What do students think of when they think of scientists or engineers? 

Stereotypes about the faces behind the research come from everywhere: popular media, teachers’ offhand comments, even the images in a science textbook. 

Together, these messages build an image in students’ minds of STEM professionals as a determined cog in a well-established machine – in other words, nothing like them.

That’s why culturally responsive STEM education is so important, especially in middle school STEM classrooms, while identity and confidence are developing. 

Will female frogs be attracted to males who produce many short calls or to males with fewer, longer calls? This evolutionary tradeoff was the question my high school biology students investigated in the mini-unit Balancing Act developed by Galactic Polymath, featuring the research of Dr. Michael Reichert of Oklahoma State University.