Honors College Thesis
 

Fiction's fatal flaw : misrepresentation of the average scientist

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/honors_college_theses/fx719w28s

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  • Fiction facilitates the attribution of unrealistic character traits to scientists, and skews general understanding of the scientific process-- a fatal flaw resulting in self-doubt within undergraduate scientists, and apprehension and distrust in several communities. Misconceptions and the absence of significant ideas were identified by analyzing novels within the “Lab Lit” genre-- a genre encompassing novels accurately portraying scientists and their work within a realistic world. Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry, Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis, and Christina Lauren’s The Soulmate Equation spurred the development of a collection of three short stories. “Re-Search,” “Stolid,” and “Poltergeist” work to counter these misconceptions, and supplement fiction with stories conveying personal scientific and laboratory experiences. Highlighting the prevalence of controllable and uncontrollable error, along with the need to celebrate small, realistic scientific achievements form the basis of these three short stories.
  • KEYWORDS: Scientific misrepresentation, misconceptions, unrealistic expectations, “Lab Lit,” Lessons in Chemistry, The Love Hypothesis, The Soulmate Equation, short story collection
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