Pride Month is a great time to introduce pupils to the achievements of famous LGBT scientists. Use this free activity booklet to explore key facts about Neena Schwartz – endocrinologist, feminist and LGBTQ+ advocate. There are also fun activities and discussion starters for your students.
Activity ideas
The LGBTQ+ Pride flag comprises rainbow colours. The answers to the statements on the included worksheet are a colour of the rainbow. Pupils need to colour in each question box the correct colour.
In the second task, pupils need to write down the answer for each of the included questions. The first letter of each answer will spell out the answer to the included riddle.
Who was Neena Schwartz?
Neena was an American endocrinologist, feminist and LGBTQ+ advocate. She led research in female reproductive biology and hormones.
Schwartz was also a huge advocate for women in science. To document her experience working as a female scientist, Schwartz wrote a memoir called ‘A Lab of My Own’. In this book she wrote about how she was treated by the male scientists, who often assumed she was only there to pour the tea.
Neena used the memoir as an opportunity to discuss her sexuality. In the book she came out as lesbian. She hoped that her work, and her book, would continue to inspire young female scientists and young gay scientists to go after possibilities and success.
Other famous LGBT scientists
- Sara Josephine Baker – physician
- Alan Turing – mathematician, computer scientist and cryptanalyst
- Sally Ride – astronaut
- Audrey Tang – computer scientist
Pearson is shining a spotlight on scientists who deserve recognition and have positively impacted the way that we live today. Browse all of the packs available here.
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