In the news.”Science’s Rah-Rah Gal:
Philly’s Darlene Cavalier Cheers for Discovery”

“A former 76ers cheerleader has taken up the cause for promoting science education among adults, and she is turning the old beauty vs. brains debate into a full-blown marketing campaign.”

That’s the lead-in to a recent feature article in Keystone Edge, a newspaper that “tells the story of the new economy in Pennsylvania–a narrative of creative people and businesses, new development, cool places to live, and the best places to work and play.  Each Thursday, the Web site and weekly online magazine presents original stories, video and photography to tell that story, from Pittsburgh to Philly.” This past Thursday, Science Cheerleader was featured.

Here’s the article, as reported by Rory Sweeney.

Do you know why cell phones work? Probably didn’t care either, which makes sense. People want things that simplify tasks without having to know how or why they work. It’s intrinsically what separates good products from bad ones.

But just because you don’t know exactly how you’re able to read this or why some fats are beneficial when others aren’t shouldn’t mean you stop wondering about all of the world’s why’s?.

Darlene Cavalier has hope for you.

Though she didn’t create the idea, she’s accepted her identity as the “Science Cheerleader” and taken to it, leading the crusade to bring science back to the masses and make analytical thought as routine as starting the car in the morning.

“There aren’t a lot of opportunities for people to weigh in on things, not at a federal level,” says Cavalier, who’s an advisor for business development at Discover magazine. “I felt like I had more to contribute to conversations, but I didn’t know what it was.”

So, in April, 2008, the Philadelphia resident started a website–the idea for the title came from another parent at her children’s school who has a marketing background.[Note from Darlene: "He" is Steve Grasse, CEO of mega ad agency, Quaker City Mercantile. ] He became interested in her desire to democratize science and quizzed her about herself to help develop a niche. When he stumbled across her somewhat-hidden past life as a cheerleader, he knew he’d found it.

“I kept it a secret. They’re two totally different worlds,” says the one-time pom-pon shaker for both Temple University and the Philadelaphia 76ers basketball team. “I was already dealing with stereotypes because I looked a little different than some other people who worked at Discover.”

Read: Hot vs. not so much. But almost more important was the vague stigma she feared her cheering past would create, as if she had been too frivolous then to be taken seriously now. “I know for myself, I really, really wanted to prove myself professionally,” she says.

But then add a few drinks at an office party and a chance run-in with an old teammate, and Cavalier was outed, showing off lifts and dance routines she had locked away years ago. Luckily, the office brass didn’t flinch. “They thought it was cool because I had already proved myself at Discover,” she says.

Proving she belonged was important to Cavalier because her bona fides were somewhat suspect. Her collegiate years probably appeared to be spent studying “mixology” and cheerleading, she admits, and aside from a temporary job stuffing envelopes, her first paying gig after school was on the 76ers dance team, from the 1991-92 through the 1993-94 seasons.

While traveling with the team and dancing for thousands of fans every night was fun, Cavalier knew it was a short-term assignment. As it turned out, it was the temp position that landed her not only permanent work, but her calling. She was stuffing envelopes for scientists applying for awards from Discover, which forced Cavalier to interact with them. Invariably, their conversations gravitated toward explanations of the scientists’ work, and Cavalier became convinced that other regular people could be interested in this science-y stuff if they had the same level of interaction.

Fast forward: Cavalier is hired full-time by Discover when it’s purchased by the Walt Disney Co. and she goes to graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania to study public interaction with science. One of her main research topics is why the federal Office of Technology Assessment failed miserably–so miserably, in fact, that most people didn’t even know it existed before it was defunded by Congress in 1995.

By the time she graduates in 2005, she has her answer: “Part of studying the OTA was studying the criticisms,” she says. “Part of the reason people feel it was shot down is it had no public support. I was hoping somebody was pushing for a 21st-century OTA.”

When she found no one, she became that somebody. While her Web site began as a forum to discuss science issues and raise interest among her friends, it quickly morphed into a convention-breaking beast with three goals: increase adult science literacy, enhance citizen involvement in research and reopen a public-friendly OTA.

To increase literacy, Cavalier approached George Mason University physics professor (and author of various books on adult science education) James Trefil, who helped design a “brain makeover”–18 important science principles, whose descriptions are made easier to digest with a little help from the current 76ers dance team, followed by a 26-question test on what’s really important in the world.

The ladies don’t say much. Sample line: “No. 6, Atoms are bound by electron glue,” says blonde Melanie in a subtle but spot-on Philadelphia drawl–but the eye candy is just the spoonful of sugar.

“If we want to move the needle on these issues, we need to be real and realize what motivates people,” Cavalier says.

Does that have to mean selling sex, an idea implicit in using beautiful cheerleaders? “I’m happy to get the lowest common denominator, but I don’t aim for them,” she says.

Rest assured, Cavalier is aware of the incongruity between cheerleading and scientific endeavors–her 11-year-old daughter already “automatically thinks: science equals geek.” The stereotype clash of all-bimbo-no-brain vs. all-science-no-fun is one she plays with on the site. “With Science Cheerleader, it’s like making fun of myself–that Legally Blonde” idea, she says.

But make no mistake; she didn’t start out so self aware. Her early life was firmly entrenched in the carefree, mentally unencumbered world of cheer and all it entails. “I never knew what an engineer was until I went to college,” she says. “I thought it was a train conductor.”

So she pulls from that to engage her audience. They probably got turned off in high school, she reasons, perhaps because they were bored, or maybe just interested but terrified. Either way, her goal is to rekindle that flame.

“I’m saying it is not too late; why do I have to wait for my kids to change the world if I could be weighing in right now if I had access to the right information,” she says. “There are a lot of me out there, I think.”

Must be. The videos have received at least 10,000 views, and she’s making inroads with the Philadelphia Eagles, getting former defensive standout Hugh Douglas to star in a few videos.

The site also boasts a search engine of real science research projects in which regular people can participate, as well as Cavalier’s research into townhall-style science forums in Denmark that she believes could be the model for the improved OTA.

There is criticism, she acknowledges: “mostly feminists,” but also scientists. “To be honest with you, I think there’s jealously. I think they missed the bigger point,” she says. “There is an element of territorialism: ‘Let us have this.’ The point isn’t to take away.” But she admits that it could simply be her perspective: “Maybe if I were on the other side, I would agree.”

Still, she doesn’t regret being a lightning rod for the changing culture of science.

“You can break these two stereotypes; you can blend these two worlds,” she says. “This is just a personal endeavor, and I think that makes it more legit and trustworthy for people because I’m not getting anything out of this. I don’t think I could have been doing what I’m doing now without everything leading up to it.”

Rory Sweeney writes on energy and the environment when he’s paid to and sits around talking about them when he’s not. Send feedback here.

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!

Hey guys: Thanks for cheering on the Science Cheerleader at a recent 76ers game! GOOOO Science!

I was a cheerleader for the Philadelphia 76ers NBA team during the 90-91, 91-92 and 92-93 seasons. First year was awesome. Easy to bust some moves in modest uniforms and hightops?! (left) when the entire stadium was cheering on the Atlantic Division champs (Barkley/Jordan era).  I was a senior in college at the time. Just a couple of years prior, I was a cheerleader for the incredible Temple Owls basketball team (ranked #1 in the nation for some weeks). Traveled everywhere. Sold out games, die-hard college fans and an entire city–craving any type of championship–behind us. Dated a football jock. Held a Beer Bong record. Very cliche. Life was good. But I digress.

After my first or second year with the 76ers, Barkley left, the team lost lots of games and despite a radical redo of our outfits (looking more like today’s dance team, above), the fans turned sour. I figured that as long as I could still scalp my free tix, all was not lost. Everyone else, it seemed, had given up on the 76ers during what was called the Dark Ages.

What’s this have to do with science? Glad you asked.  I never gave up on the team. In a few short years, they found The Answer in Allen Iverson. See, I had faith in the 76ers like I have faith in YOU. Stay with me.

USA Today ran an article “Are we science-savvy enough to make informed decisions?” that included the results of a Harris Interactive Survey showing that only 26 percent believe that they themselves have a good understanding of science.  And, 70 percent believe that the United States is no longer the leader in science achievement.

Not to worry. We’ve taken the first step here by admitting we have a problem when it comes to understanding science. Test your science skills, see how you measure up, and learn a few critical science facts in the process. USA Today posted this short quiz.

Next step: we’ll work with the renown science literacy expert Dr. James Trefil who created a formula for success. Together, we’ll learn the basics: the framework of science, or “spiderweb” approach as Trefil calls it. (I interviewed Dr. Trefil several weeks ago then got a little side tracked with ScienceDebate2008 activities and, um, the beach.)

Why? Another great question! The point of the USAToday article is this: If 3rd graders can outscore us on science tests, we have no business weighing in on policy issues. Stem cell research, energy resources, modified foods, nuclear plants, cancer research, space exploration, defense spending, etc. They all require a very basic level of science literacy. We’re not talking rocket science here. Fairly simple stuff likely taught to you in the driest possible manner years ago. And a crash course on what is NOT science (like, astrology!).

The Science Cheerleader is working to open doors so we can start having a say in major science policy issues. See here and here. For decades, calls to include the public in science policy decisions have been wasted on some elitist scientists and some lazy policy makers. Typical response from them goes something like this: [Full belly laugh. Wipe away tears of laughter. Another uncontrollable fit of laughter.] “Oh, Lordy, that was a good one! My Jimmy-the-Greek bobble head knows more about science than the public!”

If the best defense is a good offense then we should remove our “Stupid American” label now.

A variety of factors are converging to form the perfect storm for us. Scientists and policy makers are warming to the idea of inclusivity. The public is starting to take science by the horns in the form of “citizen scientists.” We can make history. It’s going to happen but it can only happen if we step up and get a better handle on some key science facts. Start with the short science quiz. Remind your girlfriends that astrology should not be considered as science. Keep your questions coming. And, I’ll be back soon with Dr. Trefil.

PS: At the very least, you will seem smarter than your friends at the conclusion of our social network science experience.