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Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

nature.com

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Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#21

Post by falcor84 »

webwielder2 wrote: post #16
COGlory wrote: post #10

Can't help but notice a huge over-representation of field scientists. That seems a bit deceptive.

Photos of people staring at computer screens are not particularly inspiring on their own.

But what's the value of "inspiring" people to take up a career by lying to them about what it entails?

At best, they end up wasting years of their lives before switching careers. At worst, you get what we did to cops, by making them believe that police work is all about shooting the "bad guys", so now it is.

The new Fallout show has a funny dystopian take on what a society controlled by scientists would look like. It's obviously exaggerated for comedic effect, but I absolutely wouldn't want us to move the needle even a bit closer to that.

Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#22

Post by m_a_g »

zamadatix wrote: post #18
jplrssn wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Representative of what? London is one of the most diverse cities in the world.

London has a population over half white, it's not really all that for a large population center.

White doesn't mean anything in Europe. It's very much an American concept that's only valid there. If you subdivide the "white" population in London by their culture, you'll see what I mean.

Of course, if you measure diversity by the color of people's skin, then that's different. Otherwise, London might be the most diverse city on Earth, sharing the number one spot with New York.

Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#26

Post by threeseed »

chekibreki wrote: post #12

[flagged]

These businesses really can't win with people like you.

Here is a way to promote diversity which is a positive thing for business that doesn't involve quotas or preferences.

And even though the actual list contains plenty of white males that clearly isn't enough:

https://www.nature.com/immersive/where-i-work-exhibition/ind...

Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#27

Post by threeseed »

zamadatix wrote: post #18
jplrssn wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Representative of what? London is one of the most diverse cities in the world.

London has a population over half white, it's not really all that for a large population center.

It is just 53.8% white / white-other which can mean many things:

https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/uk-popula...

And diversity means more than just white people.

Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#28

Post by threeseed »

pvaldes wrote: post #8

Lets try any possible silly idea, except really improving the work conditions for scientists

Nature isn't responsible for the working conditions of scientists.

And even if they were surely we can do more than one thing at a time.

Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#29

Post by lwansbrough »

m_a_g wrote: post #22
zamadatix wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

London has a population over half white, it's not really all that for a large population center.

White doesn't mean anything in Europe. It's very much an American concept that's only valid there. If you subdivide the "white" population in London by their culture, you'll see what I mean. Of course, if you measure diversity by the color of people's skin, then that's different. Otherwise, London might be the most diverse city on Earth, sharing the number one spot with New York.

Americans struggle deeply with their axiom of whiteness.

Whiteness in America comes from the unification of caucasians from broad cultural and economic backgrounds against the black slaves that were being raped, tortured and dehumanized systematically over generations. And instead of rectifying the problem by dismantling the concept of whiteness (because it reenforces the power of racial division & hierarchy), it gets promoted as truth and vilified in the name of equality. From an outside perspective, even as close as Canada, this appears regressive.

As for the choice to highlight black and brown people in this project that others in the GP are complaining about.. maybe they’re under represented in these fields in the UK and the government wants to fix that? I have to say if you get upset about minorities being over-represented you need to find a better use of your limited time on Earth.

Re: Londoners see what a scientist looks like up close in 50 photographs

#30

Post by Retric »

falcor84 wrote: post #21
webwielder2 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Photos of people staring at computer screens are not particularly inspiring on their own.

But what's the value of "inspiring" people to take up a career by lying to them about what it entails? At best, they end up wasting years of their lives before switching careers. At worst, you get what we did to cops, by making them believe that police work is all about shooting the "bad guys", so now it is. The new Fallout show has a funny dystopian take on what a society controlled by scientists would look like. It…

There’s no lie, if you want to be in the field as a scientist that is an option just not a well paying one. We don’t focus on how much time programmers spend in meetings, because that’s not what defines the job.

Also, talking sci-fi as a meaningful reflection on how things would work is kind of silly. It’s not some academic projection of likely outcomes just whatever random nonsense makes for a good story/game.

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