A scoping review published in Sociology Lens analyzes over one hundred academic studies, highlighting how the collective representation of scientists remains anchored to rigid and exclusive stereotypes.

Why is it that, even today, the most common image of a scientist is that of a brilliant, solitary man, perhaps slightly eccentric, working alone in a laboratory? Starting from this question, Cristina Rossi-Lamastra and Omar Mazzucchelli from the POLIMI School of Management of Politecnico di Milano conducted a scoping review, published in Sociology Lens under the title Still a Man in a Lab Coat? A Scoping Review on the Stereotypical Scientist.

The scoping review examines 106 academic studies selected from the Scopus database, aiming to investigate how the figure of the scientist is portrayed in the media, public communication, and educational materials. Using the theoretical framework based on social representation theory, the authors distinguish between core elements – stable and widely shared over time – and peripheral elements, which are more subject to change.

The analysis reveals that the scientist stereotype is based on particularly persistent core elements: male gender, exceptional intelligence, and affiliation with the natural and physical sciences. These aspects remain stable despite the increasing presence of women in research and inclusion policies in STEM fields. On the other hand, peripheral elements, including physical appearance (lab coat, glasses, messy hair) or certain personality traits (solitude, eccentricity), are more flexible but do not substantially alter the prevailing image. The core of the stereotype remains unchanged: scientists are still perceived as men.

The study reflects on how the image of the “stereotypical scientist” influences the public’s relationship with science, especially in an era of growing disinvestment in scientific research. In a context marked by cuts to public funding and occasional distrust towards science, a distorted perception of scientists – as distant, opaque, or even threatening elites – can contribute to fueling skepticism and justify disinvestment policies. Moreover, the stereotype limits the inclusion of diverse profiles, reducing the visibility of female researchers, young scholars, and experts from social sciences and humanities.

The review concludes with a call to action. Public representations of science and its protagonists are not neutral: they can either foster trust and engagement or create distance and misinformation. Therefore, a collective effort is needed – from educational institutions, the media, policymakers, and the academic world itself – to build more inclusive and realistic narratives. Only in this way can we transform the collective imagination, strengthen public trust in science, and make it truly accessible to all.

For more details on the article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/johs.70003