How to Draw a Scientist with Allison Crimmins

It’s no secret that 2017 was a trash year, and 2018 hasn’t been…easy. But somehow, we’re still here, making it work—and even finding inspiration, joy, and success. We want to talk about how we’re coping during even the most trying political and cultural times. To help us, we sit down with none other than a climate scientist working in government to find out how _she’s _keeping her head up in rough times.

> I try as much as I can to talk with college kids or high school kids and most of the time my message is just, “Hi, I’m a scientist and I also happen to be a woman.” It doesn’t have to be much more complicated than that.

>

> _—Allison Crimmins, climate scientist_

Here’s what’s in store in Episode 6 (and as always, there’s a full transcript):

## Show notes

First up, we look back on last year and how we made it through. We talk about how even though we had some big successes, it was hard to feel accomplished while the world seemed to burn in turmoil. We discuss:

- How we stayed (and stay) focused amidst a never-ending news cycle

- Why asking for help is important

- Why being accountable to something or someone can serve as a bright north star

We also discover how to recognize when it’s OK to just turn off and tune out. Hint: it’s always OK when that’s the most healthy choice.

### Interview: Allison Crimmins

Our guest this week is Allison Crimmins, a badass friend who works on climate change in Washington, DC, during the day and [cancer research](https://remedyplan.com/) at night—no big. She takes us through her typical Tuesday and tells us how the hell she’s doing these days. We cover:

- Doing good work during crap times.

- How limitations and constraints can feel frustrating but also provide opportunities to be more creative and strategic about accomplishing goals.

- Why good communication matters—and if you truly understand and believe in your work, you should know how to talk about it.

- Being seen and heard as a woman in a male-heavy field, and normalizing it so we can talk more about the actual work we’re doing.

- Cutting through the mysticism around science and STEM, and how you don’t have to be a super nerdy genius to be a scientist—you just have to be curious.

- When kids draw what they think a scientists looks like, the results will astound you! (No, they won’t, but we need to change that.)

- How bobsledding and curling might just reignite our faith in the human spirit.

### Fuck Yeah of the Week

Finally, we swoon over the unveiling of the absolutely brilliant Obama portraits. If you haven’t checked the work of [Amy Sherald](http://www.amysherald.com/), who painted Michelle Obama, and [Kehinde Wiley](http://kehindewiley.com/), who painted Barack Obama—[do it now](https://www.npr.org/2018/02/13/585299081/obama-portraits-unveiled-at-national-portrait-gallery).

## Sponsors

This episode of NYG is brought to you by: