My Photo

Salut!

  • Jen-Luc Piquant sez: "They like us! They really like us!"

    "Explains physics to the layperson and specialist alike with abundant historical and cultural references."
    -- Exploratorium ("10 Cool Sites")

    "... polished and humorous..."
    -- Physics World

    "Takes 1 part pop culture, 1 part science, and mixes vigorously with a shakerful of passion."
    -- Typepad (Featured Blog)

    "In this elegantly written blog, stories about science and technology come to life as effortlessly as everyday chatter about politics, celebrities, and vacations."
    -- Fast Company ("The Top 10 Websites You've Never Heard Of")
Blog powered by Typepad
Bookmark and Share

« GUEST POST (#PDEx): the scientist and the anarchist (part I) | Main | _+3=5+7=_: it depends what 'equals' equals »

Comments

Have to confess I've only regularly watched two shows on that list (NCIS/Lost).

Regarding kids and occupational stereotypes, I'm reminded that when my cousins were preschoolers, they visited my parents' farm, and after seeing the sheep and the cows and so on they wanted to see the farmer. The news that my mother was the farmer was met with utter disbelief.

Stereotypes like this are so insidious though, they are very difficult to change, and it's almost impossible to pinpoint their source. I just finished a year-long study with a group of elementary school science students. Their teacher was excellent and engaged the students regularly in active inquiry. He challenged the stereotypes of science learning at every step. When we asked the kids what it meant to study science, we were shocked when they told is that science classes are about reading textbooks and filling out worksheets (they didn't even use a textbook!). Instead of reflecting on their own experiences, they fell back on a stereotype. Cool sciency tv characters probably won't change perceptions too quickly either (doesn't mean they're not cool in their own right though!).
On the topic of Big Bang Theory, I am steadfastly in the dislike category. This was greatly reinforced a couple of months ago. I was in a meeting with a faculty member colleague who insisted on calling physics profs and students "wall gazers" (as in, they would rather stare at the wall as you walk by than look directly at you). His supporting evidence: the characters on Big Bang Theory.

I really enjoy Big Bang Theory, but I'm a bit upset that all (both) female scientists in that series tend to be nymphomaniacs. I hope they open up for more normal female scientists in future episodes.

Ya, I can't be on much of a high horse about Big Bang Theory - there are lots of stereoptypical characters that I like (incl. Walter Bishop). It's just not my thing.
I wondered though why the list changed from those that break the stereotype to those that fit it but that are popular with audiences. Does each have a different role to play in how we understand the character "scientist" in popular culture? Just a thought...

Here's a quick list I put together after Diandra's Article:
Eureka
Allison Blake
Douglas Fargo
Henry Deacon
Zane Donovan
Tess Fontana
Nathan Stark

Big Bang Theory
Sheldon Cooper
Leonard Hofstadter
Howard Wolowitz
Raj Koothrappali
Leslie Winkle

SG-1
Samantha Carter
Daniel Jackson
Bill Lee

SG Atlantis
Rodney McKay
Radek Zalenka

SG-U
Nicolas Rush
Eli Wallace
Adam Brody
Lisa Park
Dale Volker

Sanctuary
Helen Magnus
Will Zimmerman
Henry Foss
Nicola Tesla

Warehouse 13
Claudia Donovan

NCIS
Abby Sciuto

Numb3rs
Charlie Eppes
Anita Ramanujan
Larry Fleinhardt

Lost
Daniel Faraday

Primeval
Nick Cutter
Helen Cutter
Abby Maitland
Connor Temple
Sarah Page
Stephen Hart

Torchwood
Toshiko Sato
Owen Harper

I cannot recall a moment when I didn't want to be a scientist. And there is no doubt that this desire emerged from science fiction books, movies, and television programs. The thing is, the attraction of science didn't really have all that much to do with the way scientists were portrayed. I didn't much care if these fictional scientists were destructive psychopaths or happy family men or loners out in space with their special robot friends. I was attracted to the aesthetics of science. I was seduced by the beauty and power of science and what it could achieve. Science, to me, was akin to magic and I wanted to learn its secrets. Which means that I worry less about how scientists are portrayed and more about the way science is portrayed. So long as an effort is made to present science as something good and creative, kids of all types will be inspired.

My favorite depiction of a scientist was William Hurt's in Altered States. Frankly, I can't see my little kids wanting to be fashion models because they are (arguably) pretty, nor do I think they'd skip being a scientist because of Big Bang Theory. I think what is more important is that kids see folks from their socioeconomic background that are real scientists.

I'd also concur with RD Padouk. You do science because you are absolutely in love with it.

Well, I love Abby! I love her look and her personality. She makes the show entertaining.

The comments to this entry are closed.

Twitter Updates

    follow me on Twitter

    Physics Cocktails

    • Heavy G
      The perfect pick-me-up when gravity gets you down.
      2 oz Tequila
      2 oz Triple sec
      2 oz Rose's sweetened lime juice
      7-Up or Sprite
      Mix tequila, triple sec and lime juice in a shaker and pour into a margarita glass. (Salted rim and ice are optional.) Top off with 7-Up/Sprite and let the weight of the world lift off your shoulders.
    • Listening to the Drums of Feynman
      The perfect nightcap after a long day struggling with QED equations.
      1 oz dark rum
      1/2 oz light rum
      1 oz Tia Maria
      2 oz light cream
      Crushed ice
      1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
      In a shaker half-filled with ice, combine the dark and light rum, Tia Maria, and cream. Shake well. Strain into an old fashioned glass almost filled with crushed ice. Dust with the nutmeg, and serve. Bongos optional.
    • Combustible Edison
      Electrify your friends with amazing pyrotechnics!
      2 oz brandy
      1 oz Campari
      1 oz fresh lemon juice
      Combine Campari and lemon juice in shaker filled with cracked ice. Shake and strain into chilled cocktail glass. Heat brandy in chafing dish, then ignite and pour into glass. Cocktail Go BOOM! Plus, Fire = Pretty!
    • Hiroshima Bomber
      Dr. Strangelove's drink of choice.
      3/4 Triple sec
      1/4 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
      2-3 drops Grenadine
      Fill shot glass 3/4 with Triple Sec. Layer Bailey's on top. Drop Grenadine in center of shot; it should billow up like a mushroom cloud. Remember to "duck and cover."
    • Mad Scientist
      Any mad scientist will tell you that flames make drinking more fun. What good is science if no one gets hurt?
      1 oz Midori melon liqueur
      1-1/2 oz sour mix
      1 splash soda water
      151 proof rum
      Mix melon liqueur, sour mix and soda water with ice in shaker. Shake and strain into martini glass. Top with rum and ignite. Try to take over the world.
    • Laser Beam
      Warning: may result in amplified stimulated emission.
      1 oz Southern Comfort
      1/2 oz Amaretto
      1/2 oz sloe gin
      1/2 oz vodka
      1/2 oz Triple sec
      7 oz orange juice
      Combine all liquor in a full glass of ice. Shake well. Garnish with orange and cherry. Serve to attractive target of choice.
    • Quantum Theory
      Guaranteed to collapse your wave function:
      3/4 oz Rum
      1/2 oz Strega
      1/4 oz Grand Marnier
      2 oz Pineapple juice
      Fill with Sweet and sour
      Pour rum, strega and Grand Marnier into a collins glass. Add pineapple and fill with sweet and sour. Sip until all the day's super-positioned states disappear.
    • The Black Hole
      So called because after one of these, you have already passed the event horizon of inebriation.
      1 oz. Kahlua
      1 oz. vodka
      .5 oz. Cointreau or Triple Sec
      .5 oz. dark rum
      .5 oz. Amaretto
      Pour into an old-fashioned glass over (scant) ice. Stir gently. Watch time slow.