Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #LGBTinSTEM
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Dear Twitter Scientists, I am a high school biology teacher in southern Wisconsin and I work in a school with a high percentage of students that fall near or below the poverty line. In addition, my classes are diverse.
This year, I am making a strong effort to help my students identify themselves in other scientists this year. Though I can teach my students how to be critical thinkers, I realize not all students will recognize themselves in me. (2/5)
However, I don't want that to get in the way of engaging students in biology. So, I am looking for people of all backgrounds across the world who are willing to be those potential "role models" for my students. I want them to be able to see themselves in someone. (3/5)
Also I've been editing a ton of NSF GRFP statements this cycle. I could (should) probably write an entire series re some common writing pitfalls I see but for now I want to share just one thing I've noticed recently: language that disempowers you as an applicant
1/n
1/n
❌ "This allowed me to explore xyz"
✅ "I explored xyz"
❌ "I was being trained as"
✅ "I trained in"
❌ "I was able to conduct"
✅ "I conducted"
❌ "I was able to determine"
✅ "I determined"
❌ "The xyz courses available to me"
✅ "I took courses in xyz"
✅ "I explored xyz"
❌ "I was being trained as"
✅ "I trained in"
❌ "I was able to conduct"
✅ "I conducted"
❌ "I was able to determine"
✅ "I determined"
❌ "The xyz courses available to me"
✅ "I took courses in xyz"
Keep it declarative. Simple. Active. Don't undercut your own accomplishments. Don't sell yourself short. Don't narrate as a passive trainee. Own your story as a scientist. As a professional.
This is not bragging. This is not arrogance. It's owning your actions & accomplishments
This is not bragging. This is not arrogance. It's owning your actions & accomplishments
One of the LGBTQ activists profiled in this piece is Frank Kameny, an astronomer who cofounded the Mattachine Society of Washington after he was fired from his US government job on the grounds of "sexual perversion" #PrideMonth2019 #LGBTinSTEM
Among many other efforts, Kameny (1925–2011) led a successful push to remove homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s Manual of Mental Disorders nytimes.com/2011/10/13/us/…
He received his PhD from Harvard in 1956. His thesis, on variable stars, was supervised by Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin aas.org/obituaries/fra…
Just launched, the @OpticalSociety & @SPIEtweets Professional Conduct @WomenInResIE joint report on Assessing and Addressing The Level of Harassment at Scientific Meetings #STEM #womeninstem #womeninoptics #scicomm #optics #photonics spie.org/about-spie/adv… 
Some interesting stats, which are not very surprising "over 9% of respondents say they experienced harassment at meetings or events hosted by the scientific societies. Of those who experienced harassment, 63% were women." #womeninstem #womeninoptics #LGBTinSTEM #optics #photonics
I've just had a quick read but the thing that struck me most, more than the stats was the personal stories in Appendix I - sadly these are stories I've heard from friends & colleagues who have attended scientific meetings & conferences. #womeninSTEM #womeninoptics #LGBTinSTEM
