The phrase might be that “kids say the funniest things” but one young student actually spoke a lot of sense when she excitedly described animal poo as a “facts envelope”.
The savvy third-grade student – aged eight or nine – explained that poop “contains lots of scientific information about the creature it came from” before declaring she was going to be a poop scientist when she was older, according to her teacher.
Ashley Semrick shared the story on Twitter, adding “You’re welcome, world”.
One of my 3rd grade students just excitedly referred to animal poop as a “facts envelope” that “contains lots of scientific information about the creature it came from.” And then proclaimed she was going to grow up and be an animal poop scientist.
YOU’RE WELCOME, WORLD.
— Ashley Semrick (@HelloSemrick) June 13, 2018
While it might be a little bit funny talking about poop, the internet was full of helpful replies to encourage the would-be poop scientist with her ambition, suggesting everything from books and websites to podcasts.
One person wrote: “Rock on, poop science girl!”.
There’s a great kids book your student might enjoy, I think called “who pooped in the park?” A family walking around a national park and looking at scat and tracks and discussing what it says about the animals who left them
— Alan Grossfield (@agrossfield) June 14, 2018
She should check out @ConservationK9 and @uw Wasser lab! Doing amazing conservation work on orcas, elephants, pangolins… All with poop
— ScienceEduPartner (@SEPHutch) June 14, 2018
She may wish to look up 'coprolites' – we can learn much about our ancient past from coprolites.
— MPG (@sciencegal_NZ) June 14, 2018
You might want to share this podcast with her! 📻https://t.co/dnaafp2So6 (It's a two-part series on dinosaur poop from @TumbleCast)
— Lindsay Patterson (@_lindsayp) June 14, 2018
People already working as scatologists – the proper name for a poop scientist – and in connected fields were welcoming the newcomer to the profession.
Awesome!! There's lots of us out here! @MutantBug @OxonAndrew @katymeturner @WillHGaze to name a few! She'll be in good company!! 😊
— Kristen Reyher (@Reyher_UofBVet) June 14, 2018
This is fantastic. I studied rhino diet through their poop for my Masters. What a cool kid🙌🏼. And @RhinosBotswana JUST tweeted about the power of poop yesterday 😃
— Gayle Pedersen (@RhinoGayle) June 14, 2018
I'm building a whole career on poop! This kid is my kinda scientist! https://t.co/NQak0fgqNV
— Melissa Ingala (@bat_biomes) June 14, 2018
I’m a Vet Tech and a Lab Tech; I’ve played with a lot of poop—and she is absolutely right!! 💩can be fascinating as well as informative…#LabRat #howsyourpoop
— Stacy M Harvey (@StacyMHarvey) June 14, 2018
Others were just so happy the young girl was already thinking about her future.
It is nice to have a mission :-)Seriously, kudos to your student.
— Pino Tattari (@pinotattari) June 14, 2018
3rd graders get it. This little scientist is great https://t.co/T15q1lM4lu
— One Crazy Brown Sick Bitch 🇮🇳🇺🇸 (@i_saritav) June 14, 2018
my sister-in-law did her undergraduate biology thesis on facts conveyed by animal poop! YOU CAN DO THIS, kid.
— Andromeda Yelton (@ThatAndromeda) June 14, 2018
Turns out, the pupil is not the only future poop scientist Twitter knows about.
One of my proudest moments working at @EdinburghZoo was when a child asked me why the panda droppings were different colours, and I explained how they study them to learn about the animals, he too proclaimed "When I grow up I want to be a Poo Scientist!" https://t.co/PJJvS3T0xm
— Laura Allen (@laurajallen) June 14, 2018
Understandably, the teacher was also praised for her work.
Teaching. You're doing it right.
— Reynardo the Fox (@Reynardo_red) June 14, 2018
This is the best thing that I have read today. Great job sounds like you are an amazing teacher.
— cindy (@ls1cindy) June 14, 2018
Awesome! #Poopscience is the best! Fortunately, like her, I had a 3rd grade teachers who encouraged my animal obsession and I got to grow up to be a #poopscientist ??
— Michelle Rodrigues (@MARspidermonkey) June 14, 2018