The Best Bits, My Favorite Super Cool Scientists Moments

This blog post is part of the Super Cool Scientists FAQ Series, where we answer some of the most common questions about the project. 

I personally love being asked: 

What’s your favorite part of this project? 

From its inception to publication and beyond, the Super Cool Scientists project has been a learning experience for me. There have been challenges, smiles, and definitely a few favorite moments at each stage. 

My top three favorite moments are: 

1. When Dr. Mireya Mayor agreed to be a part of the first book. 

Once the idea for the Super Cool Scientists story and coloring book was put into motion, I emailed a list of scientists I hoped would agree to be included. Dr. Mayor was on that list. I’d seen her on National Geographic. I’d read her book. I was a big fan. 

Reaching out to ask people to be a part of something can be intimidating, especially when you’re asking folks you admire and consider to be kind of famous.

I remember being on vacation visiting family when I got a call from a number I didn’t recognize. It was Mireya! First, I panicked a little. Then, fangirled. Then I calmed down enough to get through the call. 

She loved the project idea and wanted to be a part of it. You could tell from her voice she shared my excitement for what this project could be and couldn’t wait to get copies of the future book for her kids. That call is still a core memory for me.

2. When the crowdfunding campaign for the first book reached its goal. 

I remember the crowdfunding project was going well. I’d had contributions from across the country, even a few from other countries. A few science podcasts had interviewed me about Super Cool Scientists. The social media community around the book was growing and supportive. Things felt good. 

Then one morning, I checked my email to see several messages come through from Kickstarter about my successful campaign: You’ve reached your goal–congratulations! 

That in itself was exciting news, but the story that came with it was the best part. The contributor who pushed the campaign past its goal was a man who’d been the mentor of Dr. Linda Powers. He shared the story of their work together and how much he admired her. He wanted her story to get shared through the Super Cool Scientists book. 

When I’d set up the top tier funding reward as being able to choose someone to be in the book, I’d never thought anyone would actually pay that amount to do it. Yet, here this man was. 

It was also a great reminder to me about the importance of mentors and advocates, those folks who bring up your name in rooms you’re not in. And it was a nod to the fact that, while having people in your life and career who look like you or share similar experiences is  invaluable, you can also have important people in your corner who may be very different from you. 

3. When children get excited to see representations of scientists that look like them and their families. 

Getting fan mail of the coloring pages children and adults want to share is an ongoing favorite part of this whole project. Kids color the scientists to look like themselves–and that was the whole point after all: to help young people see themselves in these types of careers. 

One of my most memorable moments like this was during an event at the Connecticut Science Center where we were coloring with visitors. I’d brought an array of sample coloring pages for people to choose from. College students are drawn to Anne Galyean’s tattoos on her page. Kids love the dinosaur skeletons on MB’s (Michelle Barboza's) page. Having options and diversity is important.  

About halfway through the event, two little girls came running over to the table to see what we were doing. The older one’s smile grew even larger as she grabbed a specific coloring sheet to show her sister. It was Mariam Mahmoud’s page, a scientist who happens to wear a hijab. They both beamed. And a few minutes later, their mom, also wearing a hijab, walked over to join us. 

At that moment, I knew these books were as important as I’d hoped they would be–that the project was bigger than me. 

A bonus favorite moment is: 

• When my mom met me in Philadelphia for a panel discussion at the Science History Institute. 

I was excited to be invited to join a panel to talk about inclusion in STEM and scientists with disabilities because it meant I could meet Jesse Shanahan in person. They’re one of the featured scientists in the second Super Cool Scientists book. The icing on the cake was that my mom was able to take the trip to meet me there, sharing that experience together.