Rockin' the Lab Coat...

...like who? I'm really late on this, but Dan has asked us to name some rock-star scientists. He suggested Nobel Laureate David Baltimore. Baltimore isn't a rock-star because of his guitar chops or his rotating drum kit. If you want one of those, you can have Dexter Holland. Baltimore is a science advocate -- a public figure who fights against politicians abusing science and pushes for valuable science funding.

Who else would you consider a rock-star scientist? Carl Sagan would be a good one, but he's D-E-D, dead. David Suzuki is another good option, and he's still alive. So is that wheelchair guy. And what about Paul Sereno? He's a big shot scientist with a popular culture presence. If only they started a band. The Gimpy Dead Dinosaur Hunting Canucks.

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Dr. Oz. Rockstar of Science. Major, massive, epic moron.
So last summer I ran a quiz at the Secret Garden Party festival in Cambridgeshire. For the picture round, teams had to submit their best drawing of  hearthrob scientist Professor Brian Cox. Here are some of the entries.  
That's Homestar Runner's head on a silver platter, not Behe's. Although there is a resemblance, Behe looks squirrelier.
The Idiot Box is contributing toward our search for the next science rockstar:

What about Doug Schemske? I hear he was in REO Speedwagon.

Suzuki and Hawking would both be at the top of my list of living rock-star scientists. So would E.O. Wilson, Jane Goodall, Richard Leakey, and -- atheist-haters be damned -- Richard Dawkins.

Josh, as long Steve Perry can make the list too. He isn't a scientist, but the dude can rock (a mullet).

Good call on Wilson, Goodall, Leakey, and Dawkins.

I'd never heard of Earle and Fry, so they would probably have trouble earning rock star grades.

Ok, I have heard of Fry. One of our department members is a collaborator of his.

How about Eric Kandel ? Craig Ventner ? Ray Kurzweil ?
FH "Rusty" Gage ? Candy Pert ? All are rock start scientists.

While you're editing, please REMOVE Dawkins; he is no scientist at all. He failed in the lab, failed as a teacher, failed to build a research team or department (look up his "career"), and is basically a populizer of his particular religion (atheism).

By Chris Frederickson (not verified) on 07 Oct 2006 #permalink