This Box addresses the Gender Bias of a seemingly objective expert discussion in science. It stresses the problem of underrepresentation of female scientists and their work and displays this visually by the image of an All-Male-Panel. This panel is labeld "Greatest Scientists" and shows Galileo Galilei, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger. You can look into the box through a small hole in the front side. By switching on the integrated flashlight you are able to see the female scientists which are pictured on the. This project is supposed to reveal preconceptions towards the field of Science and emphasize the fact that many great female scientists exist. Our system just makes it quite hard to see them. Therefore, by means of this project I want to (literraly) shed light upon them. And highlight, for all the aspiring students out there, that there are many inspiring female scientists which they could model themselves onto.
Portrait pictures ( 4 male scientists, 11+ female scientists)
Laser Cutter
Soldering iron
Adhesive tape
Photoshop or other program
Steps of assembly:
1.Download box template
2. Download design sketch (1&2, or draw them yourself)
3. Use photoshop (or other program) to cut out scientists heads (with hair witout throat)
4. Transfer design to photoshop and "implante" scientists heads
5. Make sure lines are dark enough for laser cutter to recognize and erase marks you do not want to be cut
6. Transfer box template to Illustrator Program (which is connected to Laser cutter) and assembly all drawing elements (Front:Panel, Flashilight, Sign "Greatest Scientist", lettering "Forgot anyone? Maybe look closer. This might help you"; Back: female scientists), include a circle next to flashlight for the observation hole, as well as another one on the flashlight with the diameter of the push button
7. Turn on the Laser cutter and cut out your parts (Front, Back, Sides, Bottom, Top)
8. If LED is not yet connected to push button, whip out your soldering iron and connect them
9. Install Push Button on flashlight drawing
10.Use adhesive tape to stick LEDs to the inside of the front side of the box
11. Put the box together and if necessary use wood glue to make it more stable (would not recommend if you still need to transport the box)
12. Connect button to Batteries/Powerbank
Finished! Congrats, now you have build an gender bias hacking artefact. :)
Below you can see what the finished box is supposed to look like. Of course you can change the looks of it or maybe focus on a different field, like economics or politics.
This Box addresses the Gender Bias of a seemingly objective expert discussion in science. It stresses the problem of underrepresentation of female scientists and their work and displays this visually by the image of an All-Male-Panel. This panel is labeld "Greatest Scientists" and shows Galileo Galilei, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrödinger. You can look into the box through a small hole in the front side. By switching on the integrated flashlight you are able to see the female scientists, from Marie Curie to Rosalind Franklin, which are shown on the backwall. This project is supposed to reveal preconceptions towards the field of Science and emphasize the outstanding work of female scientists. Even tough this is difficult to notice in our male-dominated system. Therefore, by means of this project I want to (literraly) shed light upon them. And highlight, for all the aspiring students out there, that there are many inspiring female scientists and they could be the next one.
Below you will find my final report about this project. It includes an introduction to the idea behind the box, the method I have used, as well as an explanation regarding its connection to the target group, its current relevance and the final message. Abschlussbericht SoSe19.pdf