Janet D. Stemwedel (whose nom de blog is Dr. Free-Ride) is an associate professor of philosophy at San Jose State University. Before becoming a philosopher, she earned a Ph.D. in physical chemistry. Email her at dr.freeride@gmail.com.
Scientists move through the world without needing badges to indicate their various achievements.
This does not mean, however, that scientists might not want badges. If scientists all wore sashes of badges over their lab coats, it might well facilitate communication by letting them determine the relevant interests and experience of the other scientists with who they are talking. Badges would also provide a natural opening with which scientists could share their best stories with each other. ("What did you freeze?")
Badges also help a scientist stay nimble with a needle and thread.
Below are the Science Scouts badges I have earned, so far. Each is linked to its Scout Handbook description. Questions about how I may have earned particular badges will be entertained in the comments.
Also, if there are other badges you think I should set about earning, or other competencies you think the Science Scouts ought to recognize with badges, let me know.
Comments
A number of those badges apply to me but I'm not even a scientist. Engineer yes, computer dweeb yes, telecom guru, yes.
Posted by: Tony P | February 12, 2007 7:34 PM
Shouldn't you have earned the "fundamentally opposed to administrative duties" badge? That was one of your posts earlier.
BTW, you were on TV?
Posted by: JYB | February 12, 2007 11:30 PM
I'm not fundamentally opposed to administrative duties so much as I'm wary of getting sucked into them when I am still very much enjoying teaching, trying to make progress with my research, and thinking that tenure might be a useful thing to have (at least psychologically) as far as really getting things done as an administrator.
The "I'm on TV" badge is here because I'm on community access cable TV locally every week during the semester -- a set of philosophy of science lectures produced to go with the online course I teach. People I know have encountered them while channel surfiing, which just goes to show you that channel surfing is dangerous.
Posted by: Janet D. Stemwedel | February 12, 2007 11:40 PM
These badges are great. I think we need "I'll puke on his shoes" badge to go with with antisexual harrassment badge.
I have to work our which of these I have earned.
Posted by: Lab Cat | February 14, 2007 9:49 AM