A Shoulder to Stand On
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” - Sir Isaac Newton
By Dr. Carrie Miller
Can you imagine Sir Isaac Newton, a giant in his own right, thinking himself small when compared to the great scientific and philosophical minds that came before him? How might he have felt today, when there are so many others scrambling to reach those giants’ shoulders? Are you an emerging scholar or scientist too? How do you feel as you continue working towards your own career goals and how do you think you will feel after achieving those goals?
For many rising scientists, like yourself, seeking careers that allow them to engage in the scientific research and education that excites them, achieving a tenured position at a major research institution means that you have finally made it to the shoulder of the giant. Perhaps you have successfully completed your own research, published some amazing papers, acquired funding from granting agencies, and made sure your name is known in the scientific community… all in addition to hopefully maintaining a healthy and happy life outside of your scientific research. And if we think of community as all of the people who make up Newton’s giants, then ideally, you haven’t burned yourself out with years of climbing to that point all on your own, but have received support from a community of friends, family, researchers, and any number of other people as you have worked your way up to exactly where you want to be. Well we, at SASSAk12 want you to know that we want to be part of that community of support.
Whether you are working your way up to your giant’s shoulder, or you find a happier stop along the way, we want to provide you with tools, opportunities, and a community that will make your climb both easier and way more fun. You can join our team for Preparing Researchers for Engaging the Public (PREP) to develop your skills at sharing your own research with diverse audiences or volunteer in the classroom to engage with and inspire the next generation of scientists. If you are looking for some more creative outlets (i.e., trying to get some “life” to balance out the “work”), you can assist in developing social media posts that encompass the diverse ways that people interact with science, whether through the natural, social, or digital world. We also invite you to develop fun and creative hands-on activities that will excite students of all ages and that will connect your research interests with the broader world. Or are you simply interested in getting your name out there, as a community engaged researcher who seeks out ways to make science more equitable, accessible, and welcoming for people with diverse interests and backgrounds? Then you could consider writing content for our website or even joining our Board to work towards shaping the future of SASSAk12 as an organization and community that shares those same goals. There is no single “right” way to get to where you want to be, but we want to provide multiple avenues to achieve your goals and the community to support you in the process.
SASSAk12’s mission is to connect diverse K-12 students and active researchers to engage in community-based education and research. Whatever your interest in science and social studies, whatever your educational or career goals, and whatever the time and energy you are able to invest with us, we want to support and welcome you to be a member of our community and help our shared mission succeed. And who knows? Maybe you’ll find that you’ve made it to that giant’s shoulder without even realizing it because you’ve been happily distracted by the fun and creative outlets for growth and development that SASSAk12 provides. Or maybe, you’ll find that the giant’s knee, elbow, belly button, or any other place you pass on your way is just as, if not more, fulfilling and satisfying than that shoulder. So here’s to all those overlooked elbows, knees, and toes, and may you find a happy landing, wherever that may be!
