By Stephanie Steinberg - EducationNews.org
Ask a third-grader to draw a scientist and youll probably get a white-haired man dressed in a lab coat. But Sally Ride Americas first woman in space would like to change that.
Once teachers attend her Sally Ride Science Academy she hopes those third-graders will show men and women hiking exploring the oceans and flying in space. And maybe the scientists will resemble the young artists themselves.
Getting students to see scientists as normal people who work in places besides laboratories is one of the goals of the Sally Ride Science Academy. Launched in 2009 the academy trains teachers how to engage kids in math and science.
Last week 100 elementary teachers from across the USA attended the academy sponsored by ExxonMobil in Washington D.C. Ride was there to talk with educators and prove her teaching strategies combat the notion that science is uncool.
Anyone off the street might say that a typical scientist is some geeky-looking guy who looks like Einstein wears a lab coat and pocket protector says Ride 59. Thats not an image that an 11-year-old girl or a 10-year-old boy aspires to.
A girl doesnt look at that stereotype and say Thats what I want to be when I grow up.
