1.29.2007

just like you and me!

Yesterday I was talking a little about lab coats, and it reminded me of this funny project Fermilab has online. They asked a visiting seventh grade class to draw pictures of what they think a scientist is like before visiting and after.

The "before" pictures are about what you expect -- almost all Einsteins and Dr. Jekylls -- but I was surprised just how homogenous they were.

"To me, a scientist is bald and has hair coming out of the sides of his head. . . "

"He would also have numerous white lab coats."

Numerous lab coats! Yes, it's true. If you look at all the kids' "before" images, there are numerous lab coats.

Most of the "before" scientists are men, but a few of the girls drew women, too.

The "after" pictures are hilarious in their contrast.

". . . anyone can be a scientist. I saw people walking around in sweatshirts and jeans. Who knows? Maybe I can be a scientist." -- Amanda

"The scientists are really nice and funny people. I first thought of the scientist as a nerdy person or someone walking around with a laptop. Now after I visited Fermilab I know what a real scientist is like. They are just like you and me." -- David

"Actually, they are just people who ask and answer questions." -- Eric (whose "scientist" turned from a nerdy white guy to a black dude who says "sup, yo!")

". . . most of the scientists were in jeans and striped shirts. I even saw a person with a Bulls shirt on. . . . (Scientists are) interesting, smart people who dedicated their lives to what they like with many other lively endeavors, like kids or marriage." -- Kyle

That's right! Scientists can even wear shirts with sports teams on them! Science, contrary to what you might think, is not the opposite of sports.

"The scientists were smart but not like geeks. . . . The scientists were good with kids; they would talk to us so that we could understand them not in scientific terms. . . . The scientists were like me when I was little. The scientists played sports, hung out with their friends and also did not get straight A's in every subject." -- Pat

Again with the sports. Jock OR Nerd: you must choose!

"After today I learned that a scientist is more than a person doing experiments; he is a person with a life." -- Michael (Well, sometimes, Michael, but not always...)


These are Andrea's "before" and "after" -- I think the cool "after" guy looks a little like Bob - no?















While it's true that some of the "before" scientists were women, it was a little sad to see how many kids thought that scientists (of any gender) were all lonely lab types. Like Kyle, who now knows that scientists can have "many other lively endeavors, like kids or marriage." Sandra went so far as to hook her scientist up with a tall dude in her "after" picture.


Comments:
Science is definitely the opposite of sports!

And where's my standard-issue labcoat! It would protect me from spilling coffee on myself while I program.

Quite seriously, it is encouraging that some of the girls drew women, even for the "before" picture
 
wow this post gets an A+. You made my day.
 
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