2016 AAAS Annual Meeting (February 11-15, 2016)

February 10 - 15, 2016

Trying on Identities: Science Engagement of Adolescents

The importance of identity for learning and pursuing science is just beginning to be recognized, as evidenced by the National Research Council naming “identity” as a core informal science learning strand. Early adolescence, in particular, is a time when many explore what kind of person they are. This symposium investigates dimensions of identity related to science engagement during this period of life. Enduring essentialist beliefs in many cultures consider science “essentially” masculine or reserved for elite racial/ethnic groups; others do not. How do adolescents experience ideas about science, relative to their other identities? How do societal ideas about social status and characteristics appropriate for science careers contribute to variations in the diversity of scientists in different societies, cultures, and economies? Using a range of data sources, theoretical perspectives, and disciplinary insights, this symposium explores how psychology, sociology, and formal and informal education research is engaging early adolescents with science in various social contexts.