Midterm Ideas
1. Racism and minorities’ experience in the scientific community over time
How has the scientific communities’ acceptance of minorities changed in the past century and how do these divisions play a role in the progress of science? I would explain that although we have made great progress in the past century in terms of being accepting of other races, we still have a great way to go until complete equality. I would also explain how minorities have made many contributions to science and if we allow them the same experiences as the white scientists, we may have more great findings from the minorities and a greater scientific community. I would use the Hidden Figures movie, as well as the article about the film being white washed. I would also use the Okun article to discuss the white supremacy culture we have in many industries in the US. I would give examples from these readings and the movie to explain what the minority groups have done for science as well as pulling from other sources outside as well. Additionally I would explain how these minority groups have made progress over time to get more respect for their work but how the white supremacy culture in the US has held many of them back from their full potential.
2. Females and what roles they can play in the scientific community
How has the role of women in science changed over time, what figures helped promote this change and how? I would use many of the women that we have used in class so far and discuss their contributions to science and how that has paved the way for other women in science in the future. I would also find other women that we have not discussed in class to add to these arguments. I would use the Hidden Figures movie, the readings on Sally Ride, as well as the material on Marie Curie. I would explain how each of these women were innovative for women in science and made large contributions to the community. I would also explain how this has allowed for other women after them to contribute to the scientific community as well.
3. The organization of the scientific community and white supremacy culture
How is the way the science community is organized characterized by white supremacy culture and power struggle? I would use examples from the reading to explain how there are systems in place, especially in the physics community that play into white supremacy characteristics and enforcing students and those lower than you to do all the dirty work. I would use the Traweek readings as well as the Okun readings mainly to answer these questions. Some evidence I would use would be how the system is organized as a hierarchy, which in some ways is good for an organization, but I would use examples of how this organization can be toxic when people are power hungry and abuse their status over their inferiors.
