EVENT: Picture a Scientist Discussion with TSO & a/perture Cinema

We here at The Science Of are thrilled to announce we’ve teamed with our local independent theater, a/perture cinema for a live discussion about Picture a Scientist with three local scientists. 

An Official Selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, the synopsis of the film by Shannon Shattuck and Ian Cheney reads: 

Today, women make up less than one quarter of all those employed in STEM occupations in the United States. These numbers are much worse for women of color: Asian, black women and Latinas made up slightly less than 10% of working scientists and engineers in the United States in 2015. Science is supposed to be built on objectivity, and yet, most researchers agree that these bleak numbers are evidence of deep bias. Over the course of careers, small slights add up to prevent many women from achieving leadership positions in STEM fields. And sometimes, tragically, brilliant women drop out altogether. But now, the terrain is shifting. This film chronicles the groundswell of women scientists who are changing the face of science in the United States and around the world. Using dogged research techniques and careful data collection, these women are not only contributing to our understanding of what keeps women scientists down, but advocating for a more diverse and inclusive future for all. The film will take a novel, collaborative approach to its storytelling, allowing the scientists themselves to guide the narrative of the film. Science is therefore both the subject of the film, and also — through our three main characters — its guiding sensibility, providing viewers a deeper understanding of what it takes to be a scientist. Equal parts insightful and inspiring, this film will illuminate both the hard data and the very human stories of women in science.

Specifically, Picture a Scientist focuses on biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, geologist Jane Willenbring and others, who relate their own experiences in science over their careers, and offer insights and perspectives on the need – and how – to make science more diverse equitable and open to all. 

a/perture cinema presents PICTURE A SCIENTIST from Uprising LLC on Vimeo.

a/perture cinema presents PICTURE A SCIENTIST from Uprising LLC on Vimeo.

Co-directors Sharon Shattuck and Ian Cheney will join scientists from the film for a virtual Q&A moderated by Radiolab’s Molly Webster on Wednesday, June 17th at 8:00 pm, EDT, which can be viewed on YouTube Live here. 

The Science Of/ & a/perture’s discussion of the film will take place Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:30 pm. The three scientists taking part are: 

Stephanie Dance-Barnes, Ph.D, Interim Associate Provost and Dean / Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Winston-Salem State University

Ellen Miller, Ph.D, Professor, Physical Anthropology at Wake Forest University

Patricia C. Dos Santos, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Department Associate Chair, Chemistry at Wake Forest University

Want to join in on the discussion on the 23rd? Here’s how: 

1. Buy a “ticket” for the film here or on the trailer above) – a rental for the film is $8.00, and you have a 48-hour window in which to watch it. 
2. On Tuesday, June 23rd, click here to join our Google Meet discussion with our three guests! Easy! Bring your questions!

See you then!