Visitors to our science centres and museums are often presented with the opportunity to ‘meet a real scientist’ through our programmes, events and activities. But what do our visitors really think about scientists? Do these experiences of meeting scientists affect visitors’ attitudes to scientists? And how do images of scientists elsewhere, for example from television and films, influence visitors’ perceptions?

This session will explore what visitors think about scientists, how they expect scientists to behave, and what influences these attitudes, leading to thinking about innovative ways in which we can best represent the field.

Researchers will speak about their inquiry into public attitudes towards scientists and representations of researchers. A response will be given to these short presentations, drawing on the experience of a scientist involved in public engagement. There will be plenty of opportunity for session participants to discuss the themes, both in between presentations and in a group discussion section at the end.