A new study shows that many Americans can't name a living scientist.
For the record, although I don't work in a lab anymore, I am a trained Immunologist, and I'll be happy to be anyone's stock answer for a living scientist.
But, seriously - does this mean that most people don't have any friends who are scientists? Or don't think of their high school and college science teachers as scientists? Or aren't even paying attention to Jon Stewart's guests?
Which, for some reason, got me to wondering... Could most Americans name a knitter? (I bet they could - most people know at least one knitter.) And, if so, why aren't knitters being featured on The Daily Show?
(For the record, I am still a knitter (who does knitting), too. Maybe someday I'll have something new to show.)
That's sad about scientists... I guess we're largely wallflower types. :b
Posted by: June | August 06, 2009 at 03:05 PM
I will gladly claim you as "my" scientist...and I'll add several others whom we both know to the tally. Now...knitting scientists...that's a special crowd! Do doctors count?
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Laura says: I sincerely hope all my doctors are also scientists. I know for a fact they all took Organic Chemistry...
Posted by: Erica | August 07, 2009 at 07:11 PM
You're my scientist too! And I think we tend not to think of our teachers as anything but teachers...hence the shock when we see them outside of school!
Posted by: Jansen | August 11, 2009 at 11:13 AM