BONUS Pale, Male and Stale? Scientists on Netflix and Disney+ | WeAreSTS

WeAreSTS

STSNewsRoom #3. Chelsea Tripp reports. The lack of representation on screen is a political issue on everybody’s lips. I investigate how popular streaming platforms, Netflix and Disney+, portray scientists in terms of gender, race, sexuality, neurodivergency, and socio-economic background. Is representation of the scientist moving away from being presented as white, straight, and male? If not, why do big corporations like Netflix and Disney+ continue to present this image of scientists, and what can we do to improve representation as individuals?

The research mentioned in the episode is available as a supplement to the podcast. Depending on your listening platform, you can download the pdf directly or from our website:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/file/13005

Featuring

Presenter: Chelsea K. Tripp

She is profiled in “UCL Scholarship Stories”

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/advancement/case-studies/2021/oct/scholarship-stories-how-deepmind-helped-chelsea-tripp-realise-her-potential

She’s also featured in our annual magazine, STS Alchemy 2021

https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/alchemy

Interviewees:

1. Dr Stephen Hughes, Lecturer (Teaching) in Public Engagement

https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=SCLEM77

2. Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon, Associate Professor in Science Communication

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sts/gouyon

3. Gemma Milne, science broadcaster, writer, and journalist

https://www.gemmamilne.co.uk

4. Jasmine Chakravarty featured in the break.

WeAreSTS Host: Professor Joe Cain, Professor in History and Philosophy of Biology

https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/cain

Music credits

Music in the show’s introduction and conclusion:

“Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod

https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In the break we heard:

Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4786-silly-intro

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Inside the episode, Chelsea uses this music:

-Introductory and end music- “A happy smile on your face” by Music L Files

-Suspense sound effect- “Under investigation” by Iconics Music Production and Composition

-Clock sound effect- “Grandfather clock ticks” by Videvo

-Applause- “Number 1 sound effect” by Soundjay.com

Production information

Editing and post-production of the episode by Chelsea Tripp.

Show editing and production by Professor Joe Cain.

Podcast information

“WeAreSTS” is a production of the Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) at University College London (UCL). To find out more, and to leave feedback about the show, visit us online:

https://ucl.ac.uk/sts/podcast

STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme.

“WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain

Twitter: @stsucl #WeAreSTS