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Monday, February 10, 2020
Volume 120, Issue 96
NEWS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFE&ARTS
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Students in Epiphany play music for memory-loss residentts in care homes.
Students and activists reflect on the aftermath of town hall on sexual misconduct.
Students grieve mosquito fish named “Loompa” in viral funeral video.
Andrew Jones’ incredible first half isn’t enough to push Texas past in-state rival Texas Tech.
CAMPUS
Professor uplifts women in STEM
‘Kate the Chemist’, female students create chemical reaction on UT Tower steps for CBS’ morning show ‘Mission Unstoppable.’
joshua guenther
/ the daily texan staff
On left, Kate Biberdorf, an associate professor of instruction at The University of Texas at Austin, cheers with Danni Washington, a correspondent for CBS’s “Mission Unstoppable,” and over 60 other UT female scientists after setting off their first series of “thunderclouds” at the base of UT tower on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 8. The show features female STEM professionals, such as “Kate the Chemist,” to inspire young women to engage in the field. By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2
ssociate chemistry professor Kate Biberdorf and over 60 students set off a chemical explosion on the UT Tower steps for the taping of the CBS morning TV show “Mission Unstoppable” on Saturday. The students were all women studying STEM fields and helped generate a thundercloud explosion by dumping hot water into buckets filled with liquid nitrogen, which enveloped the students in a cloud of gas. Biberdorf said she hoped the taping of the TV show would empower women watching and diminish the stigma around women in STEM. “I did not have a female science mentor growing up,” Biberdorf said. “What is really important is I want to show everybody that you don’t have to be a dork or a nerd to be a scientist, you can just be a girl who likes explosions and fire and high heels, and that’s totally fine. But if they see it, then
hopefully they can be it.” CBS executive producer Anna Wenger found Biberdorf, popularly known as ‘Kate the Chemist’, on YouTube, from appearances on the “Today” show and through her online content where Biberdorf conducts education demonstrations featuring chemical reactions. Wenger said she has wanted Biberdorf on the show since its inception. ‘Kate the Chemist’ was actually one of the first people (I noticed) because you’re looking for people who grab the attention of the youth and grab the attention of the masses,” Wenger said. “Something like the thundercloud demonstration, that has such an exciting appeal to it, but also is deeply rooted in science, is just like the perfect thing for us to show to demonstrate a thermodynamic reaction.” Miranda Cosgrove hosts “Mission Unstoppable,” which spotlights women from around the country working in STEM fields and works to promote women in science, Wenger said. She said this episode will likely air sometime
in September. “Mission Unstoppable” recruited students for the taping through student organizations, such as Women in Natural Sciences, Bold Women in Chemistry and from Biberdorf’s classes. They arrived at 6:30 a.m. and stayed until noon, helping set up equipment and practicing the technique for conducting the experiment with buckets of water to safely use the liquid nitrogen, physics junior Danielle Maldonado said. “This was incredibly nerve-wracking for me because I have a little bit of mama bear feeling toward my students that were here,” Biberdorf said. “They were playing with hot water and liquid nitrogen, two things I tell them never to do, but now I’m saying do it and throw it near me, and they killed it.” Maldonado said the experience showed there is diversity in STEM jobs, so people interested in STEM-related careers can have representation. “It’s really great to be able to be here and know that maybe there’s a little girl out there
joshua guenther
/ the daily texan staff
Biochemistry freshman Karla Wasemann cheers with over 60 UT female scientists after setting off a second series of “Thunderclouds” for an episode of CBS’s “Mission Unstoppable” at the base of the UT tower on the morning of Saturday, Feb. 8. A “thundercloud” is thermodynamic reaction that creates a cloud of gas by mixing hot water with liquid nitrogen. who wants to be a scientist one day, and she sees all of these other groups of girls doing
UNIVERSITY
things like this,” Maldonado said. “If she says, I’m comfortable wanting to do science,
because there are people who look like me, that’s what makes it the most rewarding.”
UNIVERSITY
McCombs ranks in top 6 business UT names first cohort of Distinguished schools in U.S. for social responsibility Service Academy, recognizes 5 faculty By Anna Canizales @annaleonorc
UT’s Red McCombs School of Business was ranked among the top six business schools in the United States for positive social responsibility and impact, according to the 2020 Positive Impact Rating report for Business Schools. The Positive Impact Rating measures “how business schools contribute to solving societal challenges by energising the school and its culture, by educating current and future leaders
… and participating in the public debate,” according to the Positive Impact website. The report was released last month. The Positive Impact Rating, a Swiss nonprofit association, determined the ranking by sending out a survey to students at top business schools around the world to evaluate the school’s capacity to create a positive impact on the world, according to its website. In the surveys, students supported making sustainability and social impact training mandatory in curriculum and encouraged schools to bring
science and facts to the political debate, according to a McCombs website blog post. Jay Hartzell, Dean of the McCombs School of Business, said in a statement on the McCombs website that he is pleased with the positive energy and preparedness he sees in McCombs graduates. “As an academic community, we study, learn, and discover in a constant state of forward anticipation,” Hartzell said in the statement. M C C O M B S PAGE 2
By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2
Five faculty members were chosen to be a part of the first cohort of UT’s new Distinguished Service Academy, according to a Feb. 4 press release from the College of Education. The academy recognizes faculty members with excellence in mentoring and service, according to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. Members will be appointed for five years, and the appointment will include a $5,000
annual stipend, separate one-on-one mentoring sessions from their salary, accord- through the year, according to ing to the website for the the website. Executive Vice President Reddick’s academic work has and Provost. focused on the importance of Members of the first cohort mentorships. He said advising is are associate dean for equity, one of the most important jobs of community engagement and faculty members, and he is excitoutreach Richard Reddick, phar- ed that it is receiving recognition. macy professor Carolyn Brown, “I’m happy to engage with biology associate professor Jen- folks who are curious or just nifer Moon, English professor don’t quite know why (mentorLisa Moore and Loriene Roy, a ing) is important,” Reddick said. professor from the Center for “I know for a lot of students who Women and Gender Studies. have marginalized identities, it’s Members will sponsor at a huge deal to find somebody least one workshop on mentorship per semester and offer DISTINGUISHED PAGE 2