Raven Baxter

Raven Baxter (Raven the Science Maven) is an American molecular biologist, rapper, and science communicator. Baxter is a doctoral student at the University at Buffalo and is the founder of STEMbassy, a science advocacy organization and web series. She is recognized in Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40" list for 2020.[1] In 2020, Baxter's innovative science outreach and education about the COVID-19 pandemic, using rap to engage teens, was profiled in the SUNY at Buffalo campus magazine, in an article that described her as "The Queen of Science Rap".[2] During the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok emerged as a novel social media channel for public science, science communication and outreach,[3][4][5] and Baxter has amassed large followings on TikTok and other social media platforms.

Not to be confused with That's So Raven ยง Main characters.
Raven Baxter
Raven Baxter in 2020
Alma mater
Websitewww.scimaven.com

Education

Baxter completed Bachelor's and master's degrees in Biology at Buffalo State College, where she researched protein folding in Caenorhabditis elegans.[6] She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in curriculum, instruction, and the science of learning at University at Buffalo's Graduate School of Education, and was awarded the Arturo Alfonso Schomburg fellowship for her Ph.D. program.[7]

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. Baxter also taught as an assistant professor of biology at Erie Community College, an experience which she says changed her career path.[7]

In 2017, Baxter began publishing science education videos under the moniker "Raven the Science Maven." Her popularity expanded after releasing "Big Ole Geeks," a parody of Megan Thee Stallion's hit "Big Ole Freak." Her next song, "H.B.I.C. (Head Boss in Charge)," was released for International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2020.[8] "Wipe It Down," Baxter's parody of Lil Boosie's "Wipe Me Down," contained information and safety tips related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and received nearly 27,000 views in its first three months.[9]

Baxter was invited to give the opening keynote at SciComm2020[10] and has been published in Mother Jones.[11]

References
  1. "Raven Baxter, 2020 40 under 40 in Health, Fortune". Fortune. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. Robinson, Marcene (May 8, 2020). "Engaging with teens during pandemic". www.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  3. "Coronavirus scientists use TikTok to combat 'rampant misinformation' about vaccines". The Independent. 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  4. "Health Workers Are Going Viral on TikTok for Debunking COVID-19 Myths". Time. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  5. Lorenz, Taylor (2020-12-31). "This Is Why You Heard About TikTok So Much in 2020". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-30.
  6. "Immunological Strategies to Study GRP170 in Caenorhabditis elegans". Buffalo State College. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. "Our Stories: Raven Baxter '14, '16". Buffalo State. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. Berg, Alex. "That's So Raven (The Science Maven)". AM2DM. Buzzfeed News. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. Hastinges, Cole. "Raven the Science Maven's "Wipe It Down" Goes Viral on YouTube". Buffalo Rising. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  10. "Raven the Science Maven: Raven Baxter 2020 SciComm Keynote Speaker 1". Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  11. 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.
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