iTech Post headed over to SpotOn NYC on Thursday April 25 to check out the science conference's monthly discussion, this one titled "SpotOn NYC's 2nd birthday - celebrating with a social media slant!"
SpotOn hosts discussions on how science outreach can take place over the internet and Thursday's discussion centered around certain science outreach projects that involve social media. One presenter that particularly caught our eye was freelance science journalist Allie Wilkinson, who presented her Tumblr site "This Is What A Scientist Looks Like."
"This Is What A Scientist Looks Like" asks scientists to submit their name, a photo, the field of science they work in and any relevant links to the site. Relevant submissions are then posted on the Tumblr site showcasing various scientists as they appear in everyday life. As the website states, the goal of the site is "to challenge the stereotypical perception of a scientist."
We felt compelled to ask Wilkinson a few questions about the site, and are posting the interview here for you to take a look at. You can check out "This Is What A Scientist Looks Like" or make your own submission by going here.
iTech Post: What inspired you to start "This Is What A Scientist Looks Like"?
Allie Wilkinson: I started the site as a response to the negative reaction that several ScienceOnline 2012 attendees had regarding the keynote speaker, Mireya Mayor. The presentation highlighted Mayor's career path from NFL cheerleader to National Geographic primatologist, as well as some of her struggles along the way. It was an abridged version of her book, Pink Boots and a Machete , which I was reading at the time. I was familiar with the career-long response people have had towards her--judging her for her looks and not taking her seriously, a response that was echoed in a blog post by one conference attendee. One line of the post stood out in particular, describing Mayor as "the person who did not look like a scientist." That really struck a chord with me. I thought, well how is a scientist supposed to look anyway? I knew that there wasn't one single look to being a scientist, so I decided to create a site to show the diversity of scientists.
iTech Post: Why did you choose Tumblr as the platform for TIWASLL?
AW: I was originally deciding between Wordpress and Tumblr. Wordpress was familiar, since I had run my blog on the platform for many years but I also recognized that Tumblr was a popular microblogging platform that worked well for visual content and short posts--exactly what I had in mind for This Is What A Scientist Looks Like. What really pushed me over the edge towards using Tumblr was finding out that there was a submissions feature. Instead of collecting photos via email and having to upload them to the site individually, I could have scientists submit directly to the Tumblr. It streamlined the process for me.
iTech Post: How long has the project been up? What, if any, is your current business model? Do you generate profit or do you do this for free? If for free or at cost, does your commitment to the project pose a challenge?
AW: The project has been running since January 2012. I don't get paid to work on it, which at times is challenging. I only have so much time I can allocate to unpaid work, so that limits my plans for growing the site.
iTech Post: Where do you see the project going/ do you have any goals for the future?
AW: I plan to keep the project going for as long as I receive submissions. In the future, I would like to expand the project to include new features, such as videos and Google Hangouts. I'm currently working on a pilot for a video series to complement the site.
iTech Post: What are some of the favorite pictures you've received?
AW: Some of my favorites include the entomologist with a beetle on his face, the glaciologist down a crevasse and the skydiving theoretical physicist. I think they capture the fun that scientists can have at work, the interesting places science can take you, and the unexpected lives of scientists.
iTech Post: What is your favorite part about the project?
AW: I love the sense of community. So many scientists have submitted from all around the world; it's great to see so many people participating in the project. It's also interesting to see what photos and blurbs they send in--what they want to represent about themselves to help dispel the stereotype.
