This summer in the science workshop I attended one of the exercises we did was to draw a scientist. Sometimes these types of exercises turn out surprisingly interesting and I take them with me to my classroom to use. This one, though, didn’t do much for me. I suppose the reason it didn’t is that I know several people who could be fairly classified as scientists, and I simply drew what I imagine them doing.

Via Pharyngula, I ran across a post called Who’s Dorky?, where there was a link to a page called Who’s the Scientist? which displays drawings and written statements about scientists made by a group of seventh graders before and after a visit to Fermilab. It’s a great example of stereotyping and the power of personal experience to overcome stereotypical impressions.

Pat’s construction of a typical scientist went through a dramatic transformation. Eric got the point about stereotyping and asking questions.