This Dec. 3, 2019, photo, ecologist Nalini Nadkarni is shown in her lab on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City holding a Barbie created to look like her when she’s climbing into the treetops to study the rainforest canopy. Nadkarni’s childhood climbing trees shaped her career and now she’s hoping she can get help kids interested in science in an new way: Barbies. Nadkarni has long created her own “treetop Barbies” and has now helped Mattel and National Geographic create a line of dolls with careers in science and conservation. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – After her daughter asked for a Barbie, University of Utah forest ecologist Nalini Nadkarni decided to re-fashion the iconic dolls as a scientist-explorer in rubber boots rather than high heels. Nadkarni said Barbie-maker Mattel wasn’t interested in the idea then, so she decided to redo dolls herself.
Last year, Mattel began working to create a new line of scientist Barbies and Nadkarni joined a team of female scientists advising the company.
She believes Mattel’s investment in the dolls reflects a broader cultural shift toward recognizing women in science, math and technology that could spark an appreciation for science among kids.
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