Are scientists really heroes now?

[Editor]

Interesting article in the Scientist (which is free to read after registration, which is only a few fields):

http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57142/

The guy is basically arguing that the public no longer thinks that scientists are anything but heroes, and his major evidence is that TV and movies show them in a positive light. His arguments seem to be aimed primarily at American perceptions, and I think he is being a little bit too rosy when it comes to how real scientists are perceived. What do other people think? I think in the UK they don't have quite the same aura of respectability, and also a lot of pop-cultural references still show scientists as mad geeks (e.g. packaging on toys, for example). I agree that Hollywood has been kind to scientists recently, as I just argued in a piece I wrote for the Biochemist, but that's not the whole spectrum of perception.

[Mad Dan Eccles]

Oh my. What a train-wreck of a comment thread.

I think it's time to do some street research to be honest. Maybe we could get a science comms grant and go out on the Euston Road with some questionnaires?

[The Prof]

I don't think it's as rosy as he was painting but again this could be a Uk/US difference.

And definitely agree that what we see in films might be a distorted reflection. Perhaps Hollywood is just bored of boffins - I know I am - and it's more fun to make them glamorous good guys and pick on someone else for a change. It certainly doesn't mean that the general public is suddenly all behind science. It might suggest it, but surely that's just an hypothesis.

[Nik Papageorgiou]

Hollywood pitch: A mild-mannered man who, upon a crisis, sheds his mortal garments and speeds to save the day wearing a uniform with a big S on his chest. For (S)cientist.

Weakness: Fund-o-nite.

Usually battles a villain named Layman Luthor.

Yeah? Who's with me?

[Dr Mike]

ha ha hahahahahahhahahaha!

Effing brilliant, Nik. I'm in.

His other arch nemesis might be Top-tier Journal Editrix. She can hurl rejection letters faster than the speed of light.

[Nik Papageorgiou]

His other arch nemesis might be Top-tier Journal Editrix.

Ha! Does she use the Peers gang as her minions?

[hedge]

No way are scientists heroes in the UK. At the best, when I tell someone what I do I get a raised eyebrow, maybe a sort of mock-alarmed 'aren't you clever' look. If you read the most recent piece on LabLit, coincidentally, you'll see a reinforcement of what I've always thought about Britain: people don't like a smartarse. Intelligence is not highly prized, if anything it's something to sneer at. So since intelligence is pretty much a given trait for scientists, I don't see how culturally it would be possible for us to be well respected or revered.