{"id":1687,"date":"2023-05-29T19:38:07","date_gmt":"2023-05-29T19:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/?p=1687"},"modified":"2025-09-04T19:36:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T19:36:37","slug":"diversifying-stem-based-childrens-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/joint-educational-project\/2023\/05\/29\/diversifying-stem-based-childrens-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversifying STEM based Children’s books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Diversifying STEM based Children’s books<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n By<\/span>DJ Kast<\/strong>\n \n May 29, 2023<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Representation matters. The data has shown that representation of yourself in the scientists you see in front of you influences your own science identity and how much you persist in STEM fields. In that department, children\u2019s literature is failing students. A study published in 2018, stated that half of all childrens books reviewed featured white main characters, and that there were more non-human characters (27%) then there were for all minorities combined (23%). In their study 10% of the childrens books featured an African American\/ Black main character, and 5% featured a Latinx one. How are students from BIPOC communities supposed to envision themselves as scientists when the kids’ books they are presented feature mostly white main characters?<\/p>\n

The JEP STEM education programs have written STEM curricula for many years. Especially for the Wonderkids Program, we try to pair children\u2019s books with the content that\u2019s being presented, especially books that feature main characters of color. I\u2019ve had a running list of books we\u2019ve needed that just don\u2019t exist. USC Dornsife and JEP alumni Jocelyn Artuega recently worked with nonprofit publisher and global education organization Room to Read to publish a book for their Peace and Equality Book Collection and shared that amazing accomplishment on social media. DJ inquired about all these details and afterwards they pitched the STEAM career series to Room to Read together. Room to Read loved the idea and made both of our dreams come true by publishing the STEAM-Powered Careers Book Collection, a series that features three main characters of color Jae, Mia, and Cora (Asian Male, Latina female, and Black Female characters).<\/p>\n

University wide collaborations (USC Dornsife Joint Educational Project, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, USC Viterbi School of Engineering, USC Rossier, USC Keck School of Medicine) were brought together to create 10 STEM-themed (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) children\u2019s books to educate elementary school students on the variety of ground-breaking, exciting, and diverse STEM careers. With the shared goal of creating a collection of informative and illustrative children\u2019s books with the help of BIPOC scientists, exploring topics ranging from polar science to gastroenterology to nanotechnology, we hope to inspire readers to consider STEM opportunities and interests. Selected authors interviewed featured working scientists who are affiliated with USC, who are knowledgeable of their field to develop strong narratives through a day-in-the-life lens; highlight the brief history, present, and future of their unique field; and offer resources and more information, as well as curriculum for classroom use. The series focuses on the topics below and is available in English and in Spanish.\u00a0Digital copies<\/a>\u00a0of the books are available on the Room to Read website and each of them has a\u00a0lesson plan<\/a>\u00a0that elementary teachers can teach with in conjunction with the books. STEAM Career Topics: Oncology, Polar Science, Virtual Reality, Data Science, Engineering, Occupational Therapy, Marine Biology, Gastroenterology, Nanotechnology, and Heart Surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a huge honor to contribute to this initiative to show that STEAM careers are accessible to everyone. When the students received the books, they were amazed to see diverse scientists! \u201cRepresentation matters\u201d is not a clich\u00e9 – kids need to *see* what\u2019s possible in order to strive for it. I am sure the books will have a real, long-lasting impact.\u201d said Dr. Stacey Finley, the author and scientist of the Data Science book.<\/p>\n

Authors:<\/p>\n