14
September
2015
|
09:50
Europe/London

Fashion blog takes science out of its dowdy pigeonhole

  • Sartorial Science asks scientists to send in fashionable pictures of themselves
  • Visitors to the site also learn about each contributor’s research
Sophie Powell

Two scientists have launched a fashion blog which aims to break the stereotypical image of the dowdy middle aged scientist.

The Tumblr site, called Sartorial Science, asks scientists to send in fashionable pictures of themselves.

Visitors to the site can also learn about each contributor’s research and gain some style inspiration as well.

The site is the work of Sam Illingworth, a 31-year-old science communication lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and Sophie Powell, a 24-year-old PhD student from The University of Manchester.

Though the site has only been live for a few days, there has already been a lively response from all across the world, with entries ranging from clinical psychologists in Costa Rica to zoologists in Belgium.

Biochemistry student Sophie, who studies arthritis, also publishes a blog called The Scientific Beauty, where she explains the science behind the latest beauty products and writes about being a female researcher.

She said: “Sartorial Science is all about challenging the stereotype of what a scientist looks like in the eyes of the public and actually, other colleagues.

“It’s really because as a young woman, there’s a fear I won’t be taken seriously if I care about the way I look, which is kind of frustrating.”

She added: “As a 14-year-old school girl, I was good at science but I remember feeling unsure if it was for me, as it seemed that it was for dowdy, middle-aged 'boffins' .

“But hopefully this blog will challenge that. And I hope it will encourage young people into science when they realise that actually, we are real people with real interests.

“It’s not at all about being beautiful: anyone can send us their photos and it doesn’t matter if you think you’re good looking or not. It’s just about taking science out if its pigeonhole and showing that scientists can be fashionable too.”

As a 14-year-old school girl, I was good at science but I remember feeling unsure if it was for me, as it seemed that it was for dowdy, middle-aged 'boffins'

But hopefully this blog will challenge that. And I hope it will encourage young people into science when they realise that actually, we are real people with real interests.
Sophie Powell

Sam Illingworth said: “ We hope that this site encourages scientists to help us break down the stereotypical norms that they are associated with, and also that it acts as an aspiration to others, demonstrating that scientists come in all shapes and sizes, many of which are fabulous!”

If you’re a scientist and you want to have your picture published on the blog, email sartorial.sciences@gmail.com

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