global language that reaches all cultures and facilitates positive social change. I have seen STEM applied to bridge differences and bring about community, locate missing persons, I have met women who are leading international movements for positive social change, I have also learned that scarves are always in fashion from Bosnia to Switzerland but one scarf is not enough! :) I can't wait to share more with you and look forward to getting back on a daily blog rhythm, for now, have a wonderful day and Please! Share Your STEM stories on this forum, would love to hear it!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

STEM to find missing persons

Hello World,
I met this woman yesterday, she heads an NGO that utilizes STEM (DNA tech more) to locate missing persons. She has located 7 of 8 thousand missing persons from one particular conflict, which is very impressive & positively impactful. I will share more on her and the science used 
later, but I am excited for the power of positive social change through STEM!

Monday, May 13, 2013

Color the world beautiful

Hello world!
The world is a flower blooming, a palette for painting, yours for the shaping. 
I hope you will join me in expanding knowledge, understanding, diversity, and attempts to touch another corner of the world with positivity :) 
I will do my best to touch base share women power and science during my travels. The airline mag had plenty of inspiration, off to a good start.With love :)

Packages

Hello World,
I am going on a trip (a STEM perk) so I've had to pack my bags. That leads me to the fun field of package science and packaging engineering! Packing is fun I think, like a giant 3D puzzle! Except you can do a lot more. I know someone who packaged the electronics for space.

They had to fit in a tiny space withstand extreme heat & cold, and still perform. Pretty neat! Packages relate to food too, do you think about the last thing you ate- where it came from & how it got there? Package engineers consider a wide range of factors for travel, storage, and more- from art to food to the every day to the far out- package engineers make it happen!
I hope you will think about the fun field of packaging :) Despite the many advances made- I don't think my cat will fit in my bag...

Friday, May 10, 2013

Fashionable Friday! Tech fashion afoot

Hello World!
I have declared it fashionable Friday. Today's stylish STEM topic involves technology and fashion. Have you ever wanted to add a little extra pizzazz to your wardrobe?  Shoes that glow perhaps? 

Image from fashioningtech.com

You are in luck! At http://www.fashioningtech.com/you can learn about basic electronics, materials, sewing, soft circuits, and more! You can make your own flowery glowing shoes, GPS jackets, high tech jewelry  or learn how others have fashioned items that are pretty, functional, and challenge social convention such as this prosthetic. The site is filled with interviews of sustainable designers and other fun stuff too. 
Image from fashioningtech.com

Science, fashion, and making the world a better place- that is my vision of Stylish STEM!




Thursday, May 9, 2013

gender differences in STEM?

Hello World,
One of my trusted scientist friends and a noteworthy STEM and diversity advocate in Australia recommends this book, so I am sharing this with you to follow up on the most recent post on math anxiety. We our often told that women "can't do math" but the truth is- we can! We may have to work at overcoming anxiety or the lack of exposure to skills, such as spatial reasoning, that guys automatically get (see AAUW "why so few" report)- but we can do it! So if you want to read more, check out this book! I know I will.


No Fear! (of math)

Hello World!
I am going to be honest. I have fears. Many fears. I sometimes forget to just take a deep breath and relax. What I do not fear however, is math. Math is fun! And sometimes Funny!!! 
I ate some pie ;) Image from internet

Is math challenging? Absolutely, but that is no reason to fear it. But even if you do, fear can be constructive when we channel it to recognize and address our concerns. So many people, women in particular, have a fear of math and it gets in the way of our potential. The thing is, it isn't so much the skills as it is the psychology of fear that keeps us from performing our best at math. Here is a neat study that shows how our thinking changes our brain and behavior and how reducing anxiety can increase math performance http://www.edweek.org/media/math-anxiety.pdf One of my friends from West Africa noted that American society tells girls they must fear math or be bad at it, both of which build on each other negatively. In her village, there are no such notions and the girls are in charge of numbers! So math anxiety, while socially constructed and physiologically real, can be reduced! Do you want to work on your math anxiety? There are many resources available such as:
Math Anxiety Management Lesson http://www.mayland.edu/aca111/ManagingMath.pdf for students and reducing math anxiety teaching tips http://archives.evergreen.edu/masterstheses/Accession89-10MIT/Hellum-Alexander_AMIT2010.pdf for teachers. 
Until next time, have a gr8 day! ;)



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A week of science accomplishments

Hello World,
Check out this awesome week of accomplishments in science! I love all the different areas one can be in science- stars, medicine, the brain, animals, applications- it is all STEM! And it is Cool. 


My work day might involve culture, eyeballs, or lasers. I get to make a difference in all of them, which is why it is so fun. How about you? What area do you study or would like to study?

Monday, May 6, 2013

Women's Perspective and STEM- success story

Hello World!
I love the power of women in STEM and using STEM all around the world, they boldly go where no women has gone before, take for example Asmaa Mahfouz who sparked a revolution with Youtube or the women of Harrassmap who harness SMS (Short Message Service, or texting) messaging to enable "high performance mapping to identify and mitigate social, economic, and environmental problems now so they don’t become humanitarian disasters later, and helps communities advocate for better living conditions".

image from Harrasmap website

To check out more abut Asmaa http://womenintheworld.org/solutions/track/science-and-technology to learn how SMS works check out http://computer.howstuffworks.com/e-mail-messaging/sms.htm and to see Harrasmap check out http://blog.harassmap.org/

Why Diversity matters to STEM


Hello World!
So you know that diversity is awesome, but what does it have to with STEM? Women make up half the population of the world; they use social media at greater rates than men, yet are underrepresented in STEM. The good news is that women are in a moment of opportunity. According to Women in Government, the current STEM workforce is 75% male, and is nearing retirement “creating policy space to make changes in the demographics of the STEM workforce”. While there are many inclusive men and allies of all varieties in the STEM workforce, it is easy to fall into the same pattern and “not know what you don’t know”. Consider the cost of ignoring half the population and their unique perspectives. There is lost business, lost opportunities, and the cost of creating solutions that may cause more problems because they were one sided, not to mention the human cost of exclusion. Conversely, creativity is increased, solutions are more innovative, and profits are higher when diversity is embraced (Stevens, Plaut, Sanchez-Burks, 2008). Simply put, diversity makes STEM stronger. Journalist Jonathon Mealer believes that “the next Einstein will come from the African continent”, I think the next Einstein will also be a woman :) For more resources check out http://www.begellhouse.com/journals/journal-of-women-and-minorities-in-science-and-engineering.html

Sunday, May 5, 2013

What is Diversity? Why do I love it? Why is it important to STEM?


Hello World!
I want to talk about diversity! Diversity is the attributes we have, both inside and out, inherited and learned, often incorrectly assumed. Diversity is our gender, ethnicity, faith, culture, how we grew up, where we grew up, and more. Diversity is perspectives, experiences, and different ways of seeing the world that is unique to each one of us and our lives. Why do I love diversity? It is like music! Can you imagine the same tune played over and over and over. Boring right? 

Add in other keys, other sounds, other instruments and music is made! Diversity is a melody, we are each an instrument, a tune. We keep our individual characteristics, but when added together, something even more beautiful is made. Inclusion is essential to this melody- to harmony and synthesizing sound. It isn't enough to have other instruments; we must be allowed to sing loud and clear, to resonate our unique voices. If we are hampered, the music doesn't sound as good. I love music, I love all music and diversity is no different, it is a joy! To hear, to see, to experience, to be. 

So now you know what diversity is and why I love it, what does it have to do with STEM? Check back tomorrow for part two to find out! ;)

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Women are Awesome

Hello World!
Women are awesome and we are in charge of our destinies! Actress, Chief Executive Officer, entrepreneur, chef, scientist, mother and more- These women show that you truly can achieve your dreams! And they are coming together to make the world a better place. These women get paid to do what they love and to do it fashionably and with friends. How cool is that!?!?


I also love that this summit has a spot just for STEM and that it is for women and by women, with many women represented, all ages, all ethnicities, so many perspectives. There are no limits to the places you can go in life! Maybe you want to be at this table, maybe you want to make your own table, maybe you don't want a table at all! No matter which path you are thinking, I am certain STEM will be part of it in some form and that you can do it! I hope we can enjoy the journey together :)
 

Screenshot of  participants from Forbes conference website,
many more participants listed.




Friday, May 3, 2013

No limits to STEM Stardom!

Hello World!
Have you ever dreamed of being both a movie star and a scientist but you can't decide which? No Problem! Sylvia has the answer, she is the 11 year old star of her own science show! Pretty cool I think, pretty cool. Here she is, showing you how to make your own lava lamp!

From Sylviashow website

But she has lots of other cool things she makes too. You can visit her website here http://sylviashow.com/  or read about what others have said here http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2013/05/11-year-old-web-series-star-inspiring-girls-in-the-name-of-science/ She has lots of resources and fun free activities to try, from fashion to rockets! There is no limit to where your imagination and some hard work can take you, no matter your gender, age, situation, or more! :) In the show of life, there is room for all of us to be a leading lady :) And that's a wrap!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Women are Powerful!

Hello World!
Yet another thing I LOVE about STEM is the ability to tell a story with certainty, clarity, and a loud voice. A story I was recently told, was about the power of me, a girl. Did you know that collectively, the more education and equality we have, the more our Nation, (no matter which nation you call home) is more likely to have higher wealth and income, lower inter and intra state conflict, and higher state security. That means We ALL have a difference to make! Whether you do it through STEM or just by using STEM as this organization does, http://www.womanstats.org/index.htm

You can are part of something bigger, something powerful, and something positive!


Stylish STEM goes Digital

Hello World,
Stylish Stem now has a Facebook page! Feel free to check it out, like it, add ideas, etc :) Hopefully it will be another way to reach people, facilitate resources, and provide a safe space for girls and guy allies to talk about STEM, space, diversity, global community, shoes, shuttles, or whatever we wish :) 

What's in a Face? Lots of STEM!

What's in a face? How about this face?  

Press Play
From Youtube

This famous face is just a mask, yet it is a powerful reminder of the power that our knowledge and beliefs have on us. For your life, you have a particular exposure to faces. This visual input shapes your knowledge and expectations over time to the point that, even in the face of contrary physical stimuli, you will see what you expect, you will see what you have grown to understand as normal. In this case, the visual system does not see inverted faces, and in the presence of one, reverts to its knowledge of faces with their noses pushed out. Pretty amazing huh?! What's More amazing is that by understanding the visual system we can predict how people will respond to each other, how to increase teamwork, how to make better movies, and more!

Vision science is so fun!
Check out this link if you want to explore it more (it is one of my favorite sites!) http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bigeye.html

Here's a fun little video parody on being a vision science student in graduate school. 
Video from Youtube


If you have any questions about vision science, let me know! (You can e-mail or put it in the comments).




Wednesday, May 1, 2013

STEM at the White House

Hello World!
STEM is important. How important? So important that the President of the United States is talking about it! What does he have to say? He says "One of the things that I really strongly believe in is that we need to have more girls interested in math, science, and engineering. We’ve got half the population that is way underrepresented in those fields and that means that we’ve got a whole bunch of talent … not being encouraged the way they need to." (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/03/28/students-speak-power-stem).

Picture from Huffington Post Article

The article also states "the Obama Administration is acting to achieve two ambitious goals: adding one million more STEM graduates in the next decade, and preparing 100 thousand excellent STEM teachers to give students the skills they need to thrive" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/03/28/students-speak-power-stem). The students all noted how cool STEM was too, you can read about them or watch the video in the link above, or check out what one of the students had to say about her experience there at this link http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zainab-oni/stem-project-white-house_b_3157308.html

Image from Huffington Post Article

Maybe next year it will be you! 

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

STEM can unleash the power of positive social change around the world and in your backyard

Hello World,
Did you know that STEM isn't just about math and science? It is about creating and utilizing tools and technology to spark positive social change! It has that power! Take for example Hollaback, (http://www.ihollaback.org/) this is a non profit and a movement co-founded by Emily May. It uses Math to determine that 70-99% of women experience harassment while walking on the street.It uses Technology to provide a means for on-line collective storytelling, to raise awareness, and more. It uses Science to determine that women benefit from the opportunity to share these stories, learn that they are not alone, and that this fuels them into a collective voice for positive social change!
Image from Take Back the Tech

Take Back the Tech is another program that relies on STEM. This program is information technology based and motivates a global network of women to work together to ensure safe on-line spaces for women and girls. When someone asks, what did you do for work or at school today? You can say- I made the world safer! I brought awareness to my community! I made a difference in the life of another! All thanks to STEM. 
So what positive social change do you want to start? What STEM areas do you need to learn to do it? 
I want everyone to feel free to learn and love science! So that's why I blog (figuring it out as I go). 
What will you do? I can't wait to see :)

Image from Take Back the Tech


Monday, April 29, 2013

Mathtastic!

Hello World!
Today I bring you, math music! Yes, you heard me right. Whether you prefer the beat of rap or the energy of techno dance music- these teachers are taking math to a whole new level! This teacher, by the name of 2 Pi, raps his way through the quadratic formula and more.



This link will take you to his very inspiring history and also features a smooth R&B version of the Pythagorean theorem http://www.npr.org/2013/01/08/167471106/2-pi-rhymes-and-radii
While this link will take you to a fun math rap video http://uk.news.yahoo.com/jake-scott-math-rap--teacher-raps-maths-lessons-at-montgomery-blair-high-school-151749865.html#Fm09Vcl

Techno more your style? Prefer a little Pit Bull? Try this teacher! http://www.today.mccombs.utexas.edu/2012/11/rapping-math-teacher-mark-rogers

Think rapping is only for guys? This teacher won an award for her math raps
http://www.hpe.com/news/x383677894/Rapping-math-teacher-wins-rookie-of-the-year
and these girls had fun with a math parody of Bruno Mars 




What would you rap or rhyme to? I was thinking about the math I use, my math rap would look something like this:


Vector math, it really is great
Multiply columns of 3, 5, or 8
Little x, y, and z
They all come to me
I add them up in each column
No need to be solemn
Big X, Y, and Z
They all come to me
These multiplied columns of 3, 5, or 8
Vector math, it is First Rate!

:) 

OK so I am not a rap star, but it was sure fun! I encourage you to try your own math song, or have a math rap meet. Remember, math is fly and that's no lie! Please share your math or STEM song, I'd love to hear it!

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Starry Starry Night, Starry Starry Nails

Hello World!
The night sky is a beautiful and mysterious thing, filled with shiny sparkly stars, planets, and the key to our place in the universe. I hope you have the chance to look up at the stars tonight, because tonight is special, Saturn will be at optimal viewing! Even if you can't check out Saturn tonight, I encourage you to check out your local planetarium to use their telescope and facilities. Not sure where the closest planetarium is? Use this handy resource to find one, wherever you are in the universe!
 
Image from I love science facebook post
 
After you are done checking out the stars, you can take them with you everywhere you go! With these super fabulous nails! I just LOVE these nails, and the Milky Way galaxy, because it is home to our planet Earth, and it is pretty.
 
Picture from The Upper Cut Salon Blog
 
There are still many mysteries to be solved in our galaxy (not so far away). The best part is that YOU can help solve them! Right now! If you like "where's waldo" type activities, want to learn new skills,  boost your resume, or contribute to society, or stargaze during the day- go to http://www.milkywayproject.org/ and become a volunteer! Or at least check out their amazing images.
 
If you'd rather Read about the galaxy, check out astrophysicist and writer Janna Levin's website and books http://www.jannalevin.com/index.htm. You can check out her books, podcasts, theories and more!
Image from Janna Levin website
 
Remember, you are a star, setting your own desitiny, as they say, if you shoot for the moon and fail, at least you'll end up amongst the stars! Sounds good to me :)