This blog post explains that while STEM college students are often portrayed with an antisocial, geeky image like the protagonists of the drama ‘The Big Bang Theory’, they are actually people with diverse personalities and characteristics. It also emphasizes the positive shift in the nerd image through examples of successful nerds.
What image do people have of ‘STEM university students’? In my case, before entering middle school, I thought of inventors and scientists like Edison, Curie, and Einstein. After that, I formed my image of STEM students by watching the drama ‘KAIST’. While numerous medical dramas set in hospitals or medical schools and dramas set in middle or high schools have aired, ‘KAIST’ was the first and only drama to depict the lives of engineering and science university students. That’s why many people still ask, “If you go to an engineering college, do you experiment and build robots like they did on ‘KAIST’?” But these days, people find images of STEM students not just in ‘KAIST’, but elsewhere too. Namely, the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’.
‘The Big Bang Theory’ is a sitcom drama that aired on CBS in the US, running for a total of 12 seasons from September 2007 until May 2019. Set in Pasadena, California, the show follows the adventures of four friends: Leonard, an experimental physicist working at Caltech; Sheldon, a theoretical physicist; Howard, an aerospace engineer; and Rajesh, an astrophysicist. At first glance, these characters might not seem interesting, but the story changes when you realize they’re not just scientists—they’re nerds.
Nerd, n. An insignificant, foolish, or socially inept person; a person who is boringly conventional or studious. Now also: a person who pursues an unfashionable or highly technical interest with obsessive or exclusive dedication.
As above, the definition of nerd originally referred to a stupid, useless person, but nowadays it means ‘a smart, expert in a specific field, but deeply immersed in antisocial hobbies, eccentric person’. The protagonists of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ are elite scientists holding PhDs and master’s degrees, working at prestigious engineering universities. Yet, they have only each other as friends and are nerds who frequent the comic book store weekly, gather to watch sci-fi dramas, and play video games together. The core of ‘The Big Bang Theory’s’ humor stems precisely from this ‘nerd’ identity. The show elicits laughter from scenes like the protagonists—who hold respected positions in their fields—fumbling awkwardly when interacting with potential romantic partners; using scientific jargon incomprehensible to non-specialists in daily life while being incapable of simple tasks like driving or cooking; and being scientists who are passionate about sci-fi dramas and unrealistic fantasy comics.
Viewers of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ often ask: “Are there really that many nerds like Sheldon and Leonard in STEM fields?” It’s a tough question to answer. Because while they might not seem nerdy at all in everyday life, there are moments when you just can’t help but think, “Ah… that’s so typical of a STEM student.” While there are individual differences, generally speaking, they aren’t so socially awkward they can’t even properly talk to the opposite sex. They aren’t so clueless they’d bore their humanities or social science friends with tedious major-related stories. And above all, they aren’t particularly obsessed with sci-fi or fantasy. The protagonists of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ are portrayed as child prodigies who earned degrees at a young age, whereas we are ordinary STEM undergraduates.
But sometimes, we share similarities with the Big Bang Theory characters. Though not as extreme as in the sitcom, we mix technical jargon when talking with classmates, occasionally get people to do bizarre things with computers or lab equipment (these are the ones usually called nerds), and frequently experience fundamental differences in perception with friends from other fields. And above all, we share the same environment where men are the majority.
While not always the case, these occasional glimpses make STEM students appear to non-STEM folks like genuine nerds straight out of The Big Bang Theory. Since what’s generally considered common sense is often detached from their major’s content, most people would likely perceive their conversations as sounding like those between Sheldon and Leonard. Living primarily in male-dominated groups, they often feel awkward conversing with women, much like Rajesh. While they aren’t particularly enthusiastic about sci-fi or fantasy, they also carry an image of being intimately familiar with IT devices like computers.
In this context, another example that comes to mind alongside ‘The Big Bang Theory’ is the drama ‘Silicon Valley’. Set in Silicon Valley, the hub of IT companies, this show depicts the experiences of young programmers launching startups. While the show exaggerates the realities of Silicon Valley for comedic effect, it still resonated deeply with many IT professionals. Here too, the characters are full of nerdiness, passionate about specific technologies, and display antisocial tendencies. These shows gain popularity not just for the laughs, but because viewers find themselves reflected in the characters and empathize with them.
As mentioned earlier, “nerd” no longer carries a negative connotation. While we nerds may think of ourselves as elites, slightly lacking in social skills, and immersed in subculture, these images stem from differences in our fields of study. In reality, we are STEM students striving to become experts in our fields. Rather than having an elitist mindset, we often make self-deprecating jokes, frustrated by the high walls of academic knowledge.
Now, the nerd is evolving from a ‘dumb and useless person’ to a ‘smart but quirky person,’ and will continue to transform into an even more positive image. This is precisely because of successful nerds. Nerds, deeply interested and immersed in specific fields, contribute significantly to the advancement of those fields and, furthermore, contribute to society. The prime example of this is the ‘high-tech nerds’ in the IT field. The quintessential high-tech nerd is Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. While attending Harvard University, he became deeply engrossed in computers—a field with little apparent promise at the time—dropped out, founded Microsoft, and became a successful nerd by launching MS-DOS and Windows. Beyond Bill Gates, other high-tech nerds like Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with him; Bill Hewlett and David Packard, founders of HP; and Gordon Moore, founder of Intel, are setting new examples by establishing charitable foundations and donating enormous sums to society. Thus, while nerds may seem like ‘losers’ now, they are people with the potential to become the leaders who will guide society in the future. During a speech at Mt. Whitney High School, Bill Gates stated:
“Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.” – Bill Gates
As nerds achieve increasing social success, perceptions of them are shifting positively. This is evidence not only of individual effort but also of society as a whole moving toward respecting and embracing diverse talents and interests. Nerds will continue to excel in more fields, and their unique talents and passion will bring significant change to society.
