The First Step to Trusting Science: View Scientists as ‘Normal’

How often do you picture a scientist resembling Albert Einstein? This crazy person with electrostatic hair speaking expeditiously is simple to picture. Even though I aspire to become a scientist, I still picture this crazy person who I secretly hope to be one day. However, at the same time, I am anxious about becoming “a scientist” due to this stereotype.

While I want to be that person that is so far off from the crowd, I want to be a person who makes a difference. However, this world is a bit stereotypical and might judge me as if I had my hair sticking straight up. The world pictures these crazy scientists when reading scientific articles. How can trust be afforded to those unable to be properly groomed?

Scientists are not ‘crazy’ people. I have personally met only two who may be titled remotely ‘crazy,’ others could say they had a screw loose. The reason society sees scientists as being crazy is due to basing opinions from stereotypical television shows and movies. Society views scientists working in a dark, basement lab day and night trying to discover the latest cure without time for personal gains. This stereotype can only be altered by modern scientists with human traits.

As Joss Whedon said, “I’ll take crazy over stupid any day.” Scientists will always be slightly crazy. Their work requires years of education and honestly that work can make one go insane. Society needs to realize that the best scientist may appear to be ridiculous, for example, Albert Einstein. However, these scientists can still be trusted. The stereotype of scientist may cause mistrust from the public especially among science writing. The science writer cannot do much to try to alter this opinion except continue to publish articles in the most trustworthy manner (and maybe publish a few ‘normal’ pictures).

The First Step to Persuading All: Understand Scientists Are Not God

You are a science writer. You report ONLY the findings of doctors and researchers. The news that you report is correct, will always be correct, because it comes from science. Hours and hours of research have been done just for you to write a short article that will be put only at the back of the newspaper once a week. Therefore, what you write will always be correct.

WRONG!

Science makes mistakes. Scientists come to many wrong conclusions.

As Lemony Snicket said in The Blank Book, “It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right.” It is frustrating to those who think they are right but told their thoughts are wrong. This happens amongst science writers and scientists alike. Science advocates essentially tell science writers that their ideas are incorrect. It is difficult to not take it this negativity to heart.

Think about Nietzsche’s view, “There are no facts, only interpretations.” Many people will ignore scientific evidence because that is not their interpretation of the world. Science writers need to understand that because something is perceived as correct and science proves that it is correct does not mean that it is correct. There could be many other answers or avenues that science has not yet discovered. Science writers should not laugh at their potential readers since the readers do not have the same interpretation of the research being presented. Embrace your readers or the result may be that you will have no readers. Do more research. Science is not willing to hand you the answer.