Why Black Women Don't Choose STEM Fields with Raven the Science Maven. E45

The Research Her

We often ask those who are in STEM why they chose their field, but we don't ask why people didn't choose STEM. Research often focuses on understanding younger people's decisions related to STEM. Adults are often left out of the conversation. Raven Baxter decided that she would probe this idea during her PhD studies.

Black women rarely see themselves represented as scientists in the media. Raven the Science Maven showed women her video "Big Ole Geeks" and got their response. She wanted to know whether Black women would have been more likely to choose STEM and feel more represented. In this episode, we learn about this study. We also talk about why twerking is important for Black women.

Raven got pursued two PhD programs at the University of Buffalo. We discuss how Raven decided to go from studying Cellular and Molecular Biology to working on a PhD in Science Communication. During her time working in an industry laboratory, she was faced with racial charges, which really inspired her to find the perfect research environment for her. She speaks about her accomplishments as a STEM-themed music creator.

More about Raven

Raven Baxter is a nationally acclaimed science communicator and molecular biologist who works to progress the state of science culture by creating spaces that are fun, educational, and real. She is recognized as a global influencer in Fortune Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list for 2020.

She is known for her unique style of combining science, music, and cultural awareness as an entertaining content creator and musician as Raven the Science Maven. She creates STEM-themed music that teaches and empowers both students and professionals in STEM and beyond. Raven speaks internationally to students, educators and leaders about the importance of STEM diversity and innovation in science education.

Raven is the founder of STEMbassy, a science advocacy organization that embraces a diverse and accomplished membership of scientists, engineers, and tech professionals that serve the next generation of STEM as leaders and mentors. She is also the founder of BlackInSciComm, an organization that works to build relationships in the science community, equipping others with the knowledge and resources necessary to share science with the world in their own flavor.

Connect with her:

Instagram: @raventhesciencemaven

Twitter: @ravenscimaven

Facebook: @raventhesciencemaven

Website: scimaven.com

Connect with me:

Website: TheResearchHer.com

TikTok: @TheResearchHer

Instagram: @TheResearchHer

Twitter: @TheResearchHer

Facebook: @TheResearchHer