Today, I want to share two stories that highlight how I learn about our world. One story is about discovering the wonders of the natural world, and the other is about challenging personal biases and expanding my understanding of different cultures.
Last week, I had an exciting encounter with a Virginia opossum. Until then, I had only seen these creatures as roadkill or in our museum’s preparation lab. Growing up in South Dakota and Montana, opossums weren’t a part of my everyday life. However, my boyfriend had been spotting one near our house. Each time he saw it, he would call me, and I would rush outside, only to find nothing. But last week, I finally saw it! The opossum was emerging from a hole it had chewed in a pumpkin on my porch. It was both amusing and fascinating.
My sister and I spent the night reading about opossums, learning that they are the only marsupials in North America and have a unique arrangement of 13 nipples. This experience gave me a newfound appreciation for these animals, simply by being exposed to one and taking the time to learn about its species.
The second story takes me back to my high school days in Rapid City, South Dakota. Our government class went on a trip to Washington, D.C., to better understand our country’s government. Before we left, our teacher prepared us for the cultural diversity we would encounter, saying, “There are going to be a lot of Black people there.” He advised us not to point, stare, or be afraid, assuring us that we would be fine.
Coming from a rural area, I had limited exposure to diverse cultures. Before moving to Chicago, I had never used public transportation or been in a building taller than 14 stories. My hometown was predominantly white, with a small Native American population. I had never met a Muslim person or an undocumented immigrant. It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago that I tried Indian food and realized how delicious it is.
These stories illustrate how I’ve learned to appreciate differences by pursuing curiosity and challenging biases. Whether it’s about the natural world or cultural and racial groups, keeping an open mind is crucial. At The Brain Scoop, we constantly explore science and challenge preconceived notions about people who are different from us.
I’m acknowledging the privileges that have sheltered me from much of the world, and I encourage you to do the same. By challenging our biases, we become stronger allies to marginalized groups. In times of political tension, misconceptions can lead to anger and frustration. We at The Brain Scoop and The Field Museum are committed to fostering understanding and supporting diversity.
We need all voices to help us speak for the environment, engage in discussions, and celebrate diversity. Today, I look to the past for inspiration. During The Field Museum’s opening ceremony, Edward Mason, President of the Chicago Historical Society, addressed a crowd of 10,000 people. His words still resonate today. With modern technology, we have access to a wealth of information, allowing us to learn about various topics instantly.
Museums can connect with people worldwide, forge international relationships, and grow knowledge-sharing ventures to appreciate other cultures better. Our mission to explore and champion the world and its people has never been more important. In the coming months and years, I’m committed to using this platform to celebrate curiosity and expand coverage that champions diversity in all its forms.
Our planet remains as wonderful and beautiful today as it was a hundred years ago. The natural world is full of awe and inspiration. In times like these, I look to the dung beetle—a small creature that creates something useful from waste. Without dung beetles, we would be overwhelmed.
Today, let’s be the dung beetles of the world, helping to clean up where we can and moving forward together.
Organize a nature walk on campus or in a nearby park. As you explore, observe and document local wildlife, plants, and ecosystems. Use your smartphone to take photos and research each species you encounter. Share your findings with classmates to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Participate in a cultural exchange workshop where you can learn about different cultures through food, music, and storytelling. Engage with international students or community members to gain firsthand insights into their traditions and experiences. Reflect on how this exposure challenges your own biases and expands your worldview.
Start a personal journal to reflect on your own biases and assumptions. Each week, choose a topic or group that you have limited knowledge about. Research and write about your findings, focusing on how this new information challenges your preconceived notions. Share your reflections in a group discussion to encourage open dialogue.
Take a virtual tour of a museum that focuses on natural history or cultural diversity. As you explore the exhibits, take notes on the most surprising or enlightening information you encounter. Discuss with classmates how museums can play a role in promoting understanding and appreciation of different cultures and the natural world.
Join or start an environmental stewardship project on campus. Whether it’s a recycling initiative, a community garden, or a cleanup event, work together to make a positive impact on your local environment. Reflect on how small actions can contribute to a larger movement of environmental awareness and responsibility.
I’m going to share two stories with you today about how I learn about our world. One relates to my approach to learning about the natural world, and the other involves challenging personal biases.
Last week, for the first time, I saw a Virginia opossum alive. Before that, I had only seen them dead on the side of the road or in our museum preparation lab. They don’t live in the areas where I grew up in South Dakota and Montana. However, my boyfriend had been spotting one around our house. Each time he saw it, he would come inside and say, “It’s on the porch.” I would excitedly run outside, only to see nothing. But then last week, I finally saw the opossum! It was emerging from a hole it had chewed in a pumpkin on my front porch. The scene was both amazing and hilarious. My sister was with me, and we spent the night reading facts about opossums. We learned that they are the only marsupials found in North America and that they have 13 nipples arranged in a circle of 12, with one in the middle. Now, I have a whole new appreciation for these animals, simply by being exposed to one and taking the time to learn more about their species.
The second story is also about something that was missing from my upbringing. When I was a junior in high school in Rapid City, South Dakota, my government class took a trip to Washington, D.C. through a program designed to help us better understand our country’s government. Before we left, my teacher prepared us for something. He said, “We’re going to get on a plane in Rapid City and step off in D.C., and there are going to be a lot of Black people there.” He advised us not to point, stare, or be afraid, assuring us that we would be fine. The reality of where I come from is that it’s a rural area. Before moving to Chicago three years ago, I had never ridden in a taxi, used public transportation, or been in a building with more than 14 stories. While I didn’t ride a horse to school, I did spend my summers branding cattle and helping my dad on our ranch. In my hometown, 80% of the population is white, and 12% is Native American. Growing up, I was not exposed to many people who were different from me. I had never met a Muslim person or an undocumented immigrant, among other racial minorities. I tried Indian food for the first time when I moved to Chicago, and I realized how delicious it is.
I shared these two stories to emphasize that I’ve been able to increase my appreciation for differences by actively pursuing curiosity and challenging biases—whether they relate to the natural world or to cultural or racial groups that I don’t personally identify with. We do this all the time with The Brain Scoop when discussing science, and it’s no different when we challenge our preconceived notions about people who are different from us or who hold different beliefs. Keeping an open mind is essential.
I’m trying to acknowledge the privileges in my life that have sheltered me from much of the world, and I encourage you to acknowledge and challenge the biases you may hold. This is how we become stronger allies to marginalized groups. In this campaign season and in the aftermath of the election, we’ve seen a lot of anger, frustration, and feelings of hopelessness, some of which stem from misconceptions.
We at The Brain Scoop and The Field Museum refuse to tolerate hurtful comments, whether online or offline. We research and celebrate the world’s cultures and strive to foster understanding between people who are different from one another. We’re committed to supporting the mission of our Women in Science group and the Outfielders, who support LGBTQ+ staff, collaborators, and allies.
We need all voices to help us speak on behalf of the environment, to engage in discussions, to educate, celebrate, and take action. Today, I want to look to the past for inspiration to help us move forward. During the dedication ceremony on The Field Museum’s opening day, the President of the Chicago Historical Society, Edward Mason, addressed a crowd of 10,000 people. His words still resonate within our institution today. He could not have known what technologies would arise during and after his lifetime, but today we have a wealth of information at our fingertips, allowing us to learn about various topics in an instant.
Today’s museums can connect with people around the world, forge international relationships, and grow knowledge-sharing ventures to better appreciate other cultures. Our mission to explore and champion the world and its people has never been more important. In the coming months and years, I’m committed to using this platform to celebrate curiosity and to expand coverage that champions diversity in all its forms.
Our planet remains as wonderful and beautiful today as it was yesterday or a hundred years ago. The natural world is full of awe and inspiration. In times like these, I look to the dung beetle—a small, seemingly inconsequential creature that creates something useful from waste. Without dung beetles, we would literally be overwhelmed.
Today, let’s be the dung beetles of the world, helping to clean up where we can and moving forward together.
Curiosity – A strong desire to know or learn something, often driving scientific inquiry and discovery. – Curiosity about the natural world has led scientists to explore the depths of the ocean and the far reaches of space.
Understanding – The ability to comprehend or grasp the meaning of something, often a key goal in both science and social studies. – Achieving a deep understanding of cultural differences is essential for effective communication in a globalized world.
Diversity – The state of having a range of different things or people, often referring to biological variety or cultural differences. – Biodiversity in an ecosystem can enhance resilience and productivity, making it a crucial focus of environmental science.
Culture – The shared beliefs, practices, and values of a group of people, which can influence social behavior and societal development. – Anthropologists study culture to understand how societies evolve and interact with their environments.
Biases – Prejudices or predispositions toward a particular perspective, often affecting scientific research and social interactions. – Recognizing and mitigating biases in experimental design is critical to ensure the validity of scientific findings.
Science – A systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. – The scientific method is a cornerstone of science, enabling researchers to test hypotheses and develop theories.
Opossum – A marsupial native to the Americas, often studied in biology for its unique reproductive and adaptive traits. – The opossum’s ability to play dead is a fascinating survival strategy that has intrigued wildlife biologists.
Environment – The natural world or ecosystem in which organisms live, often a focus of ecological and environmental studies. – Understanding the impact of human activities on the environment is crucial for developing sustainable practices.
Education – The process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, and habits, often a focus of social studies. – Education systems around the world are adapting to incorporate digital technologies and promote lifelong learning.
Exploration – The act of investigating or traveling through an unfamiliar area to learn about it, often driving scientific and historical discoveries. – Space exploration has expanded our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
