Quick, picture a scientist. Imagine as many details as you can, including surrounding details.
What did you think of? Was it an older white guy wearing a white lab coat in a white-walled room? Perhaps he also held test tubes brimming with colorful concoctions and an equation-strewn chalkboard filled the wall behind him. Given our interests on this blog, maybe the scientist wore a thick sweater, a thicker beard, and had an eye glued to an eyepiece.
Of course, when we think about it, we all know this description isn’t accurate. Men, women, young, old, white, black, and everything in between — scientists can take on many forms and work in a variety of environments. But still, the stereotype can stick with us when we don’t think about it, painting generic scientists as old white men in lab coats. It’s just one of those depictions that’s so ingrained in our culture that it can be hard to overcome.
That’s why I love the website This Is What A Scientist Looks Like, which shows off photographs of real-life scientists who (mostly) defy the stereotype. You might find a lab coat or two, but you’ll also see pictures featuring scenic vistas, camels, handstands, pets, children, and LEGOs. The sheer diversity of locations, poses, and people really helps reinforce that anyone and everyone can become a scientist.
The site, developed by environmental multimedia specialist Allie Wilkinson, is still new, so the archives don’t extend very far, but it’s fun to page through the content and digitally “people watch.” Plus, any interested scientists can submit a photo of themselves to help the rolls grow.
Do you know of any other sites or projects designed to help “change the perception of who and what a scientist is or isn’t,” like this one? Have any interesting anecdotes about not looking like a traditional scientist? Let us know in the comments below!