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Diversity
in STEM

The Challenge

When students imagine a scientist, who do they picture?

Most people imagine lab coats, goggles — often white, often male. But science is done by people from all backgrounds.

The Challenge is a short activity that helps uncover the assumptions we make about who does what, and why that matters in the classroom.

What to Expect

  • You’ll see a series of photos of real people.
  • For each person, choose what you think their profession is from the short list of options.
  • Once you’ve made your choices, you’ll review your answers, reflect on what influenced your thinking, and discover who these people really are, and what they actually do.

This is not a test. The Challenge is just a chance to explore how stereotypes shape our expectations, and learn more about who does science.