Thread by @iamscicomm

[Day5: Communicating the Dark Side of #Science]
Let's get to the nitty gritty, intersectional #STEM issues today.

What are your thoughts on #SciComm around the complex, messy, imperfect scientific process & the dark history of Science?

MUST READ Examples: dealing w/ Race & Racism in #Science.

@AngelaDSaini’s #Superior (& #Inferior on gender inequity)

@PhysAnth’s statement on Race & Racism thoughtfully written by an intersectional, diverse committee
physanth.org/about/position…

On #decolonizing your own #scicomm:

@Hood_Biologist Decolonize your #Science
decolonizeallthescience.com/about/

@emilyadawson #EquityExclusionEverydayScience book & ezine
emilydawson.org

@IBJIYONGI Decolonizing your rdg list
medium.com/@chanda/decolo…

What’s at risk for not THOUGHTFULLY trying #SciComm around the dark side of #science?

Perhaps we risk:
- alienating minorities whose bodies/minds have historically been exploited by privileged #scientists #academics
- prioritizing #scientists & ego over #scientificprocess

Great thread by my friend @TheArtRopeik synthesizing @murawski27’s post on how #museums can interrupt dominant white culture

👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

https://twitter.com/theartropeik/status/1134482736780103685?s=21

Q: What stories & scientific processes are we omitting (or ERASING) when we only talking aspirational #SciComm or only focus on the good, the clean, the finished #Science product?

[CASE STUDY] I curate The Symposium: @AcademicStandUp show & wkshps as an interdisciplinary anthology of academics & comics so I can learn, iterate, & test how to explore the messy #Academia & #Science thru laughter.

Listen to the #NastyWomen show here:
mixcloud.com/AcademicStandU…

Ever tried communicating the messy, dark side of #science through #SciComm, #SciArt, #outreach? Share your projects & what you learned in this thread.

Ex:
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks spotlighted ethics in research.
@whynotadoc tackles the #MinoritiesInSTEM intersection

TIPS on the #SciComm of the dark side of #Science

- include a representative/community voices in the planning & iteration stages
- all previous tips of failing hard, failing bravely apply
- JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULDN'T TRY (the excuses is tiring)

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
Communicating the dark side of #Science & #Academia is crucial b/c it doesn't just affect ppl consuming/receiving #SciComm or folks we're trying to entice into #STEM careers.

It also affects those who are currently doing the work & those who benefit from it.

It shouldn't have to take big moments like #MeTooSTEM or #AlessandroStrumia to discuss the impact of gender inequity in the process of #science.

It shouldn't need to be #PRIDEmonth or #BlackHistoryMonth to spotlight flaws, exploitation, erasure involved in scientific progress.

[CASE STUDY] You’re not necessarily going to like this one. Chuck it under VERY DARK #comedy. It hits the intersection of #ethics #MeTooSTEM & #MichaelJackson.

Written & performed by my comedian friend #CameronMcCall. And it def made the audience think.

For any opportunity holder (#SciComm granter/funder, hiring manager, teacher, producer): how are we complicit in perpetuating inequity in #STEM?

Let's create spaces, opportunities, stories that don't just give a "White Savior" perspective to #Science. There's value in the mess.

[CASE STUDY] We all get fed up every so often, especially when fighting for equity in #STEM & better representation in #SciComm. Like moving through stages of grief, how can we go from being fed up to eventually getting it right?

https://twitter.com/IBJIYONGI/status/1134233798600564736?s=19

I sadly have to turn off for the evening as I prepare to host 2 #sciencecomedy #ScienceFail events tonight @caveatnyc (@cfail2019 & @ScienceRiotInc).

But please continue to share your thoughts, experiences, & learnings and I'll RT it into 2morrow's conversation.