2009 March 8
I found this cute post linked to from the Berkeley Science Review blog — it’s a set of pictures and descriptions of scientists made by a group of seventh graders, before and after a visit to FermiLab. Before: “hair standing straight up and a mean wicked laugh”. After: “Actually, scientists are normal people that lead normal lives.” There must have been some orchestrated brainwashing on the visit they went on, but I can’t fault the FermiLab folks for doing a little PR.
What caught my eye was how most of the students drew scientists as being of their own gender. In particular, most of the female students drew pictures of female scientists. Certainly not what I’d have expected to have seen, but a pleasant surprise.