From: Brandon S. Chance <bchance**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] LabCandy making PPE and science fun for girls
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2014 23:16:06 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: D36ECDFE-5485-4C19-8A06-168CD43E7DF4**At_Symbol_Here**princeton.edu
In-Reply-To <8D181701B858B99-2A04-8C66**At_Symbol_Here**webmail-d277.sysops.aol.com>
Demystify:
While only the father of young boys, I personally don't have any issues with this and think it is a cute idea. It's basically scientist costumes targeted at young girls. Heck, even as lab instructor early in my career, many of the college girls taking
my labs tie-dyed their lab coats and blinged out their safety goggles.
Cute idea, bad depictions. If anyone in the lab is using a hazardous chemical, then
everyone should don the same level of PPE. The pictures show what looks to be an instructor or teacher not wearing anything at all. Does she have some kind of top secret, invisible shield over her face that we can't see? Shouldn't the teacher, instructor,
or professor set the example?
Sorry, but I have a pet peeve about photographers or marketing folks thinking it "looks more attractive, better, etc." and not presenting prudent practices when it comes to laboratory safety.
Vivian Longacre
Safety Training Specialist
Environmental Health & Safety
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
805.756.6628
Olivia Pavco-Giaccia, a Yale undergraduate, has a mission: to cultivate young girls' interest in science by showing them that the field has room for them. Although women constitute about 58% of the U.S. workforce,
they hold less than 25% of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs. One problem is the persistent stereotype of scientists as nerdy, old guys in white lab coats. That doesn't appeal to a young girl. LabCandy attacks this stereotype directly,
allowing girls to change what they think a scientist is supposed to look like, by using brightly colored lab coats, fun goggles and other products. LabCandy's Kickstarter campaign starts
August 19th - so that every young girl can picture herself to grow up to be a scientist.
Here at LabCandy,
we have been hard at work laying the groundwork to take our venture to the next level.
On August 19, we will be launching a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter,
an online crowd-funding platform. If we meet our goal, we will be able to begin manufacturing.
How can you help? Signup for updates and spread the word to friends and family! You can also follow us on our new
Facebook
and Twitter
accounts for regular updates on our progress.
Thank you so much for all of your support to help us get to this point! We're excited to take these next steps toward
making LabCandy's mission become a reality.
Best,
Olivia & the LabCandy Team
Learn more about our social enterprise and its mission to encourage creativity, confidence and critical thinking skills through our cool lab gear,
adventure storybooks and science activities.
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