January 2018 – STEMedia.org

The Truth Behind Your Favorite Makeup Brands

January 8, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

Before you stepped out into the world today, what did you put on your face? After the cleansing, wiping crust from the corners of your eyes, and brushing your teeth, did you just put on lotion and keep it moving? -or did you put on makeup? Are you a major MAC fan? -More into Urban Decay? -Or did maybe, it’s Maybelline that has your heart? Whatever cosmetics you use, take a moment to read more about them when you get the chance. What you find may surprise you. In the case of L’Oréal the surprises are many and they are happy ones!

Have you ever thought about the work that goes into creating a makeup product? -the science behind it? How about the things your favorite makeup producer supports? -where some of your money goes? Well as it turns out, L’Oréal has a lot of good things going for it that STEM minds may be glad to hear!

This popular makeup company has launched a global initiative to promote women in STEM. Recently, L’Oréal partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science to honor 5 female scientists with the 2017 For Women in Science Fellowship. This fellowship gifts these women $60,000 in grant money to further their postdoctoral research.

Those honored included Dr. Kellie Ann Jurado, Dr. Sydney Schreppler, Dr. Ritu Raman, Dr. Molly Schumer, and Dr. Felicity Muth. The ceremony featured short speeches by the winners and encouragement to the young ladies in the audience interested in STEM.

The Women in Science program also announced in September, the 10 winners of its Changing the Face of STEM (CTFS) mentoring grants. These grants help support STEM programs in states like California, Florida, Maryland, New York, Texas and others. This will be the program’s second year focusing its efforts on inspiring the next generation of women in STEM.

The company does not stop there in supporting women. It was recognized during the 5th edition of a French business awards ceremony in November for its commitment to gender equality in management as well. As of 2016, women represent 70% of the total worldwide workforce, and within that, 33% of the Executive Committee, 46% of the Board of Directors, and they make up 48% of Management committees, according to the company’s recent press release. It was given the Award for Gender Equality in its Executive Committees.

The company was also recognized as a global leader in sustainability at the CDP Europe Awards in November thanks to its Sharing Beauty With All program which focuses on four pillars to promote sustainability through products and stakeholders.

In addition, L’Oréal has developed two new alternatives to animal testing that have now been adopted by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). The U-SENS™ method detects and predicts a skin allergy busing in vitro on human cells marked with immunity. The HCE EIT (Human Corneal Epithelium Eye Irritation Test) method utilizes in vitro as well to evaluate eye irritation.

“Forty years of research into skin reconstruction and alternative methods are now bearing fruit,” said Laurent ATTAL, Executive Vice-President Research and Innovation at L’Oréal.

L’Oréal is a prime example of consciousness in business and development. Just knowing the strides they’ve made in science and equality makes one consider supporting the brand for more reason than just product quality. It is good to see a business mindful of their space in a world besides the financial one.

Company Chairman and CEO, Jean-Paul AGON states, “Our environmental, social, societal actions must do good wherever we operate. I believe that companies are a force of transformation and as such, must commit to fight climate change alongside cities and states.” In this way, the makeup industry is transforming more than just faces and skin tones. It is transforming the present to make way for a sustainable and healthier future thanks to its support of female scientists and research. It is changing the face of STEM

As of December 4th, 2017, the 2018 L’Oréal USA for Women in Science application period is open. This period closes on February 2nd, 2018. Find the application and more information at https://lorealfwis.aaas.org/login/indexA.cfm.

Uncategorized

Here’s Why You Should Watch More Scifi Movies

January 8, 2018June 12, 2018
by Nehemiah Mabry

COVER SUBJECT | SCIENCE FICTION TURNS TO REALITY

Scientists seemed like unstable crazy people when I was a kid. This belief was most likely because the only ones I saw were villains in animation, movies, and television shows- creating viruses or wild inventions with the goal of, “Taking over the world!” It wasn’t until I watched the movie, Back To The Future, did I think science was something that could be considered cool.

Even though Doc Brown was portrayed as a little kooky, his ideas for time travel and the space-time continuum fascinated me. Plus, he had a most excellent time traveling DeLorean with doors that opened up like wings. And it worked, transporting Marty McFly into three movies full of action and adventure.

I believe this was one of the movies that transformed how entertainment, , like film and TV, could portray scientists and inventors. Yes, they could be the mad villains but also the innovative heroes that use their knowledge to save the world.

The science you see on television can lead to the creation of superheroes, Like The Flash. Barry Allen is struck by lightning when a particle accelerator invention causes an explosion and creates a storm. That strike gives him super speed. He becomes The Flash to protect the city from others who gain powers from that storm but use them for evil.

The Flash may be fantasy, but we can understand how scientific experiments can fail or go wrong. Sometimes catastrophically, but can also lead to new inventions that do a great deal of good for society.

Entertainment gives us an opportunity to see what’s possible in science and dream about the wonderful innovations we could see in the future. We need films like Star Trek to excite our imaginations and get us working toward exploring other planets in advanced spaceships.

Even the mega-franchise, Star Wars, can get us excited about the possibilities of technology connecting us to alien galaxies with advanced spaceships that travel light speed and weapons that use laser beams like lightsabers.

After a tough day studying for that important exam or working too long in the lab wondering if a STEM career is worth all the effort. Pull out your favorite Sci-fi movie and get inspired by what could be.

You are a part of bringing that fantastic future of fantasy to our reality. It is your responsibility to keep your passion for STEM alive. Science and technology have been influencing movies and television for many years. Now, let it inspire you.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented xacontent contributors, Khalid Birdsong. His bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Khalid Birdsong is a freelance writer, cartoonist and teaching artist. He loves enjoying a good story in books or on film and traveling the world to explore new lands and cultures with his family. You can learn more about Khalid’s writing and comics www.kbirdsongcopy.com and www.friedchickenandsushi.com

Career

STEM in the Kitchen: Improve Your Cooking with Science!

January 8, 2018June 12, 2018
by admin

In the traditional sense, food science is associated with the study and enhancement of food for the sake of improved nutritional quality, increased quantity, extended preservation, and in general, commercial production.

While food science itself is a fascinating subject, recent movements in what is sometimes referred to as “molecular gastronomy” have revealed a more artistic take on the science of what we eat. Instead of focusing purely on consumption for sustenance, physicists, engineers, mathematicians, chemists and others have begun to explore the science of flavor and texture in collaboration with culinary experts. The interdisciplinary collaboration has already produced some truly amazing results

While this concept emerged as early as the 1960s, courses like the publicly available “Science and Cooking: From Haute Cuisine to Soft Matter Science” class at Harvard have popularized the topic by using food to teach the scientific concepts behind everyday cooking.

For the few scientists studying this field, ongoing investigation focuses on (but is certainly not limited to) the use of temperature in preparation, the perception of the flavor and aroma of food, as well as the improvement of texture and taste.

If you’re fortunate enough to attend a university that provides access to a course of this nature, studying experimental cuisine is a great way to fill an elective. For those without in-class access, this innovative approach also exists outside the classroom. Cookbooks such as “Modernist Cuisine”, and its more recent counterpart, “Modernist Bread,” make the discoveries of culinary research available to everyone. Other popular texts as “Liquid Intelligence” and “The Art of Fermentation” offer more specialized introductions. Many of the recipes suggested are also available digitally. For a creative way to fit some STEM in your everyday life, you can even sign up to take the popular Harvard course online, which features cooking experiments as homework assignments.

While this discipline is still a small-scale occurrence, maybe someday the art of food science could change the way we all enjoy food!

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, J.C . Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

J.C is a PhD candidate studying the theory behind new materials for practical applications. She’s an experienced coder, and particularly likes to apply computational techniques to solve scientific problems. When she’s not working on my research, She enjoy drawing and reading fiction.

Career

“Critical Thinker” | Elements of an Elite STEM Professional…

January 8, 2018June 12, 2018
by Ricky D. Venters, Jr. P.E.

COVER SUBJECT | ELEMENT #5 Critical Thinker

“The thought process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, analyzing, and evaluating information gathered from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to action.”

One of my all-time favorite TV shows MacGyver, displayed the highest level of critical thinking a person can possess. C’mon I know it was only TV, but Mac could skillfully analyze any situation and find a way of escape. The show became so predictable and it seemed like the greatest challenge for the writer of the show was to place Mac in the most challenging and unlikely positions of escape. Mac was a pure example of a critical thinker, he exemplified keen observation, and a phenomenal ability to pull from his previous experiences. He was able to develop a guide to action that would free him or anyone else needing to be saved.

One danger millennials often face is not utilizing our critical thinking ability. Honestly, before reading the definition, how many of you could’ve defined what critical thinking is? We live in an era where things are thought out for us already. For example, how many phone numbers do you have memorized or how many DOS codes do you use to launch your computer programs? Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not! But it supports my argument that though the technology we love so much, life has been made easier for us, at the same time, it limits the use of our mental thinking.

Now I didn’t say technology needs to be banned and shouldn’t advance, but we should raise our awareness that even though it seems to make life easier, it doesn’t necessarily mean it makes us better. As the years pass by, people that have the ability to be critical thinkers are going to be far and few between. If you take the time now to enhance your critical thinking skills you will stand heads and shoulders above your competition in the field you’re currently in or decide to pursue.

The process to increase your critical thinking skills can be summarized in these 6 steps:

Step 1: Identify the problem.
Step 2: Identify all possible solutions.
Step 3: Develop a guide to action.
Step 4: Carry out your plan of action.
Step 5: Find ways to improve on your ideas.
Step 6: Start the process all over again.

This piece comes to us from one of our amazing community members and STEMedia Partners, Ricky Venters. This new series is based from his book Live on E. His bio is below, be sure to check out his awesome website and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Ricky Venters is recognized as an Engineer of Impact. Defying the odds,completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has achieved his Professional Engineering License. During his tenure in STEM related fields, Ricky recognized the increasing competitiveness in the industry and sought to become a source of inspiration and mentor to students and young professionals in STEM related fields. Follow him now!

Career

“Confidence” | Elements of an Elite STEM Professional (#6)

January 8, 2018June 12, 2018
by Ricky D. Venters, Jr. P.E.

ELEMENT #6 – Confidence

“A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities.”

COVER SUBJECT | LOREM IPSUM

There are two ways to look at confidence, external or internal. External confidence is building trust, belief or faith in something or someone else. Internal confidence is defined as a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s abilities or qualities. For this element, I choose to talk about the internal aspect of confidence. Both are crucial and should be developed, but I realized that the first step in excelling in life is believing you can. Confidence is relative and not only based on an individual’s exposure to a particular thing, but also depends on an appreciation of their ability. Many people will never display confidence without the combination of these two things.

I used to use the words “I believe so” when answering a question about a project. I thought by saying this, I could somehow convince my colleague that I knew what I was talking about without really being confident at all. After a few times, my partner caught on to my tactics and told me “Ricky, to do well in this business you must be confident in what you know. Clients will not pay us if we are not confident in the product we are producing.” I had to self-assess the reasons I wasn’t confident in my final product and what I found was that my lack of confidence came from my lack of exposure and appreciation of my abilities.

There are many ways to develop your confidence, but I will share with you three to get you going.

Mindset

You have to believe that you are capable and there are no limits on your life. Begin every day reading books or listening to positive speeches that will encourage you to strive for excellence.

Practice, Practice, Practice

“You’re talking about Practice” the famous sound bite of NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. Yes, Practice! Nothing builds confidence better than repetition. The more you do something, the better you get. It’s simple, and even though the application of it can be difficult at times…PRACTICE!

Connect with Gurus

I cannot stress this one enough. Find people who have traveled the path that you are pursuing and allow them to give you guidance along your journey. There is nothing better than learning from other people’s experiences. They will give you insight that will propel you in the right direction.

Many times we try to put on the appearance of confidence, but if someone could see through our facade, they would see the insecurities. Many of us work hard on the facade, making sure it’s perfect and flawless without spending any time working on our internal self. Make a commitment to yourself today that you will strive to obtain confidence and push through the limits of self-doubt and fear.

Ricky Venters is recognized as an Engineer of Impact.

Defying the odds,completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and has achieved his Professional Engineering License. During his tenure in STEM related fields, Ricky recognized the increasing competitiveness in the industry and sought to become a source of inspiration and mentor to students and young professionals in STEM related fields.

Follow him now!

Holidays

Reach Your Resolutions!

January 8, 2018June 12, 2018
by Cynthia Sharpe

It’s that time of year again. Whether you’re praying about it, wishing about it, or just speaking it into the atmosphere, you’re probably planning on making a resolution or few before reaching 2017. But are you going to stick to your resolutions?… Really? According to Statisticbrain.com, only 8% of people in the United States actually achieve their resolution. Truth is, a resolution is nothing without an action plan. And an action plan is nothing without action! Here is how we suggest you pursue your resolutioning for the coming year.

Start by thinking about who you are. Pick some words that describe you. Go with the good, the bad and the ugly. We’ve all got our flaws. Now, how can you improve or grow in some weak areas? Maybe you want to weigh less or have a larger vocabulary. Then ask yourself who you want to be by the end of the year. Maybe you want to have healthier hair or be more confident in a certain area.

Now brainstorming resolutions should always be accompanied by motivations. If you do not have a valid reason for making a change, you may not want to make that change. Words of wisdom, you won’t change until you want to change for yourself, not anyone else. Finally, figure out how you will accomplish your resolution. How do you plan to get where you want to be?

The best way to document your resolution is by making it a SMART goal. Once you figure out your general goal, use these requirements to check it:

Make it specific. Don’t just say you want to lose weight. That leaves room for you to lose the weight then, gain it back or only lose one pound or not lose any weight at all until the end of the year. Where exactly on your body do you want to lose the weight? Do you want to build muscle in the area that you lose weight in? These are the kind of questions you must ask yourself to make your goal smarter.
Make it measurable. Being able to measure your goal ties into being specific. Do you want to make more money this year? If so, how much? Do you want to spend more time with family? If so, how much time? Whether it’s hour, inches, miles or pounds, if you can quantify it, apply it.
Make it achievable. You can apply a measurement all you want, but if it is not feasible, then it likely will not be achieved. Become familiar with your limits and challenge them, but do not set yourself up to be overextended in anyway. Or, if the goal involves factors outside of yourself, do not rely too heavily on other people or things coming through for you.
Make it relevant. Is this goal something you really need to focus on right now? Is it worth your time? Does it relate to or affect other aspects of your life so much that it must be done soon? If there are other, more pressing matters, you may want to direct your attention to those first.
Make it timely. Time can fit into the measurable category, but it deserves its own explanation simply because it is so valuable. Once you waste it, it’s gone, so make the most of it. Try buying a planner and documenting deadlines for when you want steps in your goal to be done by. Giving yourself a timeframe to achieve a goal adds pressure and can give you a sense of urgency and motivation.

To read more of our holiday inspired articles click here!

Now that you’ve got your goal, don’t forget it! One big reason why resolutions are not met is because we forget! Make your resolution visible to yourself every day. Try putting it on the bathroom mirror or the kitchen refrigerator. Put it in your most used book or at the bottom of the television.

We all know it can be easy to get distracted. Therefore, we suggest you check in on your progress every now-and-then. How close are you to your goal? Ask yourself this every 2 or 3 months at least. Put it in your phone that you’re up for evaluation, so you do not get off track so easily. Not close to your goal? Try adjusting your plan before adjusting your goal. It may just take a little more effort than you first figured.

It is said that faith is nothing without work. Well, the same goes for the reverse of that statement. You’ve declared your resolution, now believe in it. Believe in yourself. If you know you’ll need help staying on the path, share your resolution with a friend. Ask them to help hold you accountable. Or, keep it to yourself if that motivates you more. The choice is yours; the goal is yours; and the victory can be yours too. Be confident in yourself. Be resolute.

This piece comes to us from one of our talented content contributors, Cynthia Sharpe. Her bio is below and if you would like to work with us you can email us here!

Cynthia M. Sharpe, is a May 2015 graduate of NC State University. Cynthia graduated with a B.A. in English with a concentration in creative writing and currently aspires to pursue an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. “As I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Cynthia M. Sharpe, inspired by Marianne Williamson