step-up project

Women scientists around the world have been sharing pictures of themselves with their scientific equipment in response to a leading astronomer's assertion that many scientists are "boys with toys." In 48 hours, BBC reports, nearly 17,000 tweets have been published with the hashtag showing women scientists from a broad range of fields with equipment ranging from space telescopes, mass spectrometers, dark matter detectors, and more!

The Twitter campaign began on Saturday after CalTech professor Shrinivas Kulkarni said in an NPR interview that "Many scientists, I think, secretly are what I call 'boys with toys.'" As Julie Zeilinger wrote on Mic, "Kulkarni may have intended to counter the false assumption that science can't be fun, but in referring to these scientists as 'boys' he erased an already marginalized population of the field: Women." On The Verge, Lizzie Plaugic added “defaulting to a certain gender (usually male) when referencing a diverse group of people is not only dated and closed-minded, it also doesn't make sense — and many people don't even think twice about it.”

The photos, in addition to providing a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day work of science, are sending the important message to both scientists and the general public that science is for everyone. To view the photos on Twitter or post your own, visit http://bit.ly/1dfSKLD

If you or your Mighty Girl is a scientist or aspiring scientist, please share your photos or tell us about your favorite scientific toy in the comments below.

For an excellent new book about 52 women who made major contributions to science, check out Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science -- And The World," for ages 13 and up at http://www.amightygirl.com/headstrong-52-women

To inspire children and teens with the stories of more real-life female scientists, visit our "Science & Technology" book section at http://www.amightygirl.com/books/general-interest/science-technology

For posters of famous women scientists that are perfect for kids' rooms or classrooms, visit our "History" posters collection at http://www.amightygirl.com/toys/kids-gear/art-decor?cat=703

And, if you'd like to encourage your own budding scientist, check out the recommendations in our blog post, “Science At Play: Top 20 Science Toys for Mighty Girls” at http://www.amightygirl.com/blog/?p=7692

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