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'Gooooooo Science!'

Nov 05, 2010

Cheerleaders aren't just for the jocks anymore — now scientists have their own bevy of pretty women with pom-poms to cheer them along. A former professional cheerleader, Darlene Cavalier, has formed the Science Cheerleaders — a squad of current and former NFL cheerleaders who are involved in science and engineering, according to Randy Olson at The Benshi blog. Olson filmed the squad as they performed at the US Science and Engineering Festival two weeks ago. What the world needs even more than education, Olson says, is the "motivation" to go out and learn. The Science Cheerleaders help do that, he adds.

Zen Faulkes at NeuroDojo says he's having a bit of trouble adjusting to the idea of science cheerleaders. But, he adds, "I’ve written about the need to have science 'fans' in the ways that sports has 'fans.' We scientists need evangelists, and I don’t doubt for one second that these women are wonderful evangelists."

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