• Question: What do you think about the "nerd" stereotype that comes with being a scientist?

    Asked by Holly to Craig, Flavia, Giuditta, Jack, Sheona on 9 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by Rianna, Madi.
    • Photo: Jack Carlyle

      Jack Carlyle answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      Being “nerdy” can be good or bad. To some people, it means someone is smart, passionate about a topic, or interested in technology, but to other people it can mean obsessive and lame. Whatever it means, though, I don’t think stereotypes are ever a good thing, because you can’t judge someone by one thing alone. I would definitely say there’s no such thing as a “standard” scientist – we come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with varied interests, hobbies and different ways of looking at the world. So I don’t think the “nerd” stereotype is a good thing, but it usually isn’t so bad, because once you get to know people, you see past the glasses anyway 😛

    • Photo: Giuditta Perversi

      Giuditta Perversi answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      I think that stereotypes, ALL stereotypes, are bad and misleading, because people are not a can of food on which you can put a label.
      Society and media tend to reduce thing on a “two-dimensional level” just because it’s easier to convey, but at the end of the day it hurts everyone and benefits no one.
      I might conform the “nerdy scientist stereotype” on several features of myself, but then I am a women and I am already out of the “stereotypical allowed” group. God forbid that you also add the fact that I like fresh air and outdoor trips and stuff like that.
      We should be a bit more flexible to each other, we already have plenty of stuff to stress about without stereotypes getting into the mix! 😛

    • Photo: Flavia de Almeida Dias

      Flavia de Almeida Dias answered on 10 Nov 2015:

      Well, clearly whoever came up with the “nerd” stereotype which people associate to scientists have never been with many scientists around! While we have a lot of scientists with some features which resembles the nerdy type, we also have plenty of people who are not scientists with the same characteristics. And we all – scientists or not – have our own thing, our own quirks, and our personality. Nobody should be defined according to a stereotype, generalisations do no good when trying to describe people.

      I am talkative, hyperactive, love sports and the outdoors, going to parties, socialising, meeting new people, playing boardgames, reading books, discussing quantum mechanics, cats, chocolate, swimming, watching TV series, cult french movies, Britney Spears… And all my fellow scientists colleagues are as diverse in their tastes and personalities.

      And more importantly, when someone labels me with any stereotype, I just don’t care. Not caring about what people think of you is something which takes time to learn, but every bit of not caring brings you a lot of freedom and happiness. Be happy about your own choices and what difference you want to make and what you think is good.

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