Merced City School District opened a new STEAM Center earlier this year, a space for TK-8 students to experience 21st century, hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Professionals working at University of California, Merced, have been volunteering at the STEAM Center to share their work and life stories, and to help students develop their own projects.

On October 18, graduate student and soil scientist Kimber Moreland attended Ask A Scientist or Engineer Night, when students have a chance to interact with professionals and develop their own science project. These elementary and middle school students will present their work at school science fairs later this school year, including at district- and county-wide showcases. Moreland described helping these young students as a new and rewarding experience for her. "I learned how to facilitate learning for this and not just give them my answer," she said. "I feel like it is meaningful work to be with kids who do not get to be around scientists."

UC Merced professor and SSCZO co-investigator Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe similarly feels that it is important to be engaging with students. She gave a presentation to a group of nearly 100 sixth graders on September 27, talking about what it is like to be a scientist, what it means to be a professor, and soils and climate change. Berhe said, "I think every kid should have a chance to cultivate their creativity and imagine themselves in our careers, for them to know what it is like to lead a life dedicated to the endeavor of knowledge development and dissemination." She also wants students to walk away with greater understanding and appreciation of how the scientific process works. "...[S]ome segment of society is not aware of how we make scientific decisions and arrive at conclusions form our research. Hence, I strive to explain the scientific process, the value of education, and love of knowledge."

Later in October, SSCZO Outreach Manager Michelle Gilmore discussed how she decided to pursue geology; the field, laboratory, and computer work involved in geologic research; the importance of geology in everyday life; and her hobbies. "I emphasized science and my passion for it, but I also wanted them to know that I am a person. I enjoy playing outside, family time, and silly pictures of cats probably as much as they do." Several students commented after her presentation that they didn't know there were scientists who spend time outdoors for work. "Most scientists aren't in lab coats all day," said Gilmore. "I hope that meeting scientists in different disciplines helps these children see the range of work we do, work they could do someday."

For these scientists, opening young students' eyes to different types of STEAM careers is only part of the motivation for volunteering at events like these. Shedding light on the diversity of the people in STEAM careers is also a major goal. Earth, space, and environmental science fields are noted for lacking diversity in workforce and college programs, by both gender and race and ethnicity. But even at younger ages, research shows that students' and parents' perceptions of science careers can reduce middle school girls' interest in science. Recent projects have shed light on barriers to career success for women and also worked to increase retention of underrepresented minorities in geoscience. 

Moreland said that the volunteers at the Ask A Scientist or Engineer Night were "all women of varying ages and ethnicities." "I felt like my presence shows... younger people that there are people who look like them that do this, so maybe they can too."

Berhe emphasized, "[Girls] need to see that moms can be scientists and scientists can be moms."

Public misconceptions about science and scientists - who they are, what they do, and their motives and goals - has prompted popularity of a hashtag on social media: #actuallivingscientist. All three researchers agree that it is important for everyone to meet and get to know an actual living scientist, and that scientists need to reach out to the public and their local communities to make that happen.

STEAM professionals from UC Merced will continue visiting the STEAM Center. SSCZO Field Manager Erin Stacy will be presenting about her work in the spring semester, and Moreland and Gilmore also plan to continue volunteering.

Written by Michelle Gilmore