When Story and STEM Collide

When Story and STEM Collide: Faculty Get Personal for 2 Podcast Series
UVA Today / By  Eric Williamson, williamson@virginia.edu

Often when we think of academia, we think of answers. But behind all that knowledge, there are real people who struggle with questions – not just ones that preface their research, but about the choices they should make in life, including how to address obstacles and conflict.

University of Virginia faculty members in science, technology, engineering and math fields shared some of their heartfelt life dilemmas Thursday night for two popular podcast series: “Story Collider” and “HOOS in STEM.”

Self-Confidence, Career
Sarah Kucenas, a professor of biology who specializes in neuroscience research, told the story of how a high school swim coach’s verbal tirade shook her confidence and, for many years, doused her love of swimming.

“He took his stopwatch and threw it at the pool deck, and it shattered into what appeared like a million pieces,” Kucenas said. “And we all stopped dead in the water. ‘Why aren’t you trying harder?’ he screamed.”

He then singled out Kucenas, whose maiden name was Stahlhut. “‘Look at Stahlly. She works so hard, and she doesn’t even have talent.’”

The pool suddenly went from a place of calm and joy for her to a place of self-doubt.

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Photo credit: Neuroscientist Sarah Kucenas shared the story of trying to move past a swimming coach’s biting comments that challenged her feeling of self-worth.