Diverse Backgrounds: Significant Contributions

People all over the world have studied science, mathematics and engineering for centuries. Scientists and mathematicians make discoveries in nature, in laboratories, and by building upon the work of others. Engineers apply these discoveries.

When many of us think of a scientist, mathematician or engineer an image comes to mind. It can be an image of a bespectacled white male wearing a lab coat, or a so-called ‘nerd’ or ‘geek’.

This image is a stereotype. Each of you have the power to change this stereotype, and will provide images that contradict this stereotype through our biography project—Diverse Backgrounds: Significant Contributions.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Choose a scientist, mathematician or engineer that is living or dead. This person must be a person of color, or a woman.
• Research the work of this person. Specifically:
• Their area of expertise
• Their contributions to science, math or engineering
• Awards received

• Research the life of this person. Specifically:
• Where and when were they born?
• Where did they live?
• If they attended a university, which one and which degrees did they earn
• What hardships, if any, did they face during their life or their studies/research?
• How did they become interested in math, science or engineering?

• Write a biography of the person you chose. Your biography must be written in your own words and must be at least one page (double spaced, size 12 font). Please include photographs of the person and their discoveries or their field of study.
• Present your biography to the class

This project is worth 100 points. You will be awarded up to 75 points for your written work, and 25 points for your presentation. 

Here's how your project will be graded:

Name: _____________________

Scientist/Mathematician:  ________________________

Biography Content

• area of expertise
• contributions to science or math
• awards received
• where and when were they born?
• where did they live?
• if they attended a university, which university and which degrees did they earn?
• what hardships did they face during their life or their studies/research?
• how did they become interested in science or math?

Appropriate length?             Written in own words?            Thorough and complete?

Total Points earned:   _________ out of 75

Biography Project Presentation                            Name :  ____________________

Option:

Assume character, present life story in first person  ______ out of 25

Present info in song/rap     ______ out of 25

Poster talk                        ______ out of 25

Reading of biography                        ______ out of 15

Add ons:                        Costume +5                        Song +5

Total =  _________________ 

This project is due on Monday May 2, 2011

Late projects will receive reduced grades.