Under the Microscope, a website “where women and science connect,” just published this sweet piece about SciCheer, which starts with:
You’re probably going to revisit your assumptions about cheerleaders when you’re finished reading this post. Spoiler alert: some of those women on the sidelines with big smiles, short skirts and endless enthusiasm get just as excited about science as they do about the home team.
Darlene Cavalier is one of those women. A former cheerleader for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, she now runs several projects aimed at increasing scientific literacy and public involvement in science and science policy. When she asked some professional cheerleaders to help draw attention to those causes she uncovered something fascinating: a lot of the cheerleaders were doctors, nurses, engineers and researchers.