YouTube videos of 'research in action' foster diverse public interest in science

Michael Gil

doi:10.4033/iee.2017.10.6.f

Abstract

Globally, scientific enterprises seek to diversify interest and participation in STEM fields, to both provide equitable opportunities and to push research forward. However, diversity in STEM remains low in many institutions. Internet-based video has emerged as a dominant communication medium that scientists can use to communicate the motivations, process, and products of their work to a diverse, mass audience. Here I describe my use of internet-based video about my research and career as a marine biologist as a tool to inspire broad public interest in science. With my YouTube videos, I have reached a diverse and growing global viewership, amassing >10,000 hours of watch time at the time of this writing. Viewer surveys revealed that my videos have improved individual perceptions about science and science careers, particularly among women and minority groups. I conclude that the emergence of internet-based video as a dominant, ever-expanding communication medium provides an unprecedented but largely untapped opportunity for scientists to broadly communicate their research and to inspire diverse interest in STEM careers.

Highlights

YouTube Analytics reported are from the time period from May 12, 2012 to March 19, 2017, unless otherwise noted. These analytics revealed that, collectively, my YouTube videos have been watched for 641,952 minutes
It is important to note that the percentages of minority participation in my voluntary viewer surveys exceeded percentages of minority groups in the United States’ science and engineering workforce, which, in 2013, was composed of
I show that simple, ‘low-tech’ videos can result in selfreported changes in perceptions about science and scientists, among groups underrepresented in STEM fields

Summary

Introduction

Science technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields are highly valued by the national and international enterprises they serve, because they give rise to innovations that enhance industry and society.Because of innovative and transformative ideas and collaborations that can emerge from the participation of individuals with underrepresented backgrounds and perspectives (Page 2007, Jackson and Joshi 2011), STEM fields generally place a high premium on the diversity of their professional workforce (Ong et al 2011, AllenRamdial and Campbell 2014, Asai and Bauerle 2016). There are multiple mechanisms that likely contribute to this pattern, including: 1) historical disenfranchisement of women and minority groups (i.e., generally low precedents of involvement), and 2) socioeconomic limitations of minority groups, including poorer educational facilities and opportunities and fewer resources (Ong et al 2011, Allen-Ramdial and Campbell 2014). Under such scenarios, a student’s understanding iee 10 (2017)

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Conclusion