• Question: what do you think of stereo-types to scientists e.g. glasses big hair e.t.c?

    Asked by bxevb to Allan, Angela, Diva, Harriet, Nathan on 28 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Allan Pang

      Allan Pang answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      I don’t think the stereotype is not as rampant as before. This is mainly because scientists (like us) make an effort now to reach out to the public and let them know how we really look like (and that we look like normal folks!).

      Just judging from our pics up there, none of us really falls into the category of “big messy hair with glasses”.

    • Photo: Nathan Langford

      Nathan Langford answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      While I like to think that I personally don’t fall into these sorts of stereotypes, I have to admit that, in my experience, there can often be more than a little truth to the stereotypes – unfortunately stereotypes often do have some basis in reality!

      I think part of the problem is that these stereotypes sometimes scare away “normal” people from becoming scientists, who would otherwise make really great scientists and be really good at it. So maybe it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

      However, even in physics, which is, let’s face it, one of the geekier sciences, a lot of the people I’ve worked with are people you wouldn’t really pick as a typical physicist if you saw them at a party, although I’ve also met plenty of physicists that would pick from a mile off. But lots of physicists are musicians too in their spare time, or sports people, or mountain climbers or daredevils who do downhill skiing or go hiking across glaciers. Or sometimes all of them at once.

      In fact, I think that physics in particular attracts a large group of people who have lots of different interests, because physics is the science subject that really underlies how everything in the universe works at its deepest level. So physics is related to everything, really… and the funny thing is, while most people don’t realise it, everyone is familiar with physics – they deal with it every day of their lives. So actually, everyone has the potential to be a good physicist, even if they don’t realise it.

      Cheers,
      Nathan.

    • Photo: Diva Amon

      Diva Amon answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      Hey bxevb,

      I know the exact stereotype you mean – male, old, white crazy hair, glasses, usually wearing braces, doesnt really like talking to people! Haha. Working at the Natural History Museum, I’m not going to lie, there are a few of those hanging around. They are however, only a small minority. Most scientists nowadays are like the five people you have been talking to these last few days – normal, friendly, not old with normal hobbies – like you, but a bit older! To be honest, most of the scientists I know like to party A LOT! I think scientists now are keen to share their work with the public and inspire people.

    • Photo: Angela Lamb

      Angela Lamb answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      Those stereotypes make me laugh…….we don’t look like that do we?

Comments

  • Photo: Nathan

    Nathan commented on :

    Added note: If you come back to this page, please feel free to reread my answer. My brain must have been out to lunch when I wrote it the first time – there were a whole bunch of typos that made my answer kind of nonsensical. All fixed now!

  • Photo: Nathan

    Nathan commented on :

    @Diva – Would you believe that one of my old bosses (a really great, very well respected physicist) actually goes around everywhere, both at work and at conferences, in braces and a bow tie – everyday… and he swing dances! Somehow he manages to pull it off, though – it’s quite cute, really, in a geeky sort of way…