Scientists Seen by Children: A Case Study in Catalonia, Spain

Evidence shows that people in Western societies often have a stereotypical image of science and scientists, but studies have mainly focused on English-speaking countries. This article assesses children’s and adolescents’ perceptions of scientists in Catalonia, Spain. An analysis of the perceived image of scientists was conducted using 236 drawings. Findings suggest that Catalan children perceive scientists as stereotypical and that this image is dominant among boys older than 12 years. To reduce the gap between children’s perceptions and scientists’ reality, more efforts must be addressed from science communication research and science education institutions.