So far, At the Roots has brought you stories of ocean conservation efforts driven by microscopic fossilized shells, the rapid search for protein-based medical therapies to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and chipmunk behavioral trials taking place in the Sierra Nevada mountains that give us a look into how animal communities are responding to climate change. We have also heard stories of rejection, prejudice and redemption. We have learned what it takes to conduct research inside a large, public university, what it’s like to teach inside classrooms and state penitentiaries, and what it means to be a graduate student right now in the United States. Each story you’ll read here puts these experiences front and center, focusing on communities that have been and continue to be underrepresented in the media.
About At the Roots
What is At the Roots?
Founded by science writer and educator Olivia Jerram, At the Roots is a journalism project created to diversify science reporting. Each story features scientists whose experiences have historically been excluded from the media for reasons including but not limited to their gender identity, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities and religious views.
Who should participate?
At the Roots will focus on the graduate students in the Bay Area, and across the country, who are responsible for the bulk of scientific research at universities and who are interested in sharing their personal experiences alongside their research.
Why start now?
Knowing that it is the responsibility of individual journalists to work to deconstruct the biases and reporting gaps of long-standing publications, Olivia wants to do her part to change the way the press reports on science and its scientists. She hopes to present the narratives of those who, growing up, were not able to see themselves represented in mass media as she was.
How to get involved
If you are a graduate student who would like to talk about your research and your experiences in academia and beyond, or if you have questions about the project, please fill out the contact form below.
Get in touch
At the Roots 