&otYesterday I asked whether many scientists tattooed themselves with their science. The answer is yes, at least for about a dozen people who responded with their own bodywork, which now appears at the end of the post. Here's the latest, from an invertebrate biologist. As a tattoo-free person, I keep wondering, when does the screaming stop?
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Category: Science Tattoos
Posted on: August 7, 2007 11:29 AM, by Carl Zimmer
Comments
I'm similarly uninked, but think it would be very cool to do that kind of decorating. There's only one person who gets to see me with my shirt off, though, and since she's opposed, it's not ever going to happen.
Posted by: PZ Myers | August 7, 2007 12:10 PM
Beautiful work. I'm well-inked myself, and I really appreciate the time you've taken to open the door here, Carl. Many people still consider tats to be taboo, stuck in the "sailor's come to port" mentality. It has become a culture that cuts through cultures, so to speak; even scientists are doing it. ;-)
Posted by: Jeremy Bruno | August 7, 2007 12:18 PM
That's a nice collection there. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess this person is an entomologist? Just a hunch.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 7, 2007 12:34 PM
By the way, is there a front view?
Posted by: PZ Myers | August 7, 2007 3:10 PM
Yup" here.
Posted by: Carl Zimmer | August 7, 2007 3:37 PM
Very cool and very ambitious. Does she have tenure?
Posted by: PZ Myers | August 7, 2007 4:05 PM
Tenure track. Hence, anonymous.
Posted by: Carl Zimmer | August 7, 2007 4:10 PM
Posted by: Jim Lemire | August 7, 2007 10:10 PM
oh man. I need the name of her tattoo artist! Jealous!
Posted by: bug_girl | August 8, 2007 8:50 AM
I don't have any tattoos, and I never will, because I'm a big chicken. I didn't even get my ears pierced until I was 25. But one of the things that pushed me over the line to becoming a pierced person (although a run of the mill one) was a gorgeous pair of earrings made of mink bacula that fellow grad student Tierney Thys gave me for Christmas that year. So I guess you can say I got pierced for my science. (And since then, I've been amassing a nice collection of biology-related earrings. The bacula were just the beginning!)
Posted by: DianeAKelly | August 8, 2007 9:32 AM
Wow, so many nice comments about the tattoos- I worked so hard for them :). Honestly, they aren't so bad or I wouldn't keep going back. I've heard it said that anywhere that tickles is also a painful place for a tattoo, and that's definitely been the case for me. Also from personal experience, don't let your tattoo artist play "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" while he's working on the inside of your elbow. It's the only time I almost passed out.
I do show my tattoos at work but I don't make a production out of it. I was going to wait until tenure to get my sleeves extended to the wrists but oh well!
Almost all of my work was done by Nick Wiggins at The Mark of Cain Tattoos in Champaign, IL. The link to his shop is:
http://www.markofcaintattoos.com
It only seems to work in Firefox.
Posted by: buglady | August 8, 2007 5:03 PM
Screaming? I have three tattoos and never once have screamed during their implementation. It feels pretty much like having somebody snap you with a rubber band, over and over.
As a researcher of evolutionary patterns, I'm looking forward to acquiring a special tattoo of an animal exhibiting a camouflage technique in a particularly beautiful way. But sadly, it won't happen until the PhD is awarded (gift to myself). I'll try and remember to send it to you.
Posted by: Gretchen | August 14, 2007 1:35 PM
Dear reader,
Wow, that's by far the most beautiful tattoo I ever saw. The color, the pattern, very beautiful.
With kind regards,
Ronald;)
Posted by: RonaldVanKoutrik | October 3, 2007 2:16 PM
...
"It feels pretty much like having somebody snap you with a rubber band, over and over."
Pretty much leaves me out..!!
And I am sure that 'frontal' pic towel hides more than a little ink. Oh well, best to leave something to the imagination they say . . ..
.
Posted by: ...tom... | February 12, 2008 8:20 PM
Incredible - inspirational. I'm not inked and probably never will be, but I admire the combination of beauty and statement. I'm a faculty person/scientist and not that surprised at the expression of love for their subject. I must admit this exterior manifestation of her geek pride evokes an intense curiosity about the person within.
Posted by: deuxbits | February 16, 2008 8:03 AM