What's the image of a scientist in your head?

If you were to ask someone to draw a scientist, most likely you would get a picture of a man with frizzy hair, crazy expression, wearing a white lab coat, and holding a test-tube.

Something like this:

 

Albert Einstein

Or this:

Charles Darwin

Even well known TV science presenters like physicist Dr Brian Cox and naturalist Sir David Attenborough could not debunk the impression that people have of scientists.

Well, let's set things straight.

Myth #1: Scientists are men

Dr Rosalind Franklin, British Biophysicist and X-ray crystallographer, made critical contribution to the understanding of the structure of DNA.

Myth #2: Scientists are ugly

 

Dr Kevin Eggan, associate professor of stem cell and regenerative medicine at Harvard, was featured in People Magazine as one of the sexiest men alive!

Myth #3: Scientists are geek freaks who only know science

Leonardo Da Vinci was an expert mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer. Nuff said. 

One point I can't debunk though, is that scientists are indeed, CRAZY.

Institute christmas party 2006

Institute christmas party 2007

Labmates and I at "bad taste" party 2011