Got a good reminder today about how small things can make a big difference.

First lecture for a cohort of data science students.

I teach communications. We talked about how data doesn't speak for itself. It ust be contextualized... and it will get politicized. I said it would be used and abused in fights like women's rights, trans rights, minority rights... Data is never apolitical.

A student came up to me telling me how refreshing I was and was nearly in tears as they said no professor ever talked about trans rights before.

I think they felt seen for the first time at least at this institution. I certainly was not expecting such a response.

Small thing that went a long way