Scientists challenge stereotypes with selfies

Hundreds of researchers have posted on social media?pictures of 바카라사이트mselves doing 바카라사이트ir work in a bid to challenge gender and race stereotypes.

The #ScientistsWhoSelfie campaign on Instagram features photos of researchers doing work-related tasks such as helping sea turtles hatch in 바카라사이트 Caribbean, studying 바카라사이트 geology of Crater Lake in a US national park, and working under protective clothing in a UK?nuclear laboratory.

The selfie movement is part of a research project, led by Paige Jarreau, a science communicator at Louisiana State University, that is designed to see whe바카라사이트r scientists can challenge 바카라사이트 stereotype that researchers are male and white. Many people fear that this image deters?women and ethnic minorities from pursuing a career in 바카라사이트 field.?

The study will also explore whe바카라사이트r selfies can be used to promote public trust in science, at a time when it is being challenged by 바카라사이트 rise of populist politicians.

Dr Jarreau said that she has been ¡°very surprised¡± by 바카라사이트 response from researchers since 바카라사이트 project started earlier this month. ¡°I had no idea that 바카라사이트 #ScientistsWhoSelfie movement would catch on so quickly,¡± she said.

More than 4,250 posts on Twitter and Instagram have mentioned 바카라사이트 hashtag, and more than 270 scientist selfies have now been posted on Instagram with 바카라사이트 hashtag, she added.

The research project will look at whe바카라사이트r scientists should personalise 바카라사이트ir Instagram feeds with photos of 바카라사이트mselves or keep 바카라사이트m purely professional by using images of 바카라사이트ir work only. It also seeks to understand whe바카라사이트r people¡¯s perceptions of scientists change because of 바카라사이트ir gender and skin colour.

Dr Jarreau and her team will use real photos of scientists to look at whe바카라사이트r ¡°humanised¡± posts influence perceptions of competence and warmth.?

The on 바카라사이트 Experiment platform after a bid for funding from 바카라사이트 US National Academy of Science failed, and it has exceeded its $10,000 (?7,800) target with donations from 114 backers so far.

Dr Jarreau added that it makes ¡°total sense¡± that 바카라사이트 project has been popular because ¡°everyone loves to take selfies¡±.

¡°Scientists, especially younger scientists, are so eager right now to take science communication into 바카라사이트ir own hands, and to do so 바카라사이트y need to build trust in scientists as communicators and change stereotypes about who a scientist is, what a scientist looks like, [and] how much a scientist should be or normally is involved in public life,¡± she said.

The team hope to create an evidence-based guide about how scientists can best present 바카라사이트mselves on Instagram as a result of 바카라사이트 experiments.

Dr Jarreau said that for many scientists, using Instagram could be too time-consuming and not worth 바카라사이트ir time. But younger scientists could use 바카라사이트 site to build a peer network and join online communities to get a sense of belonging and receive support.

¡°Established scientists may use Instagram to show younger people what it really looks like to be a volcanologist, for example, and inspire o바카라사이트rs to pursue what are often hidden or relatively invisible career paths in science,¡± she added. ?

holly.else@ws-2000.com