Science Cheerleader

In our ongoing effort to playfully challenge stereotypes by showcasing professional cheerleaders-turned-scientists, I’d like to introduce you to Ginger, a former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader with a Masters Degree in Nursing.

SciCheer: Ginger, please tell us what turned you on to science.

Ginger: I entered Purdue University studying nursing because I wanted to work with–and help–people. After a year there, I decided  I wanted to go to medical school, so I moved back to Kansas City to go to KU for my pre-med requirements but decided to switch back to nursing.  I guess I just felt like the human aspect was sometimes missing from some of the doctor training programs.  I earned my Bachelor’s in Nursing and started working in an emergency room.  After a couple of years of this, I decided to go back to school and get my Master’s in Nursing.  I became a Nurse Practitioner so now I  diagnose, treat, prescribe, and do all sorts of procedures.  It is like the best of both worlds!  I love my job — I have autonomy to make decisions and treat patients, and I have the nursing background and caring touch that goes with it!

SciCheer: Do you find that your looks (or being a former cheerleader) helped or hindered your studies or professional experiences? (Were you taken seriously?) (more…)

Hot diggity-DOG! After years in the making, my partner, Michael Gold, and I–with generous support from Science House–have officially unveiled the beta version (that means this is still a work-in-progress) of ScienceForCitizens.net . Science journalist, Carl Zimmer, who frequently writes for Discover and Time Magazine, said “It’s like Amazon.com for all sorts of possibilities for doing cool citizen science”. We’ll take that!

We’re seeking your feedback on ways we can make the site a phenomenal resource for all who use it. And, consider registering as a new member you can can explore the many citizen science projects out there, add your own project, create a personalized blog, or just meet up online with folks who share your interests.

I had the opportunity to unveil the site during the increasingly popular Science Online 2010 conference in Durham, N.C., this past weekend where I was invited to speak about citizen science, adult science literacy, and science in the media to a captive audience of science writers and bloggers. [I think my family and local friends were relieved to finally catch a break from me yapping about these topics every chance I get. Break's over folks, sorry ]

Here’s more about the Citizen Science session and the launch of ScienceForCitizens.net . Soon, I’ll post a report here on some of the most interesting issues sifted from some of the other sessions at Science Online 2010,  including: Adult Science Literacy, Science in the Media, Blogging 102, and more. For now, here’s a picture taken at the conference, of me (left) with uber science communicators: Dr. Kiki Sanford, Rebecca Skloot, and Joanne Manaster.

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. (more…)

From Dr. John. You may not know it, but you have a celebrity double. Everyone does. It’s not something you can control or influence. It doesn’t matter if you agree. Your celebrity double may not be particularly famous, the same gender as you, or even a human, but your double is out there, doing whatever it is that celebrity doubles do, just waiting to be identified.

Sadly (or perhaps quite impressively?), I seem to have an unprecedented ability to identify these synergies. Take a look at my personal archive for evidence. Now, I don’t make the rules or create the parings. Your celebrity doubles are mandated by a being far more powerful than me. My role is to simply point out the truth through conveniently positioned thumbnails like the ones below.

Coincidentally, my science and engineering friends have provided a wonderful array of case studies for celebrity doubles both real and imaginary: a) Jackie, ocean conservationist, and actress Christina Ricci, b) Uday, a neuroscientist, and New Orleans Governor Bobby Jindal, c) Brian, neuroscientist and Shrek, and d) Brandon, a computer engineer, and Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps. Celebrity doubles, like scientists and non-scientists, come in all shapes and sizes. And sometimes it clearly takes a little creativity to make them apparent.

But, even I’m having a bit of hard time coming up with a celebrity double for our very own Science Cheerleader. Surely, Shrek won’t make the cut this time, but there must be someone (or something) out there to do her justice.

It’s a classic case of Celebrity Double Trouble, and I need your help! Any ideas? (Free T-shirt if we select your idea!)

Science Cheerleader in the news. Switzerland, Argentina, and now the U.K. (on DollyMix, where the Shiny Media girls “join forces to create the ultimate women’s superblog and magazine. Thought-candy for your ladybrains”.)

A very thoughtful person from Switzerland, Joanie, sent this newspaper article (about moi) to me this morning. It’s written in French so she translated it to English. (Thanks, Joanie!)

Hello Darlene,

I read this article in the newspaper yesterday. The paper is called “Le Matin Bleu”, it is published in the Western (French) part of Switzerland. As I found it interesting, I thought you’d like to have it so I have attached it to this email. I also made a translation for you, you’ll find it below. Go on with your ecology projects, I like them. Sincerely,  Joanie.

That takes the cake (idiom equivalent)
In Obama’s country a former cheerleader makes everyone go green.

COMMITMENT. In 1991, Darlene Cavalier hung up her pompoms; after many years in the spotlights with the Philadelphia Sixers, the young woman decides to go green (before its time). Logically, she starts biology studies, gets small jobs here and there, then creates a website, “The Science Cheerleader”, that aims at winning common people over to her passion: the environment. Score! In a country were only 7% of the people says being interested in science, the initiative is a straight success.

Today, the ex-cheerleader is the head of an army of green guys. Her website is getting more and more popular and lists a mass of ideas and projects useful for the earth and easy to apply!

Why hasn’t Obama nominated her as the Head of Energy? If she hasn’t obtained the Nobel Prize yet, you’ll certainly agree, she gives a sexier image to it!”
www.sciencecheerleader.com

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

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!

…then you will probably enjoy this interview I did for the ProCheerleading website. (My, my those women are in shape!)  http://nflcheerleader.blogspot.com/2008/10/darlene-cavalier-is-science-cheerleader.html

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!

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Find your candidates,
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