Scientific Methods

Thursday, March 30, 2006

HOW THE WORLD SEES SCIENTISTS







Yesterday I had the privilege of both presenting a talk on Ecological Informatics or Eco-informatics and to listen to some thought-provoking presentations. One of the presenters “Marina Joubert from Southern Science really got me thinking about Science and Transformation. She asked that we all do a Google Image search with the word “Scientist” - http://images.google.com/images?q=scientist&hl=en

Well what you get is

Weird

White

Male

Wears glasses/goggles and a lab coat

All seem to be lab-rats holding a test tube

Having funny or no hair!

So how can we change this image?

Is this the real face of science?

What transformations are needed to make science more representative of our demography globally and nationally?

Do developing countries have scientists?

Do we spend all of our time wearing a white coat and living in wet lab?


Here are some links to the Summit and the Student Network

http://www.saeon.ac.za/students/




http://www.saeon.ac.za/2006/opening-of-the-saeon-summit/

posted by Rich Knight at 3/30/2006 10:23:00 PM

2 Comments:

  • Delicate subject

    I don't believe that politics or demographics has anything to do with science, though some may not agree.

    My definition of a scientist is someone who questions the multitude of possibilities that lie outside of our understanding, to provide an applied solution to problems that will be encountered.
    Being a scientist is a state of mind, not qualification.

    Science is also not perfect, and the quest of science and improvement is probably fueled by our own imperfection...

    Cheers

    David

    By Blogger davidvaughan, at Saturday, April 01, 2006 10:03:00 PM  

  • That's true, just look at the BCB department and you will see some of the scientific characteristics!
    White
    Weird
    MALE
    Have funny or no hair

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at Sunday, April 02, 2006 9:09:00 PM  

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