Actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik interacts with local high school students at a HerWorld event in New York City.
'Big Bang Theory' Star Talks STEM
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By
Kelsey Sheehy
Art imitates life for Mayim Bialik. The former child star (see: "Blossom") earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California—Los Angeles in 2007, and now plays neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom "Big Bang Theory."
But Bialik doesn't just hold a degree or play a role. The actress teaches science to home-schooled students, and just wrapped up a monthlong stint as the face of National HerWorld Month, an initiative designed to educate high school girls about opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.
[Find the best high schools for STEM.]
High School Notes talked with the actress, scientist and teacher
about her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated STEM field and her
advice for aspiring female scientists.
Q: You credit a former tutor with sparking your interest in
science. What was it about that tutor's style or approach that made you
view the subject differently?
A: The first thing that was special about her, that spoke to me, was
that she was female. Growing up in a really boy-centered schooling
system, where I thought science and math were for boys and the boys
were happy to agree, it really helped for me to see someone female.
Also, the fact that she was so young and so enthusiastic; it seemed
like that could be me. I think for a lot of girls that's something
that's missing.
Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced as a woman studying in a male-dominated field?
A: I was really shocked that grown-up female professors that I was
so honored to be working with and learning from were still whispered
about by people, in terms of what they look like and how they dress.
You really do have to ignore that.
I looked especially to the "classically attractive" female
professors to see how they handled it. A lot of it involved really
trying to be appreciated for your work, and not getting into it about
all the other aspects of your physical appearance.
Q: Some critics say the "Big Bang Theory" perpetuates some
of the stereotypes about both men and women in science. What's your
take on this?
A: I'm very proud to play a female scientist. Obviously, Amy is much
more of a frumpy, quirky, social misfit, but she's in a really
interesting and emotionally satisfying relationship that is not sexual,
which I think is fascinating for a sitcom to show.
We also have the Bernadette character, that's really more adorned -
she always wears flowery dresses - but she's also a woman who loves
being a scientist. There's a line in an upcoming episode where she
talks about the first time she looked under a microscope, and it was so
neat to have a female character saying, "I loved it. I fell in love
with science."
Q: What do you hope young girls take away from the show?
A: One of the greatest fears for anyone who's ever been a nerd is
that you'll never find someone - to live with, to be friends with and
to have that kind of social community. I think it's really awesome to
see a show depicting a "Friends" sort of cast, where all of them are
quirky and enjoy Dungeons & Dragons and all sorts of things that
"aren't cool."
Q: What is your advice for high school girls who are worried
they'll be deemed "nerds" or "geeks" because of their interest/ability
in STEM subjects?
A: There's no better population of young people to reach with the
message: You don't have to be one thing. If there are things that
interest you, it's in your best interest to pursue them. To get this
kind of training, and to have this kind of knowledge and wisdom, really
makes for a more creative and a more exciting possibility for all
those other arenas of your life.
Q: Many students have that "I'm never going to use this"
attitude toward advanced science and math. Acting isn't exactly a STEM
career, but you've made it into one.
A: The training, and the knowledge and all of the things that come
from learning about these subjects never leave you, no matter what you
do. I view the world differently as a scientist now than I ever could
have imagined I would.
It's not that you have to pursue a life in a STEM career
if you train in it, though the fact is, the journey of this knowledge
will likely make you want to pursue one of these fields. Even if you
don't … math is everywhere. Science is everywhere. Having that knowledge
is a wonderful, wonderful way to look at the world.