Science Cheerleader

Very exciting day here spurred by an article about Science Cheerleader’s efforts to increase adult science literacy in the Chronicle of Higher Education and today’s FOX News “headline news story” about our Brain Makeover! The traffic brought this site to its knees. Might still be slow at times.  Thanks for your patience and persistence. We should have it all fixed soon.
And, welcome, to all of our new subscribers!

Cheers,
Darlene

This morning, we officially unveil the Brain Makeover project in our quest to diminish the gap between science and society. (Check out George Mason University’s sweet announcement on their homepage.)

Watch the videos of the 76ers cheerleaders, read the accompanying descriptions by GMU’s Professor Trefil, then  take the quiz to see how you stack up against others when it comes to understanding how our universe works. Pass the quiz and you’ve scored yourself a very cheeky “I’m a science literate!” certificate.
Then, find out how you can apply your science knowledge and get involved in research projects and federal policy discussions.
Step one: give your brain a makeover. Get started!

It’s not an uncommon question, particularly after a speaking engagement when folks learn this site isn’t underwritten by a secret society of cheerleaders-turned-science advocates or sponsored by Final Net etc. The contributors and I do this because 1) we enjoy it and 2) it’s our personal passion to turn people on to science/engineering, get people involved in citizen science projects, and create novel opportunities for “average” people to weigh in on major sci/tech policy discussions.

We also have “day jobs”:  One of our writers has a PhD and works at the Department of Defense (Dr. Ohab also hosts Armed with Science). Nathan plays a key role in pushing engineering advancements out of the National Academies and into the public sphere. Stephen works at the Mind/Brain Institute at Johns Hopkins University while Sarah’s about to earn her PhD from UPenn in biochem and molecular biophysics (and she *just* got married!). Georgette, our newest addition, is a senior at UPenn majoring in Science, Technology and Society. We’ve yet to figure out what the skeptical cheerleader, Occam’s Razor, does all day besides daydream about cheerleaders and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last, but not least, is my “project X” partner, Michael, who is a journalist and partner of a firm that helps major science publications transition to the web.

From time to time, I write for Discover Magazine but I spend more time in my role as senior advisor building collaborations to bring science to the public. For example, Discover is wrapping up the first of a multi-year partnership with the National Science Foundation I direct. The NSF sponsors a 7-part series of Discover round tables examining grand challenges of science and engineering, hosted by various museums and universities throughout the country. You can read about them in the magazine and online and view videos here. The NSF and Discover have extended the partnership to include a 4-part series on Capitol Hill titled “The Road to the New Energy Economy” and we’re working with the professional engineering societies IEEE and ASME to make this happen. The first event (June 18) took a sharp look at the scientific, political and economic challenges and opportunities surrounding BioFuels. The next one, July 16, will examine Energy Storage and two more will follow in September and October. I’ll post details here later. These events are free and open to the public. (Contact Events@discovermagazine.com if you’re interested in attending.) If you’re not able to attend the Capitol Hill events, no worries! The (very cool) summaries can be viewed here.

Cheers!

Today, Discover Magazine features the Science Cheerleader’s efforts to open a Congressional Office to provide sound science policy advice to Congress…equally important is the new emphasis on public participation in federal science policy discussions. 
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/03/31/the-push-for-restarting-the-congressional-office-of-technology-assessment/

And here’s a related story from Science Progress:
http://www.scienceprogress.org/2009/03/restart-ota/

Harnessing the Power of Citizen Scientists Congress should bring back the OTA, but this time with a prominent role for the public, especially the burgeoning numbers of citizen scientists. By Darlene Cavalier

Fishing for Answers The old Office of Technology Assessment had answers to Pennsylvania’s shad problem today. That’s only one reason why efforts to revive the congressional office are gaining traction. By Darlene Cavalier

Aw, I’m blushing. See Penn and Teller and watch as the Science Cheerleader wins her court case against the Status Quo to bring science to the PEOPLE!

When you have a few minutes, check this out. I hope you enjoy it! (If this doesn’t play on your computer, try this link.)

(Many thanks to the talented folks at Gyro Worldwide, Inc. and Backseat Conceptions.)

Here’s how you can take action–it’s SO simple and important. Spread the word if the spirit moves you!

And, how would YOU reply to these questions? Leave a response, below, for thousands to read and react to. Let’s get these parties started!

Seven Questions for the Congressional Candidates: (plug in your zip code to pester your local candidates to answer the questions…and see how some have already answered)

Find your candidates,
ask where they stand.

Zip Code:

It’s Sunday, May 11th (Happy Mother’s Day!) and I am very excited because my opinion piece on the proposed presidential science debate (”Science Debate 2008“) was just published in the Philadelphia Inquirer and already picked up by the University of Pennsylvania’s Newsweek.com feed and the National Basketball Association’s newsfeed.

Here’s the published version. Posted in its entirety below.   Let me know what you think. I’d like your opinions on my opinions.  Cheers!

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Our time has come!

As a kid, perhaps you wanted to grow up and be a scientist…and baseball player, famous chef, president, or first [fill-in-the-blank] astronaut.

Then came middle school and the emergence of hormones/testosterone and stereotypical overtures reminding you that science is for geeky boys or socially dysfunctional girls. High school just ramped all of this up but at least in middle school you did some cool classroom science experiments.

Some science-loving adolescents (like the Science Cheerleader) weren’t swayed by any of this, but couldn’t afford college, started a family or chose other careers.

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