Teaching Guide: Ben Barres: Neurobiology Pioneer and Champion for Equity in STEM
Students are introduced to Ben Barres: an accomplished neurobiologist, openly transgender scientist, and activist for gender equity in STEM. This lesson also allows students to explore projects investigating LGBTQ+ experiences in science, technology, and medicine careers.
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This two-part lesson is about introducing students to Ben Barres (1954 – 2017), a successful neurobiologist and gender equity activist. Students will learn about his life and experiences as a female-to-male transgender scientist through excerpts and a review of his posthumously published book, The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist (2017). Additionally, students will read his famous commentary in Nature, titled “Does gender matter?,” and discuss Barres’ arguments for why women are not advancing in science as quickly as men. Students can also explore the Queer in Stem online research project to collect information about LGBTQ+ scientists’ career experiences. The guide is divided into two parts, which can be used together or as independent lessons: (1) an introduction to Ben Barres’ life as a scientist and activist, and (2) resources for understanding LGBTQ+ experiences in STEM and increasing their visibility in the scientific community.
Grade level(s): 9-12, College
Guide subjects: Chemistry, Contemporary
Minority Group(s): LGBTQ+
In-class time: 50 minutes - 1 hour
Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Technology Requirements: Student web access required, Audio required, Audio/Video required
Common Core Standards: Reading: Literature, Reading: Informational Text, Speaking & Listening, History/Social Studies, Science & Technical Subjects