The Big Bang Theory's Sudden Disappointment!

I have watched The Big Bang Theory since the very beginning, and apart from the most recent season, I have enjoyed it.

In the UK, E4 show episodes every day, this means that many of the older episodes are shown, whilst they still give us the chance to watch the latest offerings.

My disappointment came when I was casually watching the episode entitled 'The Fermentation Bifurcation'. (Season 9:Episode 22) There is a scene that involves the gang, minus Sheldon and Bernadette, attending a wine tasting event. It is there that they meet Penny's old boyfriend (and ex-husband), Zack. This is part of the dialogue that is spoken during the scene:

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Zack: So how's the science world? What are you guys up to?

Howard: We've actually been working on a prototpye for a navigation system we invented.

Leonard: But we won't bore you with the details.

Zack: Are you kidding? I love science, Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Mike Degrasse-Tyson.

Amy: Mike Degrasse-Tyson?

Howard: Yeah, you know, the boxer who grew a moustache and became a scientist.

Zack: So what's your invention?

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Post-viewing source: https://bigbangtrans.wordpress.com/series-9-episode-22-the-fermentation-bifurcation/ (I needed to make sure how it was scripted!)

We should invite everybody's ideas!

My problem is with the attitude of the dialogue that I've made bold. This is a simple matter of snobbery. The character of Howard is often mocked for ONLY being an engineer by Sheldon. So what was this for, especially as Sheldon's comments often hurt his feelings?

If Mike Degrasse-Tyson is, by an implied idea, not a proper scientist, then neither is Professor Brian Cox. Isn't he the 'musician that trimmed his floppy hair and became a scientist'? I disagree with this, I am a big fan of both scientists! They are not pretend! This is a problem for those who don't believe they could be a scientist. Children, when asked, still think of scientists as a balding, white, male, with a glacially toned lab coat that has been bleached to death. This idea is not the best thing when you are trying to give children the chance to believe in themselves.

I know this sounds like a rant, but I feel strongly about this. I was genuinely shocked. I have seen this episode before, but don't remember this scene! We should be pooling ideas, not passing off people as a weekend scientist, or even a hobbyist mathematician.

What do you think, are YOU that bothered? I understand that it is just light entertainment, but I do wonder how Mr. Degrasse-Tyson felt about it.

Make sure you check out my online presence. www.beingstem.uk / @beingstem / YouTube: Meegosh Media

Thanks for reading.

By: Gavyn Rudd.

A Triumphant British Science Week in Staffordshire

With a hectic schedule, and much going on in life, it is easy to give blogging a miss. It's a hard thing to deal with, not having the chance to get those oozing STEM thoughts out of my mind.

This week has been very busy, British Science Week 2017 got under way with a bang. This year was about creating opportunities for the children to, da da dahhhh, BUILD! I created the 'We're All About Wheels' ideas so that all children, in each year group, could be a part of it. For the past couple of years, I have slowly built up the foundations for BSW, bringing in more year-groups each time. This year was the big one, all around the school, you could see the stress of building, designing and debugging their original ideas.

With the younger members of the school looking at the act of pushing and pulling, the Key Stage 1 children built cars, ones that would go a further distance than their opponent's. Key Stage 2 were set up to build their power-pullers, ready to join the arena in a tug-of-war scenario affectionately named 'Chug-O-War'..

What a great week, there have been builders that don't normally build, some builders that are made to construct, and there are those that managed to create a vehicle, with effort, determination, and the will of the competition.

All-in-all, a great event, building is what makes us unique, building is what fires imagination and brings us new technologies. Tech that builds our homes, mobile phones and televisions all come from the foundations that are set in events such as this.

Here's to more STEM based events everywhere. Watch this space for more about STEM in Staffordshire, we need to pull resources to give children a chance to develop their choices and shine through potential clouds of despair.

For more information and a video, check-out my YouTube channel at MeegoshMedia, or visit the @beingSTEM website at www.beingstem.uk