The guest scientists and engineers choose either a current or historical woman or a man of color in a field related to their own, discuss that individual's life and work, as well as their own lives and work, and then lead a lab related to their field. These labs expose students to a number of scientists and engineers, give students a sense of the broad range of opportunities in SMET, and give students hands-on experience. Students have commented that the labs are one of their favorite parts of the course. The course begins by uncovering women and people of color throughout the world who have been active in SMET, though their contributions have often been attributed to others, undervalued or overlooked. Students research women and men of color, from international and American cultures, who have been scientists, inventors, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists.
Students look at their work, their lives, and their cultures.
The focus on particular scientists leads into a consideration of why their numbers are so few in comparison to the numbers of white men. Important factors include the societal context for women and men in different cultures, as well as the diverse environments for women and men in the sciences in those cultures. The study of societal influences and the climate in the sciences leads into an exploration of the historical and ideological bases of science. In our society the ideological basis is a western, historically male perspective that has concrete implications for the type of science done, the methods utilized, and who becomes a scientist. In addition, we analyze the real consequences of doing science from these various perspectives.