Ted Leung on the air : Rad Scientists

Ted Leung on the air
Ted Leung on the air: Open Source, Java, Python, and ...

Mon, 26 Apr 2004

I tend to read the newspaper in large batches, so I'm perpetually behind. In the Seattle Times for last Sunday there was an article on the "new generation" of NASA scientists. I wonder if some of the stodginess

"It was a lot of nerdy-looking white guys with crew cuts. I grew up thinking the average person doesn't get to do that."

was due to historical context. I mean, my dad was a hardware engineer, and he used to go to work in a suit every day.

The ability to express yourself is part of the creative side that all scientists and engineers share. It's good to see this being more acceptable at places like NASA. If it's a goal to attract people to the sciences, then we need to dispense with as much nonsense as possible. Maybe one day scientists can have as much "cool" as rock stars and athletes.

[23:16] | [culture] | # | TB | F | G | 3 Comments |

Ted pulled this article Rad Scientists out of the paper and posted about it last night. Behind on my newspaper reading (even more than my husband), I noticed the piece - when he left it lying around - and liked...
Posted by Trackback from Julie Leung: Seedlings & Sprouts at Tue Apr 27 16:59:55 2004

Ted, I worked at NASA for 30 years and spent many consecutive years on the road to all the centers - JPL, Ames (Silicon Valley) and Goddard have always been somewhat laid back, dressed in jeans, no ties (except for lab management and budget types). They both have campuses that for all intents/purposes look identical to Stanford, MIT, RIT, or any other "tech" school. Kennedy folks also wore jeans and T-shirts, as did the folks at Marshall or Dryden (Edwards AFB) - both industrial launch/test sites. I worked at JSC for 8 years (did commentary) and they definitely dress in white (or blue) shirts, ties, suits when on camera - etc. I think the myth comes out of the manned space program, not out of NASA. I worked my later years at Headquarters in DC - and we didn't have to wear jacket but did have to wear tie.
Posted by Chas Redmond at Wed Apr 28 08:29:39 2004

I read that article in the Los Angeles Times last week, I think.

Why do people dislike the nerdy look and formal clothes? I suppose I might grow out of it, but in my opinion, lab coats, suits and ties and stuff are cool. Casual clothes seem more boring. Do people like jeans and stuff because it's more comfortable, or for the look?

Actually, I am different than most people. I think it would be cooler to be a scientist than a rock star or athelete.
Posted by Elliot Lee at Wed Apr 28 22:12:46 2004

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