Raven Baxter

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For the fictional character, see
Raven Baxter (character)
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Raven Baxter
A portrait photo of Raven Baxter, wearing
Raven Baxter in 2020
Pronunciation
  • ˈreɪvən ˈbækstər
NationalityAmerican
Other namesRaven the Science Maven
Alma mater
  • University of Buffalo
    (Ph. D. 2021)
Scientific career
FieldsScience Education, Science Communication, Molecular Biology, Music
InstitutionsBuffalo Public Schools, Erie Community College
Academic advisorsDaniel L. Potts (undergrad), Gregory J. Wadsworth (grad), Noemi Waight (grad)
Websitewww.scimaven.com

Raven Baxter (also known as Raven the Science Maven) is an American science communicator, molecular biologist, and STEM educator. She is recognized in Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40 in Health" list for 2021, and Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2022.

Education

Baxter attended Williamsville North High School where she competed as a track and field athlete in long jump, triple jump, discus, and sprinting.[1]

Baxter completed Bachelor's (2014) and master's (2016) degrees in biology at

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg fellowship from her Ph.D. program.[4]

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. Baxter also taught as an assistant professor of biology at Erie Community College, an experience which she says changed her career path.[4] While completing her Ph.D. program, Baxter worked as an academic adviser at Buffalo State.

Baxter was an invited speaker at TEDxGreatMills in September 2020, where she discussed her experiences as a Black woman working as a corporate research scientist.[5][6] Baxter started a group called Black in Science Communication.[7]

Baxter 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.[8]

Baxter was invited to give the opening keynote at SciComm2020[9] and has been published in Mother Jones.[10] She was selected as a Distinguished Lecturer for the RTI Fellows Program in 2021.[11]

Baxter launched Smarty Pants Clothing in January 2021.[12][13] Smarty Pants features STEM-themed apparel and accessories. Ten percent of sales goes toward college scholarships.

Following her tweet floating an idea for a

Crash Course host Hank Green with an offer to fund a pilot.[6][14]

Baxter uses her social media platform to counter misinformation around COVID-19 and vaccines. 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.[15] "Vaccines are significantly proving to be saving lives, the more people who get them, the better it is for us all," she said.[16]

Recognition

In 2020, Baxter was recognized as one of Fortune's "40 under 40 in Health".[17]

In 2021, Baxter was the winner of the

SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence - Special Service: COVID-19.[18] She was also featured on the cover of issue #8 of Reinvented Magazine.[19]

In 2022, Baxter was recognized as one of Forbes's "30 Under 30" for her viral raps and science communication.[20][21]

Prominent talks and interviews

Raven was a Distinguished Lecturer at Princeton University[22]

Harvard Science Communication panel hosted by Dr. Syra Madad, director of NYC public hospital

Narrated a COVID-19 series for the American Museum of Natural History[23]

Joined Mark Zuckerberg in a Facebook Live Audio Room to announce the launch of Bulletin, a platform for independent writers. Interviewed by Facebook Founder CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Raven discussed her newsletter titled Science and the Culture, which discussed intersections between society and the sciences.[24]

Interviewed by Jada Pinkett Smith and family on The Red Table Talk[25]

Interview with Harper’s Bazaar[26]

Participated on the Starz Take The Lead panel brings together thought leaders, entertainers, and advocates for a series of conversations on the pathways to inclusion and empowerment in the entertainment industry and beyond. Raven spoke alongside others, including fellow rapper Method Man.[27]

National Science Teacher’s Association Keynote[28]

Awards and accolades

Afrotech Future 50[29]

Woman of Distinction Award[30]

EBONY Power 100[31]

Keynote speakers

UC Irvine School of Biological Sciences[32]

Phi Sigma Rho's National Conference 2022

National Science Teaching Association

National PTA Conference[22]

Gairdner's Science Literacy Week[33]

Listed AAE Speakers' Black Female Motivational Speaker [34]

Mentions in academic works

Music

In 2017, Baxter began publishing science education videos under the moniker "Raven the Science Maven."[20] In 2021, she released "Big Ole Geeks," a parody of Megan Thee Stallion's hit "Big Ole Freak."[35] "Wipe It Down," Baxter's parody of Lil Boosie's "Wipe Me Down," contained information and safety tips related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[36] Baxter, who performs as Raven the Science Maven, released an updated version of “The Antibody Song” to the tune of rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s “Body,” a hit that resonated with many pandemic-weary listeners and inspired multiple trends on TikTok. Baxter’s song went viral, teaching nearly three million listeners across several platforms about B cells, macrophages and opsonization.[37][35][38]

References

  1. ^ "Sec. 6 ECIC Champs 2009 - Complete Girls (Raw)". MileSplit New York. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  2. ^ Baxter-Christian, Raven (August 2017). Immunological Strategies to Study GRP170 in Caenorhabditis elegans (Thesis).[non-primary source needed]
  3. ^ "2021 Commencement" (PDF). The University at Buffalo. p. 7.
  4. ^ a b "Our Stories: Raven Baxter '14, '16". Buffalo State. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Raven Baxter". TEDxGreatMills. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b Kearns, Michelle (2020). "Raven the Science Maven takes off: GSE PhD candidate's science education efforts get rave reviews". Learn Magazine. Vol. Fall 2020, no. 1. University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. ^ Ly, Heather (1 April 2021). "'Black in X' hashtag aims to amplify, celebrate Black voices in science". WGRZ.
  8. ^ Carter, Kate (13 April 2021). "NCSE and Raven the Science Maven: A collaboration to help new generations teach climate change". National Center for Science Education.
  9. ^ "Raven the Science Maven: Raven Baxter 2020 SciComm Keynote Speaker 1". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. ^ Baxter, Raven; Flynn Mogensen, Jackie. "I'm a Black Female Scientist. On My First Day of Work, a Colleague Threatened to Call the Cops on Me". Mother Jones. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  11. ^ "The RTI Fellow Program Distinguished Lecture Series: The Modern Lyrics of Leadership and Communication in Science". RTI. 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  12. ^ Howes, Laura (February 21, 2021). "Science style and a makeup shake-up". cen.acs.org. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  13. ^ "STEM Workers: Be Your Unapologetic Self". Gizmodo. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  14. ^ Baxter, Raven. "Nerdy Jobs S1E1: Exploring the Magic ✨ of Protein Crystallization with Dr. Raven the Science Maven!". YouTube. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  15. ^ Antibodyody Antibody Song - Raven the Science Maven, retrieved 2022-01-06
  16. ^ Wagner, Bayliss. "Fact check: COVID-19 vaccine doesn't cause side effects in Nicki Minaj tweet". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  17. ^ "Raven Baxter, 2020 40 under 40 in Health, Fortune". Fortune. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  18. ^ "SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence - Special Service: COVID-19". www.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  19. ^ "Eighth Issue: Digital Magazine Pre-sale". Reinvented Magazine. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Forbes 30 Under 30 2022: Science". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  21. ^ "Science and Risk Communication During Outbreaks: From Science Communicators to Journalists". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  22. ^ a b "Amplifying Voices Distinguished Lecture: Raven Baxter, science communicator". Princeton University. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  23. ^ Nakaya, Rion (2021-11-17). "George Washington and a history of vaccines". The Kid Should See This. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  24. ^ "Facebook Unveils Bulletin Newsletter Service With Erin Andrews, Malcolm Gladwell Among First Partners". www.yahoo.com. 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  25. ^ "Reach Out Science Slams 2021 | Museum of Science, Boston". www.mos.org. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  26. ^ "How These Four Women Have Made Their Mark in STEM". Harper's BAZAAR. 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  27. ^ "Summit 2022". Starz #TakeTheLead. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  28. ^ "Houston 22 National Conference on Science Education Keynote Speakers | NSTA". www.nsta.org. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  29. ^ AfroTech (2022-02-21). "Meet The AFROTECH™ Future 50". AfroTech. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  30. ^ "Current Speaker Announcements". AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  31. ^ "STEM Trailblazers Archives". Ebony. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  32. ^ "Fireside chat with Dr. Raven". The Hub. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  33. ^ Foundation, The Gairdner (2022-09-28). "Let's Get Social: Leveraging Social Media for Science". The Gairdner Foundation. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  34. ^ "Raven Baxter | Keynote Speaker | AAE Speakers Bureau". www.aaespeakers.com. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  35. ^ a b Currin, Grant. "These Videos Could Boost COVID Vaccination Rates". Scientific American. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  36. ^ "Raven Baxter | Keynote Speaker | AAE Speakers Bureau". www.aaespeakers.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  37. hdl:10822/1062641
    .
  38. ^ Fallik, Dawn (26 September 2021). "Black female biologist tests, entertains and explains science on TV, social media". Washington Post.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raven_Baxter&oldid=1210627167"