Raven Baxter
{{Short description|American science communicator and educator}}
{{for|the fictional character|Raven Baxter (character)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP primary sources|date=June 2021}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=June 2021}}
}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raven Baxter
| other_names = Raven the Science Maven
| image = Raven_Baxter_smiling.png
| alt = A portrait photo of Raven Baxter, wearing
| caption = Baxter in 2020
| employer = Buffalo Public Schools, Erie Community College
| education = {{Plainlist | * Buffalo State College (B.S. 2014, M.A. 2016), University of Buffalo (Ph. D. 2021)
| occupation = science communicator, musician, YouTube personality
| years_active = 2017-Present
}}
| website = {{URL|www.scimaven.com}}
}}
Raven Baxter is an American science communicator and STEM educator. Baxter began posting science education videos on social media under the username Raven the Science Maven in 2017.
Education
Baxter completed bachelor's and master's degrees in biology at Buffalo State College in 2014 and 2016, respectively. In 2021, she earned her Ph.D. in curriculum, instruction, and the science of learning from the University at Buffalo, and was awarded the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.{{cite web |url=http://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/commencement/2021-accessible-pdfs/UB-Graduate-School-of-Education-Commencement-Program-Book-2021.pdf |title=2021 Commencement |publisher=The University at Buffalo |page=7 }} Her dissertation was titled "Culturally responsive Science Communication: The messengers, messages, and voices in communicating science through Hip-Hop".{{cite web| url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/a1736fc5e4c8effe0e7a91f90c9c4d77/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y|title=Culturally responsive Science Communication: The messengers, messages, and voices in communicating science through Hip-Hop |publisher=Buffalo State |accessdate=31 May 2024}}
Career
While pursuing her master's degree, Baxter worked as a substitute teacher in Buffalo Public Schools. She went on to work at AMRI Global in drug discovery following her Master's program and recounted her experiences working as a Black woman in science research in a Mother Jones article.{{cite web |last1=Baxter |first1=Raven |last2=Flynn Mogensen |first2=Jackie |title=I'm a Black Female Scientist. On My First Day of Work, a Colleague Threatened to Call the Cops on Me. |url=https://www.motherjones.com/anti-racism-police-protest/2020/06/blackintheivory-racism-academia-science-stem/ |publisher=Mother Jones |accessdate=10 September 2020}} Baxter also taught as an assistant professor of biology at Erie Community College, an experience which she says changed her career path.{{cite web |title=Our Stories: Raven Baxter '14, '16 |url=https://suny.buffalostate.edu/our-stories/raven-baxter-14-16 |accessdate=10 September 2020 |publisher=Buffalo State}} While completing her Ph.D. program, Baxter worked as an academic adviser at Buffalo State.
Baxter was invited to give the opening keynote at SciComm2020.{{cite web |title=Raven the Science Maven: Raven Baxter 2020 SciComm Keynote Speaker 1 | via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEj6yLfMVCs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/eEj6yLfMVCs |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|accessdate=10 September 2020}}{{cbignore}} Following her tweet floating an idea for a Dirty Jobs spin-off called "Nerdy Jobs", Baxter was contacted by fellow science communicator and Crash Course host Hank Green with an offer to fund a pilot.{{cite magazine |last1=Kearns |first1=Michelle |title=Raven the Science Maven takes off: GSE PhD candidate's science education efforts get rave reviews |url=http://ed.buffalo.edu/magazine/issues/fall-2020/pandemics/science-baxter.html |magazine=Learn Magazine |publisher=University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education |date= 2020|volume=Fall 2020|issue=1|access-date=14 June 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Baxter |first1=Raven |title=Nerdy Jobs S1E1: Exploring the Magic ✨ of Protein Crystallization with Dr. Raven the Science Maven! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siFfzoFv61I |via=YouTube |access-date=10 May 2023}} Also in 2020, Baxter was recognized as an emerging leader in the field of healthcare, when USA Fortune Magazine named her to their "40 Under 40 in Health".{{cite web |date=2020-09-03 |title=Raven Baxter, 2020 40 under 40 in Health, Fortune |url=https://fortune.com/40-under-40/2020/raven-baxter/ |accessdate=10 September 2020 |website=Fortune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Marcene |date=September 15, 2020 |title=Fortune names UB graduate student to ‘40 Under 40’ |url=https://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2020/09/raven-fortune |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.buffalo.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Khatchatryan |first=Astgik |date=2021-08-02 |title=Raven Baxter is the New Director of Diversity Initiatives at UC Irvine's School of Biological Sciences |url=https://orangecoast.com/feature/raven-baxter-is-the-new-director-of-diversity-initiatives-at-uc-irvines-school-of-biological-sciences |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=Orange Coast Mag |language=en}}
Baxter launched a STEM-themed apparel line called Smarty Pants Clothing in January 2021.{{Cite web|last=Howes|first=Laura|date=February 21, 2021|title=Science style and a makeup shake-up|url=https://cen.acs.org/people/profiles/Science-style-makeup-shake/99/i6|access-date=2021-03-30|website=cen.acs.org}}{{cite web |title=STEM Workers: Be Your Unapologetic Self |url=https://gizmodo.com/raven-the-science-maven-has-a-message-for-aspiring-stem-1846366959 |website=Gizmodo |date=27 February 2021 |access-date=11 June 2021}} She presented at the RTI Fellows Program Distinguished Lecture Series on leadership and communication in 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-09|title=The RTI Fellow Program Distinguished Lecture Series: The Modern Lyrics of Leadership and Communication in Science|url=https://www.rti.org/event/rti-fellow-program-distinguished-lecture-series-modern-lyrics-leadership-and-communication|access-date=2021-06-05|website=RTI|language=en}} Also in 2021, Baxter and fellow University of Buffalo PhD candidate Olivia Geneus organized, respectively, the #BlackInSciCom and #BlackInNano Twitter hashtags as part of their #BlackInX initiative to increase visibility of Black scientists.{{cite news |last1=Ly |first1=Heather |title='Black in X' hashtag aims to amplify, celebrate Black voices in science |url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/black-in-x-hashtag-aims-to-amplify-celebrate-black-voices-in-science-university-at-buffalo-phd-candidates/71-f40e6c70-4404-470c-9b0d-0964c7336515 |work=WGRZ |date=1 April 2021 }} She partnered with the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) during Earth Week 2021 to create a series of videos to educate students about climate change.{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Kate |title=NCSE and Raven the Science Maven: A collaboration to help new generations teach climate change |url=https://ncse.ngo/ncse-and-raven-science-maven-collaboration-help-new-generations-teach-climate-change |work=National Center for Science Education |date=13 April 2021 }}
In 2022, Baxter was recognized as an Ebony Magazine Power 100 Trailblazer in STEM, by Forbes Magazine among their "30 Under 30" in Science for her science communication, in particular through rapping, and with a Woman of Distinction Award from the American Association of University Women.{{Cite web |title=Women of Distinction Awards |url=https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/awards/women-of-distinction-award/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Forbes 30 Under 30 2022: Science |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2022/science/ |access-date=2022-01-15 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=STEM Trailblazers Archives |url=https://www.ebony.com/power100-list/stem-trailblazers/ |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=Ebony |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Science and Risk Communication During Outbreaks: From Science Communicators to Journalists |url=https://www.belfercenter.org/event/science-and-risk-communication-during-outbreaks-science-communicators-journalists |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs |language=en}}
As of 2024, she works remotely for Mount Sinai Hospital of New York.
Music
In 2017, Baxter began publishing science education videos under the moniker "Raven the Science Maven." Baxter has used her social media platform to counter misinformation around COVID-19 and vaccines. In 2021, she released "Big Ole Geeks," a parody of Megan Thee Stallion's hit "Big Ole Freak".{{Cite web |last=Currin |first=Grant |title=These Videos Could Boost COVID Vaccination Rates |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/these-videos-could-boost-covid-vaccination-rates/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Scientific American |language=en}} "Wipe It Down," Baxter's parody of Lil Boosie's "Wipe Me Down," contained information and safety tips related to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Raven Baxter {{!}} Keynote Speaker {{!}} AAE Speakers Bureau |url=https://www.aaespeakers.com/keynote-speakers/raven-baxter#profile |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=www.aaespeakers.com}} Baxter's "The Antibody Song", a parody of Megan Thee Stallion's "Body", went viral.{{cite news |last1=Fallik |first1=Dawn |date=26 September 2021 |title=Black female biologist tests, entertains and explains science on TV, social media |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/raven-the-science-maven/2021/09/24/e3415e9a-155c-11ec-9589-31ac3173c2e5_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post}} In response to one controversial tweet made by Nicki Minaj on side effects of vaccines, Baxter shared a rap song she made on how vaccines work.{{Citation|title=Antibodyody Antibody Song - Raven the Science Maven|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBpQg6JMxSc|language=en|access-date=2022-01-06}}{{Cite web|last=Wagner|first=Bayliss|title=Fact check: COVID-19 vaccine doesn't cause side effects in Nicki Minaj tweet|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/09/15/fact-check-covid-19-vaccine-doesnt-cause-symptoms-nicki-minaj-tweet/8336127002/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}
Personal life
In May 2024, while she was in the process of buying a condo in Virginia Beach, Baxter's broker informed her that the seller rescinded the agreement because she learned that Baxter was Black. Baxter shared the news on Twitter, and following advice of commenters, filed discrimination claims with the Virginia Fair Housing Office and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Baxter's broker later said that the seller changed her mind, and The New York Times reported that the sale was set to close later in the summer.{{Cite news |last=Kamin |first=Debra |date=2024-05-31 |title=She Made an Offer on a Condo. Then the Seller Learned She Was Black. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/realestate/race-home-buying-raven-baxter.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
Awards
- 2022 Woman of Distinction Award from the American Association of University Women
- Ebony Magazine Power 100 Trailblazer in STEM
- 2022 Named to Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 in Science
- 2020 Named to Fortune Magazine's 40 Under 40 in Health
- 2018 Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship, the University at Buffalo{{Cite web |title=Get to Know Our Scholars |url=https://www.buffalo.edu/fellowships/start/our-scholars.schomburg.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.buffalo.edu |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.scimaven.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baxter, Raven}}
Category:Buffalo State College alumni
Category:American science communicators
Category:American Internet celebrities
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century African-American women
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:African-American rappers