7 TV scientists that even real scientists approve of

[Quatermass]

Why is the Doctor below friggin' Samantha Carter and Victor Bergman? There's only one TV scientist who should be above the Doctor.

Spock 8)

No, Sir Patrick Moore.

But he's not a scientist. He has no scientific qualifications and refers to himself as an amateur.

He has made science, especially astronomy popular and I'm sure many qualified scientists have been inspired by him.

But probably more scientists have been inspired by Spock!

Okay, well, how about Dr Karl Kruszelnicki? People outside Australia may not have heard of him, but he's a TV scientist with scientific qualifications.

 

[Dotsie]

Well, he doesn't have a doctorate and he doesn't do research, so he's not actually a scientist. But I don't want to split hairs about this - after all, neither does Spock 8)

But I think the point is, these are supposed to be fictional characters. If you like, you can have Amy Farrah Fowler. Fictional character and a PhD.

 

[Bouncy Castle]

I wonder if anyone was inspired by Magnus Pike?

 

[Dotsie]

I was inspired by Johnny Ball, and he wasn't a scientist

 

[Bouncy Castle]

Johnny Ball rocked!

 

[deldaisy]

Okay, well, how about Dr Karl Kruszelnicki? People outside Australia may not have heard of him, but he's a TV scientist with scientific qualifications.

I adore Dr Karl. He inspired my daughter to a large extent.

Anyone remember Dr Julius Sumner Miller? "Why is it so?" LOVED HIM!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKCdq6X08Sw

 

[Quatermass]

Well, he doesn't have a doctorate and he doesn't do research, so he's not actually a scientist.

He does do research, thank you.

You just love to demolish my scientific idols, don't you?

 

[Tonyblack]

Well, he doesn't have a doctorate and he doesn't do research, so he's not actually a scientist.

He does do research, thank you.

You just love to demolish my scientific idols, don't you?

Erm... do you think Dotsie's comments may have been aimed at Patrick Moore? The guy you mentioned (who I've never heard of) clearly does have a doctorate, that's why he's called 'Doctor'.

 

[Dotsie]

Actually, it was Dr Karl I was referring to, who as far as I am aware doesn't have a doctorate. He has a medical degree (which is not the same thing as a scientist, as was already mentioned by pip).

But if I have a reputation for destroying scientific idols, then I apologise. I hope that despite my scathing attack, Dr Karl remains undestroyed.

 

[Dotsie]

OK, I've googled Dr Karl's research, and the only thing I could find was a research project on belly button fluff. The man is clearly a scientist, I stand corrected.

That wasn't destroying him, was it? He's very obviously a popular journalist/presenter.

 

[BatrickPatrick]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. JUST a bit one sided. Most of these characters are in the astronomy or astropyschics field (as is the author of the piece).

I have NEVER had a problem with scientists and science fiction. In the early days of science fiction the majority of short stories were written by scientists (which is why the majority of SF in the 50's are a "what if" scenario).

Maybe they didn't think they could validate characters that weren't part of their field of expertise? Like I don't know anything about astrophysics so I can't tell who's good at it or not.

 

[poohcarrot]

OK, I've googled Dr Karl's research, and the only thing I could find was a research project on belly button fluff. The man is clearly a scientist, I stand corrected.

That wasn't destroying him, was it? He's very obviously a popular journalist/presenter.

I love it when Dotsie's sarky!

 

[Quatermass]

Yeah, Dotsie. Diss the man probably most singlehandedly responsible for getting me interested in sciences other than astronomy. Kill my enjoyment of his work like you did any ambition of mine to try for a PhD. Erode just a little bit more of my will to live, just as I was beginning to build it up again.

 

[deldaisy]

HEXcuse ME!

http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/ ... science/k2

In 2002, Dr Karl was honoured with the prestigious Ig Nobel prize awarded by Harvard University in the USA for his ground-breaking research into 'Belly Button Lint and why it is almost always blue'.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki received the Member of the Order of Australia Award in the 2006 Australia Day Honours list

Karl has degrees in Physics and Maths, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Surgery and has worked as a physicist, tutor, film-maker, car mechanic, labourer, and as a medical doctor at the Kids' Hospital in Sydney.

He's GOD he is.

 

[poohcarrot]

Yeah, Dotsie. Diss the man probably most singlehandedly responsible for getting me interested in sciences other than astronomy. Kill my enjoyment of his work like you did any ambition of mine to try for a PhD. Erode just a little bit more of my will to live, just as I was beginning to build it up again.

So you've given up on your PhD, have you?
And you gave up because Dotsie criticised you?

As I recall, she said that on a PhD you'll get criticised by people who have forgotten more than you'll ever know. She was prepping you and warning you that it wouldn't be easy.

If you've given up on a PhD simply because of something someone you've never met on a forum said, then quite clearly, you were never up to it.

Alternatively, stop being such a bloody, negative misery-boots and just do the PhD!

 

[pip]

I temporarily gave up on mine cos the British government pulled my funding but i wouldn't let a little criticism get to me.
Go for it and don't look back in a few years wondering why.

 

[Bouncy Castle]

Why is the British Govt funding your education?

 

[pip]

They weren't funding my education, a phd is a research study not taught so i was contributing not taking

My masters was funded by the EU. Then i wrote a research proposal which was approved for a British UNI but then when they had to tighten belts they cancelled a few no resident researchers.

 

[Dotsie]

Yeah, Dotsie. Diss the man probably most singlehandedly responsible for getting me interested in sciences other than astronomy. Kill my enjoyment of his work like you did any ambition of mine to try for a PhD. Erode just a little bit more of my will to live, just as I was beginning to build it up again.

So you've given up on your PhD, have you?
And you gave up because Dotsie criticised you?

As I recall, she said that on a PhD you'll get criticised by people who have forgotten more than you'll ever know. She was prepping you and warning you that it wouldn't be easy.

If you've given up on a PhD simply because of something someone you've never met on a forum said, then quite clearly, you were never up to it.

Alternatively, stop being such a bloody, negative misery-boots and just do the PhD!

I couldn't have said it better

 

[deldaisy]

Bugger Pip!