The 'Scientist' Stereotype

The reality is that most scientists are pretty normal people, at least outside the
laboratory setting. As a matter of fact, there are some unique characteristics that may be
more prevalent in the scientific community, most which can contribute positively to the
organization.

Is It Working For or Against You?

Take a look around your lab, and then glance at your image in a mirror. How many
white guys in white lab coats with unruly hair, a clipboard, horn-rimmed glasses,
and evil intentions do you see? Thats the stereotype that most children from
kindergarten through college have of a scientist. Incidentally, several programs are
underway to change this stereotype; the most effective seems to involve having
working scientists visit schools and chat with kids.

A more common stereotype held by many adults evokes a smart, hardworking, male,
eccentric, isolated workaholic who works 80-hour weeks slaving away in a lonely
laboratory. These images convey social isolation and an unbalanced life. These
stereotypes may also make adults more suspicious of scientists and less supportive of
the policies that scientists represent. They also imply someone who is socially ill at
ease, with limited interpersonal skills and a tendency to see things in black and white
based on the data.

Stereotypes are highly effective in helping our brains react to complex situations;
however, they have possible prejudicial effects, including the following:

Justification of ill-founded prejudices or ignorance

Unwillingness to rethink ones attitudes and behaviour toward a stereotyped
group
Preventing some people of stereotyped groups from entering or succeeding
in activities or fields like science

Whats the reality?

Some of the elements of this stereotype are certainly true. For example: smart and
hardworking; but eccentric, socially isolated, living an unbalanced life? I dont think so.
Here are some other important characteristics that may not have been elevated to the
status of stereotype. However, they probably do have an impact on the attitude people
have about scientists.

Curiosity about how things work

Determination when focused on solving a problem
Resilience after failure (they are a fact of life in research and create new
research opportunities)

Adapted from: http://www.labmanager.com/leadership-and-staffing/2009/04/scientist-

stereotype-is-it-working-for-or-against-you-
Why the Scientist Stereotype Is Bad for
Everyone, Especially Kids

To many, science is something like North Korea. Not only is it impossible to read or
understand anything that comes out of that place, there are so many cultural
differences that its barely worth trying. Its easier just to let them get on with their
lives while you get on with yours; as long as they dont take our jobs or attack our way
of life, well leave them in peace.

Thats very frustrating to scientists, who often complain about the lack of public
interest in what science has to say. Theyre right to be frustrated: all our futures are
dependent on proper engagement with science. So, how to solve this problem?

Apparently, the problem doesnt lie with the science. It lies with the scientists. Or rather
the myth the scientists have created around themselves. To set an example, theres the
ongoing and ever-entertaining Draw A Scientist experiment. Its been done in
various ways since 1957, and the result has always been pretty much the same. Ask
children in second grade and upwards to draw a scientist, and you are presented with a
white male wearing a white lab coat, glasses and an excess of facial hair.

But this comical spectacle takes a more sinister turn when you ask children to draw a
second scientist. In one fourth grade class set this task, almost half the children drew
images containing danger and threat: Frankensteins, bombs, poisons and even one
scientist holding a test tube high over his head while shouting, With this I destroy the
world.

We are not consciously aware of it, but we have a deeply-rooted suspicion of

scientists. They are not like us. They are not fun, they are not well turned-out human
beings, and if pushed, we will admit we think they are dangerous.

The point is that scientists need to step out of the lab and into the classroom.
Unfortunately, the suppression of the reality of science has had unintended
consequences. The worst of these is in students engagement with science education.
After all, what child would aspire to possessing a white coat, a glum demeanor, glasses
and too much facial hair when there are pop singers, sports stars and artists to emulate?

The most important thing scientists can do for our future, to provoke an appropriate
reaction to climate change research or to help future generations find a way out of the
energy crisis, is not to moan about Congressional funding for physics, the lack of
understanding about climate change or the rise of creationism. Its much simpler than
that. They need to step out of the lab and into the classroom.

Go into a school and ask is science fun? and some children will give you an outright
no. Let them interact with a real working scientist, and their perception changes. Look
at the before and after pictures, and the comments from seventh-graders who spent
time with physicists from the Fermilab accelerator facility. They quickly realized that a
white coat, facial hair, glasses and a penis isnt standard issue and neither are the
scientists mad, bad and dangerous to know. It might not seem like much, but it might
just be enough to safeguard all our futures.

Adapted from: https://www.wired.com/2012/06/opinion-scientist-stereotype/