If anyone thinks that a "white coat" represents a badge of honour, talk to
my dental hygienist, the guy who comes and clears out wasps' nests, the
bloke in the bakers and on and on and on....
Perhaps the research for the "design a new lab coat" project should approach
the people who make these things and ask who really buys them, and work out
the percentage worn by "boffins".
I have visited more research labs than most scientists over the years, white
coats are rare. You will never see them in an engineering lab. (Engineers
also get might pissed off because mechanics have stolen their label.) My
guess is that they are generally in short supply in the physical sciences.
Personally, I always thought that it was the slide rule separated real
scientists from the hangers on.
__________________________________________________________________
Michael Kenward / Phone/Fax: +44 (0)1444 401064
/
Science Writer & Stuff / Genetically modified words for sale
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Lesley Newson
Sent: 25 April 2007 04:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] white coat - icon for science?
If the goal is to make young people excited about science careers, there
needs to be a pride in the symbols that identify one as a scientist. Why
be ashamed of the beard and white coat?
If we put over the massage "scientists are just like everyone else and
they care about looking stylish and going to parties, etc.", we fail to
put over the more important message which is, "scientists are really
special people who are concerned about more important things than looking
stylish and clean-shaven. That's why they work so hard and with such
dedication."
Science in Britain seems determined to try the same promotion tactics as
the Church of England. The Church worked hard to put over the idea that
vicars often wear trendy clothes and many of them don't even believe in
God. This didn't do much to encourage young people to enter the clergy,
did it?
Lesley
> I can remember the excitement back in 1968 when I first entered graduate
> school when they passed out the white coats. It was like receiving my
> letterman's jacket in football in high school. It quickly wore out -- the
> excitement and pleasure, but they were still the uniform for certain
> formal
> occasions.
>
> We even wore them when a large contingent from the school marched to
> downtown Chicago to protest the war in Viet Nam.
>
> You were looking for ancient history, right?
>
> Roger
>
>> Well Michael,
>>
>> From that statement, it is clear you are not a scientist! I guess it
>> must
>> be possible to be a good communicator of science without understanding
>> the
>> pride of wearing a white coat!
>>
>> It may not be a symbol any more but when I realised that I was a
>> scientist, it gave me a thrill to wear it. Does anyone else understand
>> this?
>>
>> Lesley
>
> --
> Roger S. Johnson, PhD
> President
> Newswise
> www.newswise.com
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>
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--
Lesley Newson
University of Exeter School of Psychology
[log in to unmask]
http://www.people.ex.ac.uk/ln202
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