Public Perception of Astronomers: Revered, Reviled and Ridiculed

Authors: Michael J. West (ESO)

(Submitted on 25 May 2009 (v1), last revised 28 May 2009 (this version, v3))

Abstract: Society's view of astronomers has changed over time and from culture to culture. This review discusses some of the many ways that astronomers have been perceived by their societies and suggests ways that astronomers can influence public perception of ourselves and our profession in the future.

Comments: Invited review to appear in The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture: Proceedings of IAU Symposium No. 260, 2009. D. Valls-Gabaud and A. Boksenberg, eds; typos corrected in revised version

Subjects: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph)

Cite as: arXiv:0905.3956v3 [astro-ph.IM]

Submission history

From: Michael J. West [view email]

[v1] Mon, 25 May 2009 06:54:01 GMT (2408kb,D)

[v2] Tue, 26 May 2009 16:53:58 GMT (2408kb,D)

[v3] Thu, 28 May 2009 22:30:39 GMT (2408kb,D)

http://arxiv.org/abs/0905.3956

I can recall a number of cases in SF films from the 1950s where astronomers and
scientists in general were viewed as either elderly statesmen types or studs. One
case in point was This Island Earth from 1955. The main scientist was not only
handsome and good with the ladies, he also flew jets and rode motorcycles. A
man's man, to be sure.