Chelsea Tripp reports for STS NewsRoom on how popular the streaming platforms Netflix and Disney+ portray scientists: is representation still pale, male, and stale? The lack of representation on screen is a political issue on everyone’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
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Featuring
Presenter:
- Chelsea K. Tripp
UCL MSc Class of 2021
profiled in UCL Scholarship Stories
Interviewees:
- Dr Stephen Hughes
Lecturer (Teaching) in Public Engagement - Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon
Associate Professor in Science Communication - Gemma Milne
science broadcaster, writer, and journalist
Additional contributors:
- Jasmine Chakravarty featured in the break
Host:
- Professor Joe Cain
Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology
Music credits
- “Rollin At 5,” by Kevin MacLeod
https://filmmusic.io/song/5000-rollin-at-5
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ - “Silly Intro,” by Alexander Nakarada
https://filmmusic.io/song/4786-silly-intro
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Inside the episode, Chelsea uses 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
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:
STS Students and staff also can find on the website information about how to get involved with our programme.
Editing and post-production of the episode by Chelsea Tripp.
Show editing and production by Professor Joe Cain.
“WeAreSTS” producer is Professor Joe Cain.