What do children think when they draw a scientist?

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Professor Christopher Frayling's research into children's perceptions of scientists reveals that young students consistently depict scientists in stereotypical, outdated ways, often resembling "mad scientists" with wild hair, lab coats, and exaggerated features. This reflects a limited understanding of modern scientists, who are often more relatable and diverse than these caricatures suggest. The discussion highlights how children's images are influenced by cultural representations, such as Einstein and cartoon characters, leading to misconceptions about the profession. Participants in the thread humorously engage with these stereotypes, sharing personal anecdotes and contrasting them with the reality of contemporary scientists, who may not fit the traditional mold. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of these perceptions for science education and public understanding of the scientific community.
  • #51
Nothing at all, like a hide and seek game in which the hider 'hurah hurah..' like very 'old' kids or much lower. But it's fun right ? :wink:
 
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  • #52
I'll be finishing my bachelors in physics this semester and will be heading for graduate school in mechanical engineering...and to top it off, I go to a school SATURATED with geeks and nerds, so you would think I have the nerd-geek thing going.

While I admit I have wild looking hair, my attire isn't all that geeky.

You'll most likely catch me in flannel, jeans, and workboots and outdoors chopping wood...but I have a pair of leather pants as well, just to break away from the "country boy" image.
 
  • #53
Sting said:
I'll be finishing my bachelors in physics this semester and will be heading for graduate school in mechanical engineering...and to top it off, I go to a school SATURATED with geeks and nerds, so you would think I have the nerd-geek thing going.

Congratulations Sting!

So, do you expect your post rate to increase from one per year? :biggrin:
 
  • #54
Evo said:
Oh, and did I mention that this GOD of Quantum Computing took the time to send me a nice e-mail?

Does your scientist-worship have anything to do with being related to this gal?:


Copy_of_bridef5.jpg
 
  • #55
Two cute mathematicians that come to mind right off the bat are Hypatia of Alexandria and Florence Nightingale. Hypatia is considered the first important woman mathematician and Florence Nightengale's work with statistics revolutionized military health care.

I'm a little hesitant to piss off living mathematicians, but I can't resist mentioning Abigail Thompson. I think she's into bondage. :smile:
 
  • #56
Moonbear said:
:smile: As for photos being B&W vs color, sometimes that's just the department they work for choosing B&W so the new photos match the old ones up on some wall somewhere. I always think it's funny when departments never bother to update their photos, so some professor emertitus is still shown in his 30s with a goofy bow-tie on his suit.
Last year I visted the Physics Dept were I worked in the early 80's ... The same pictures of the profs and staff are one the door of the Dept office that were there 20yrs ago.. short a few who have passed away.
 
  • #57
yomamma said:
Just when I thought threads couldn't get any stupider...
*sigh*
Quoted for truth. :biggrin:
 
  • #58
JasonRox said:
They actually had a similar thing for mathematicians.
The result was that kids saw them as old and grumpy.
This is a major misconception and shows how far math education has fallen in public schools.

Scientists wear lab coats, coke bottle glasses, and suffer mental instability due to accidentally inhaling or ingesting chemicals from their lab.

Mathematicians aren't like that, at all, nor are they old and grumpy. They do tend to have lousy wardrobes, but compensate for it with their superior communications skills.

For example,
One time a student went up to John Von Neuman after a calculus lecture. ``Professor Von Neumann," the student said, ``I don't understand how you got the answer to that last problem on the board." Von Neumann looked at the problem for a minute and said, ``e^x." The puzzled student thought he had been unclear. ``I know that's the answer, Professor Von Neumann. I just don't see how to get there." Von Neumann looked at the student for a minute, stared into space, and repeated, ``e^x ". The student started to get frustrated. ``But how did you get that answer?" Von Neumann turned to the student and said, ``Look kid, what do you want? I just did it for you two different ways".

They also tend to appear disoriented.
After a few years at MIT, Norbert Wiener moved to a larger house. His wife, knowing his nature, figured that he would forget his new address and be unable to find his way home after work. So she wrote the address of the new home on a piece of paper which she made him put in his shirt pocket. At lunchtime that day, the professor had a inspiring idea. He pulled the paper out of his pocket and used it to scribble down some calculations. Finding a flaw, he threw the paper away in disgust. At the end of the day he realized he had thrown away his address. He now had no idea where he lived.

Putting his mind to work, he came up with a plan. He would go to his old house and await rescue. His wife would surely realize that he was lost and go to his old house to pick him up. Unfortunately, when he arrived at his old house there was no sign of his wife, only a small girl standing in front of the house. ``Excuse me little girl," he said, ``but do you happen to know where the people who used to live here moved to?" ``It's okay daddy," said the little girl. ``Mommy sent me to get you."
 
  • #59
``It's okay daddy," said the little girl. ``Mommy sent me to get you."
What an amazing story! I'd never heard that one.
 
  • #60
zoobyshoe said:
What an amazing story! I'd never heard that one.
Well, for one thing, the story is an embellishment. Years later, Wiener's daughter was asked about it and denied that he had actually forgotten her name. He did forget where his new house was.
 
  • #61
BobG said:
Well, for one thing, the story is an embellishment. Years later, Wiener's daughter was asked about it and denied that he had actually forgotten her name. He did forget where his new house was.
O.K. If you insist: What a sucky load of misinformation you posted!
 
  • #62
BobG said:
Two cute mathematicians that come to mind right off the bat are Hypatia of Alexandria and Florence Nightingale. Hypatia is considered the first important woman mathematician and Florence Nightengale's work with statistics revolutionized military health care.
I'm a little hesitant to piss off living mathematicians, but I can't resist mentioning Abigail Thompson. I think she's into bondage. :smile:
I think Lisa Randall is quite a lovely physicist.
http://www.physics.harvard.edu/images/profheadshots/randall.jpg
 
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  • #63
What the hell is this?
The "sexy scientists" thread? O_o
 
  • #64
Sting said:
I'll be finishing my bachelors in physics this semester and will be heading for graduate school in mechanical engineering...and to top it off, I go to a school SATURATED with geeks and nerds, so you would think I have the nerd-geek thing going.
While I admit I have wild looking hair, my attire isn't all that geeky.
You'll most likely catch me in flannel, jeans, and workboots and outdoors chopping wood...but I have a pair of leather pants as well, just to break away from the "country boy" image.
I saw your pics! Great hair! Right now it just looks wild and rocker-ish, but when you become an old man you will be able to do a great Einstein impression.:smile:
 
  • #65
Lisa Randall, sure is a pretty physicist (at least on that picture) :biggrin:
 
  • #66
Math Is Hard said:
I think Lisa Randall is quite a lovely physicist.
http://www.physics.harvard.edu/images/profheadshots/randall.jpg
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One can only wonder where that photo was taken - it would probably cause her endless embarrassment if any of her peers saw that photo (as if there were any chance of her peers ever leaving the lab). When caught in her normal environs, she takes pains to conform to the traditional scientist bad hair day. Interview with Lisa Randall

Obviously, the hair thing is an intentional social statement that's clear only to other scientists. Even our own Moonbear added a disclaimer about hair (ever commute to work on West Virginia highways?).

Moonbear said:
Well, Zz can vouch for me...no coke bottle glasses (no corrective lenses of any variety actually), my hair only sticks up when the air is really dry and staticky (or after getting off a roller coaster), and I'm only tempted by blue drinks, not green bubbly ones. Of course I could be the extraordinarily special exception to the rule.
 
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  • #67
BobG said:
When caught in her normal environs, she takes pains to conform to the traditional scientist bad hair day. Interview with Lisa Randall


:!) :!) :!)

Brilliant and Attractive? I think I'm in love...
 
  • #68
I saw your pics! Great hair!.

Thanks :biggrin: . I wish my mom thought the same.

Right now it just looks wild and rocker-ish, but when you become an old man you will be able to do a great Einstein impression.

lol. Interesting you mention that. I wanted to be a rock star for the longest (and I love playing the guitar and drums though I haven't quite gotten use to the whole headbanging thing).

Do you think girls will dig the Einstein impression?
 
  • #69
  • #70
you know, this thread just made me remember something sort of disturbing. when i was a little girl, (well, i still have it now) i had an einstein poster that was above my bed. one day, i was looking at it, and I'm not sure why, i mean, i guess i always looked up to him a bit, and smart guys are pretty attractive and all... but i thought about... well, i... i pictured what he must be like naked...

...

wasn't very awesome.
 
  • #71
kant, I didn't know you could rape gangsters! O_o

Unless I missed something in the popularity stream...
 
  • #72
franznietzsche said:
:!) :!) :!)
Brilliant and Attractive? I think I'm in love...
It's meant to be. Throws rice at franz and Lisa Randall. :approve:
Sting said:
Do you think girls will dig the Einstein impression?
Only the cool ones. :smile:
Gale said:
No no no. The average scientist looks like a gangster raper

i'm not sure why, i mean, i guess i always looked up to him a bit, and smart guys are pretty attractive and all... but i thought about... well, i... i pictured what he must be like naked...
...
wasn't very awesome.
I'm sure he was much hotter in his younger days. Most of the posters I see of him show him when he was much older.
 
  • #73
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  • #74
Math Is Hard said:
I'm sure he was much hotter in his younger days. Most of the posters I see of him show him when he was much older.
Young Einstein, who was, after all the Einstein who did all the physics we remember, had a very intriguing face:

http://www.einstein.ethz.ch/Einstein.jpg

There's always a look in his eyes in these younger pictures which I take to be barely contained amusement.
 
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