Category: Minority

The Uncertainties of Life

Jaqueline A. Picache: "One of my few regrets is not standing up for myself back then. Instead, I found other people to stand up for – specifically, the rare disease community through my research.  I advocated for the underdog because...

/ August 26, 2019

Open Heart Surgery: Let Me Tell Y’all A Quick Story

Dr. Jenn Jackson - I grew up in Oakland, CA with my single mom. My dad was in and out of my life. Mostly out. We struggled a lot. My family struggled and continues to struggle.

/ June 14, 2019

Alice Augusta Ball: Chemical Drug Pioneer

Historians of African-Americans in science tend to focus on figures like Benjamin Banneker and George Washington Carver. But there are so many more.

/ December 9, 2018

Using the ‘fear of missing out’ to my advantage in science

Priscila is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Molecular Genetics at The Ohio State University (OSU). She was born and raised in a rural town in Puerto Rico. She is interested in science communication, biomedical and plant research. She...

/ October 30, 2018

From Juvenile Detention to Neuroscience

Raul Ramos shared his inspiring personal journey into science with high school students from Waltham High School as part of the series, The Brandeis MRSEC and WHS present: Science Pizza Talks. AAAS provided additional support for this event.

/ August 22, 2018

A Journey in Science as a Dentist for Everyone

Dr. Nicholas Gordon: "As I look back over my journey in science, I realize that at each step of the way, I had friends and family who encouraged me as challenges arose."

/ March 18, 2018

Tell the Negative Committee to Shut Up

Tell the negative committee that meets inside your head to sit down and shut up

/ March 8, 2018

What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up?

The good thing about hitting rock bottom is that the only option left is to emerge. And that's what I did.

/ March 7, 2018

Fear is Nothing But an Illusion

Everything happened like I was offsetting a chain reaction of events. It made me realize that fear is nothing but an illusion.

/ December 14, 2017

Perseverance to Passion

In my life, perseverance is growing up in the inner city of Flint, Michigan. Gangs, violence, and drugs were part of everyday life. I’ve seen someone being run down by a car, shot in the head, and been shot at...

/ November 25, 2017

Hispaniola Born Earthbound Explorer

I thought my biggest role in life was to become a wife and mother. As such, I ended up in a very toxic marriage right out of high school. I left the marriage and I ultimately became homeless. I actually...

/ November 9, 2017

Finding My Path in STEM

Ever noticed yourself living your dreams, or so you thought, only to realize it was a farce all along?  That is the summary of my life. Well, until three months ago.

/ November 6, 2017

Activating My Tech Genes

Growing up without an interest in science, it was a bit strange that I always ended up doing science- related things. I was the average student that managed to make an impression on the people I came across. I got...

/ November 3, 2017

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

– Edritz Javelosa –  The luscious vegetation, crawling critters, warm beaches, and the tropical climate of the Philippines – an archipelago with more than 7,000 islands, tons of natural resources, and a wide range of biodiversity – was the setting...

/ September 15, 2017

The untapped genius that could change science for the better

– Jedidah Isler, Ph.D.- The transcript below the video is from a talk that Dr. Isler presented in August 2015 at an official TED conference. You can find the talk HERE. It  is included here with permission from Dr. Isler.  Great things...

/ September 1, 2017

Stride On

– Kwasi Agbleke, Ph.D. –  My journey through two decades has been that of mission, vision, and determination. As a young boy, I always had difficulty answering the question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For...

/ August 28, 2017

Better Get Used to Me

– Taylor Richardson | High School Student | The Bolles School –  Speech below was delivered at the 2017 March for Science in Washington, D.C.  My name is Taylor Richardson, I live in Jacksonville, Florida where I attend The Bolles...

/ July 23, 2017

How To Be a Superstar With No Instructions

– Marguerite Matthews, PhD –  .  At 4 years old, I was sure I’d be a superstar! My father has endless video recordings of me prancing around, belting out my favorite songs or performing mundane tasks with Shakespearean theatrics. I was ready at a moment’s notice to...

/ July 7, 2017

Scientist, Educator, or Both?

Dr. Khameeka Kitt-Hopper: "There are so many questions still unanswered, and my role as a scientist is to shed light on these basic questions and encourage a new generation of diverse scientists ready to take on the challenging conundrums of...

/ July 6, 2017

Science Without Disciplinary Borders: How my Interests in the Humanities Have Strengthened my Psychological Science

– by Tiffany N. Brannon | Assistant Professor | Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles – As children, my sister, Taquesha and I had a love for the humanities and science that extended beyond the boundaries of our school classrooms...

/ May 30, 2017

The Courage to Say No

by William Yakah | Undergraduate Student (Neuroscience) | Michigan State University | Like many others in middle school, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to be in the future. In 6th grade, my class had a group of college students talk...

/ May 17, 2017

Discovering my identity as a scientist

by Tyler A. Allen | NC State University, College of Veterinary Medicine |  My journey into science was a seemingly unexpected yet inevitable one. I am the first person in my family to venture into the field of science as a...

/ May 4, 2017

Take a Chance On Me

by Jessica Okoro | TEDxLeicester Jessica Okoro the founder and director of BeScience STEM. Their mission is to “bring STEM to communities that do not currently have the opportunity to experience different aspects of STEM and to explore career choices, explore...

/ April 25, 2017

From Grandma’s Backyard to the Bench 

Rodolfo Jimenez  My parents were so young when they had me. They both had to put school on hold in order to provide for their new family. Because of my parents’ varying work schedules, my grandmother had a big role...

/ April 24, 2017

Books and family: My path towards the world of science

Dinner table discussions centered around political and economic analysis of world events but most importantly the future of the African continent.

/ April 21, 2017

I always thought I wanted to be a scientist

– Michelle Dookwah –  Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Georgia  I always thought I wanted to be a scientist, yet I considered other careers at brief points in my life. When I was really young, I wanted to...

/ April 14, 2017

Finding the Strength to Succeed

– Ashley Taylor –  5th Year PhD Candidate | Department of Chemistry | Louisiana State University Science was my first love because my parents also loved science. They made sure my siblings and I were introduced to science fairs, science...

/ March 30, 2017