I would like to propose a new word: "STEM-washing". I get a fair few offers to be paid by large morally-questionable companies who are making peanut-sized contributions to science education schemes & want brand ambassadors so they can look good by association. Who says yes to this? Not me! - ThreadSky

helenczerski.bsky.social • 24 days ago

I would like to propose a new word: "STEM-washing".

I get a fair few offers to be paid by large morally-questionable companies who are making peanut-sized contributions to science education schemes & want brand ambassadors so they can look good by association.

Who says yes to this? Not me!

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maddogeco.bsky.social•24 days ago

Do they offer substantial more than the morally good organisations? That’s normally a dead giveaway it’s washing.

educatoradele.bsky.social•24 days ago

Also, poorly designed lessons that have cool looking projects, but don't actually teach any STEM principles.

They could, but don't. It looks like #STEM happened, but it didn't.

helenczerski.bsky.social•23 days ago

Yes!

snecklifter.bsky.social•24 days ago

I remember being pretty appalled at Rachel Riley doing ads for Hello Hydrogen. That was definitely a "take the money and run" moment.

steffapcennydd.bsky.social•24 days ago

"We need someone to make us look good (even though we're far from it)" is all too common, unfortunately.

darksapiens.bsky.social•24 days ago

In the Spanish scicomm sphere we can name a few people! -_-

helenczerski.bsky.social•24 days ago

And in case you're thinking "but maybe they're just trying to do a good thing", they are actually usually pretty clear about their intentions and what they want to pay for. It's very direct. They are not in this out of the goodness of their hearts. At all.

arborealtechie.bsky.social•24 days ago

Thank you for maintaining your integrity. It makes your thoughts and opinions all the more valuable.

maratimes.bsky.social•24 days ago

You might appreciate this by FreeRads: https://freerads.org/tag/sciencewashing/

dg145.bsky.social•24 days ago

I recall my brother, a geography graduate,some years ago, employed by a civil engineering firm to produce environmental impact assessments of planned work. He would tell them what was least impactful; they'd go with cheapest every time.

barbaraeichner.bsky.social•24 days ago

But isn't it possible to do the right thing for the wrong reasons?

danielwilliams965.bsky.social•24 days ago

What a masterclass in #FindingYourLocalRabbi

Any heads up on the future, or just - it TFR (totally fucking rocks) 🤘
https://youtu.be/_lK4cX5xGiQ?si=MQy7yXnYnfoiwAen

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