May 6, 2024

Touchpoint 1
Courtney Noah on how it’s time the STEM industry provides more opportunities for women

What is it?
A VP in a biology company credits her biology teacher in high school for unlocking her interest in science. She also learned in high school how to defend an argument and ask questions beyond the textbook.

Potential message for students:
Do you think there will be a person in your life that you credit when you get older? Do you think high school is more about listening or talking as a student? Do you ever get the feeling you are moments away from a defining experience?

Touchpoint 2
The fusion of two sisters into a single woman suggests that human identity is not in our DNA

What is it?
A woman has two genomes and two different DNA sequences, depending on the cell you analyze. Her mother had two eggs fertilized by two sperm that should have made twins, but the eggs fused into one egg that developed into one person. Scientists think DNA is not the thing that defines us, but more of an instruction manual.

Potential message for students:
Would you have ever believed one person could have two different genomes and live? How do you think the genomes divide up the work to make this woman? Do you think it’s random or each genome has taken on specific tasks?

Touchpoint 3
Medical schools in Ontario didn’t want her. So this aspiring family doctor is training in the U.S.

What is it?
A woman applied to medical school in Canada, did not get in, so she moved to the United States and is training to be a doctor. Canada is looking to hire 2,400 doctors and 4.6 million citizens did not have access to a family doctor in 2019.

Potential message to students:
Do you think Canada should accept tons of applicants to medical school, put them on probation, and if they don’t work out, ask them to leave the program? Or do you think Canada should be highly selective and only admit students they think will get through the program?

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