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Fantastic Graphic Journeys of World-Changing Scientists
We are working with 6 AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors® to share their origin stories in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as they overcame adversity. Our overall goal is to inspire middle school girls to develop positive personal connections to STEM. We are doing this by developing different types of media, from paper-based comic books to short videos that highlight our Ambassadors’ journey to where they are today. We are creating comic books and vlogs for both in-person and online engagements that are relatable to underrepresented youth. The AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors’ project is based on the idea that “IF we support a woman in STEM, THEN she can change the world.” The AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors program brings together 125 women from a variety of STEM careers to serve as high-profile role models for middle school girls. Our SciAll AAAS IF/THEN Ambassadors are Kristen Lear, Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil, Ritu Raman, Jessica Esquivel, Ana Maria Porras and Earyn McGee.
Our research and content creation team includes a group of work-study interns, Dr. Juanele Tamal, a Mexican physicist and cartoonist, who creates acclaimed comic books centered on humanizing science and scientists; Dr. Jessica Hoehn, a physics education researcher and informal STEM practitioner focused on studying STEM identity development in underrepresented youth; Science Discovery, a University of Colorado Boulder’s K-12 STEM education outreach organization; Dr. Valerie Knight-Williams, an evaluator specializing in informal STEM programs centered on original media; and us, SciAll, a 501(c)3 nonprofit run by a majority-female, majority-BIPOC team of over 30 accomplished scientists that specializes in celebrating and massively disseminating their diverse stories with a shared goal to foster STEM identity development in underrepresented groups.
Dr. JESSICA ESQUIVEL
particle Physicist
Dr. Jessica Esquivel is a distinguished physicist at Fermilab, one of the premier particle physics laboratories in the United States. With a Ph.D. in Physics from Syracuse University, her research focuses on experimental high-energy physics, particularly within the Muon g-2 experiement, which investigates the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. But Dr. Esquivel’s accomplishments extend far beyond the lab! Dr. Esquivel uses her own identity to illuminate the world of physics around her in a new light and be a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM. She has co-founded Black in Physics week and actively participates in several other efforts to increase the representation of marginalized groups in the scientific community. Her work not only contributes to our understanding of fundamental particles but also paves the way for a more inclusive scientific environment.
Dr. BURÇIN MUTLU-PAKDIL
Astrophysicist
Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil has paved her own path from a small village in Turkey all the way to the discovery of a rare type of galaxy, now known as Burçin’s Galaxy which features a unique double-ringed structure. With the love and support from her family and mentors, Dr. Mutlu-Pakdil has perservered through religious bans, moving to a new country, navigating graduate school, and countless other hurdles but now uses all of her experience to support others who might struggle with society’s opinions. Today, Dr. Multu-Pakdil works as an Associate Professor at Dartmouth College and actively works to uplift and mentor underrepresented groups in the field of astronomy, all while living her most authentic self.
Dr. Kristen Lear
Bat Conservationist
Dr. Kristen Lear has always gravitated toward seemingly scary animals like spiders, rats… and bats! Her interest in bats started when she was in Girl Scouts, seeing them fill the sky during night hikes. While studying Zoology at Ohio Weslyan College, she had the chance to get hands-on experience studying bats in Texas for a summer which was pivotal in affirming her desire to pursue a career in helping bats. This led to Dr. Lear being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study bats in Australia and later, getting her Ph.D. in Integrative Conservation at the University of Georgia. She now leads the Agave Restoration Program as its Director at Bat Conservation International which aims at restoring the population of agave plants, critical food resources for bats. When she’s not saving bats, Dr. Lear is passionate about teaching people about bats and how they’re not as scary as you might think!
Dr. Ritu Raman
Mechanical Engineer, MIT
Having two engineer parents and a engineer grandfather, Dr. Ritu Raman was no stranger to all things engineering-related – engineering drawings, heat exchangers, and the like! Yet growing up, her interests spanned from fashion design, to writing, reading and even cricket! But after immigrating to the U.S. from India and Kenya, she sought to stay in the U.S. which led her to pursue a career in STEM, the area where most work visas are granted. Dr. Raman studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University and later, obtained her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Having lived in places around the world, she is extremely passionate about equity and inclusion initiatives, espeically those that inspire women to pursue STEM. Dr. Raman is now an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT where she runs her own lab that designs adaptive biological materials and continues to engage in STEM outreach.
Dr. Earyn McGee
Herpetologist & Coordinator of Conservation, LA Zoo
Dr. Earyn McGee is a renowned Herpetologist and the Coordinator of Conservation at the Los Angeles Zoo. She almost became a veterinarian when deciding what to study! Her expertise in reptiles and amphibians, combined with a passion for biodiversity, drives her work in preserving vulnerable species and their habitats. Dr. McGee is a Howard alumni and has a Ph.D. in wildlife conservation. She is recognized for her innovative research and dynamic public engagement efforts, including her popular #FindThatLizard social media campaign, which educates and inspires a global audience about herpetology. At the Los Angeles Zoo, she leads conservation initiatives, fostering collaboration between scientists, conservationists, and the public to protect and sustain diverse ecosystems.
Dr. Ana María Porras
Microbiologist & Artist
Growing up bilingual and a daughter of two engineers in Colombia, Dr. Ana María Porras has always had one foot in the door of a future in STEM. Unlike her parents, she was more invested in the natural world than engineering, but found the perfect fit when she discovered biological engineering while pursuing undergraduate work in Germany. Ana’s journey then took her to Austin, Wisconsin, and now Florida, where she conducts research into gut microbiomes, is a professor, and creates crocheted models of microbes for science communication! She connects back to her roots by participating in multiple organizations that make STEM accessible to spanish speaking students here in the US and back in Colombia.