This Is What a Scientist Looks Like; April 2012; Scientific American Magazine; by Christie Wilcox; 1 Page(s)

If you ask middle school students what a scientist looks like, they will tell you he is an old white guy with crazy hair, glasses and a lab coat. More often than not, he is depicted inside and playing with chemicals. This stereotype is pervasive—and completely, totally wrong.

This is why I love the new Tumblr site This Is What a Scientist Looks Like at http://lookslikescience.tumblr.com. Scientists from all kinds of fields are asked to submit photographs of themselves and write a brief bit about who they are. The pictures are incredible; scientists are depicted everywhere from Antarctica to the tropics, on the tops of mountains or under the sea. The pics express personality, intelligence and even a little humor.