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Asked by demixx to Ailsa, Evan, James, Kath, Ryan on 19 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by rosieapple.
Question: are you all a typical scientists? with the lab coats and geeky glasses? or is that just something we JUST see in films?
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Ailsa Powell answered on 17 Jun 2011:
Well I have to wear a lab coat when I’m in the lab for safety reasons. I’m not wearing one now as I’m in the office. And we have to wear safety glasses in the lab too, again for safety reasons. I also am unfortunate enough to have bad eye sight so if I’m not wearing contact lenses I am wearing glasses and my Mother has described them as geeky (although I think they are quite cool and I think she was being a bit mean)!
It appears I am a stereotypical scientist 🙁
However, the lab coat and stuff I have to wear to work in the lab, or the safety people come and shout at me. Anyone in lab based research where there are chemicals and biological samples will have to wear labcoats. I don’t mind though some of the things I work with I wouldn’t want to get on my clothes! And there are plenty of scientists who don’t need to wear lab coats.
I would also say I think the scientists you see in films are often so stereotypical that even scientist’s think they are ridiculous.
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Ryan Ladd answered on 18 Jun 2011:
I don’t have a lab coat, though I have worn one at times. Of course, some scientists are like the ones you see in the movies but lab coats and glasses aren’t necessary for science!
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James Hargreaves answered on 19 Jun 2011:
I agree, this is something you just see in films! Like Ailsa says we all have to wear some kind of protection or you may hear it referred to as PPE. When i’m in the lab working with flavours i wear a lab coat, but when im in the development kitchen i will wear a chefs coat, but when i go into the food factory to see the food been made in large scale, i wear a white coat, blue hairnet and blue earplugs and a pair of white wellies!!!
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Evan Keane answered on 19 Jun 2011:
This is kind of just a stereotype from films! Chemists wear lab coats when they are working with chemicals which can stain/burn their clothes but, for example, I never wear a lab coat! I also don’t wear glasses. I think that of the scientists I know about the same amount have glasses as people from other jobs (and they’re usually quite stylish!). 😀
Comments
rosieapple commented on :
so do you think it’s unfair that people think of scientists as geeky and mad?
Ailsa commented on :
I do think it’s unfair.
I’m certainly not mad and maybe I am a bit geeky, but you wouldn’t pick me out on the street as a scientist, I look and act like everyone else. Why should what I do for a living mean that I’m mad?
Evan commented on :
hear hear!