The Science Gap: Jorge Cham at TEDxUCLA

What is The Science Gap? Jorge will explore the public perception of scientists and academics.

Jorge Cham is the creator of the online comic strip "Piled Higher and Deeper (PHD)" as well as the video channel PHD-TV. Born and raised in the Republic of Panama, he obtained his Ph.D. in Robotics from Stanford University and was an Instructor and Research Associate at Caltech before becoming a full-time cartoonist.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

[sublatino]

From Panama to the World !!. Jorge Cham Congratulation for your suscess

[PriyaPanjwaniNGP]

Recognizing and explaining the problem is most important part. Being a cartoonist, you have already brought science closer to normal people..:) i am in full support for PhD TV! Live Long and Publish..:-)

[lifewithbunty]

Jorge is such a trailblazer for closing the gap between the academic community and the normal world. Your rock!

[challenger]

to be able to tie that speech to an end, especially with this much impact, you are true to your academist roots

[maicondpereira]

I'm a engineering PhD student, and I can say that his comics have a lot of stereotypes too (about advisors, social and arts students, engineering students, grads and undergrad students, etc). People don't feel so bad about it because he mostly portrays the students as victims of the grad school, teachers, research environment. TBBT does the opposite, it portrays nerds (that are also students) mostly at their home life, and show that they are fully responsible for their acts.

[ViewtifulSam]

Excuse me for replying in English; I can't write in Spanish very well.

The way I see it, there's a fundamental difference: PHD comics is aimed mainly at grad students and academics in general, while TBBT is meant to be watched by nearly everyone -- and I suspect most of its public is non-academic.

[hirakchatterjeehere]

I have been a follower of you since my grad days. Love from India.

[MissCorporateLawyer]

Yes, what we need is to build a bigger and more accessible network of all these scientific findings, research and doctrine so that the public can be maintained informed of scientific progress. There are too many news on health and beauty, not enough on the universe.

[enriqueifi]

Un saludo. Perdonaras que escriba en español, pero se que eres originario de Panama y que es tu primer idioma.
Primero que nada, soy un gran admirador de tu trabajo en PHDcomics. Soy un estudiante de doctorado en física y he referido a mis padres y a mi esposa a varios dibujos tuyos para explicar cosas sobre mi vida académica.
Sin embargo creo que aquí pierdes el punto general por uno particular. La serie The big Bang theory hace exactamente lo mismo que tu haces. Caricaturiza....

[Panteelos]

we have no idea. i am reading your book written with daniel whiteson. i like it🤩😆

[TheSrLito]

Estoy de acuerdo, especialmente considerando que así son todas las series.

[enriqueifi]

I'm a phd physics student, and I can say that TBBT is a humorous exaggeration. I have met colleagues with caracteristics like Sheldon, Raj or Leonard. I don't think that nobody takes TBBT as a documentary.

[agcr]

I actually think PHD comics is no exaggeration, is absolutely real.

[Ender]

According to my experience, PHD Comics is faaar closer to reality than Dilbert, and much better drawn. Jorge's doing a great job. Also, I couldn't agree more with him regarding the adverse effect of TBBT in science communication. While it can't be denied that there are a few people like those in science, some of them affected by Asperger's syndrome, most scientists I know are quite intellectually and socially clever people. It's like stereotyping MDs with House.

[ViewtifulSam]

When Jorge speaks of this "Science Gap" we need to overcome, his example lies in the Higgs boson video exactly because that is a video in wich an actual scientist talks directly to the public. While it's true that his comics often depict very well the situations and sentiments of grad students, I don't think it's what Jorge has in mind when he says that academia needs to be in touch with the rest of the population.

[sagespiff]

That's probably because you don't experience what it's like to tell the public you're a scientist everyday. I'm currently a physics grad student and the first question I often get when saying that is, "oh, like big bang theory?" For the record, I don't read comic books; I don't watch star trek. I'm into sports, fast cars, and am perfectly capable socially. I can say the same for most of my colleagues. Stereotypes are often somewhat accurate. In this case, they couldn't be farther from the truth.

[enriqueifi]

Entiendo y comparto tu idea que la se debe hacer algo para hacer más accesible la ciencia a los jóvenes y al público en general. Mi punto es que la serie The big Bang Theory ha hecho mucho más beneficio a las careras de ciencia que cualquier otro fenómeno cultural de los últimos 30 años.

[carlyw]

Does anyone know what software the presenter uses to create his presentation animation? Thanks.

[ElmoToussaint]

This post is objectively correct... to me.

[sinachiniforoosh]

And science is portrayed as being difficult in other series too, in "fringe" the "mad scientist" (which has a lot of problems itself) describes stuff in the most simple terms and people just say that they don't understand. And it PISSES ME OFF, as if it's ok not to understand what scientists say.