A scientific celebrity is a person who gains celebrity status in the media by representing their own scientific interests. Such promotion can be self-serving in nature or it can be at the behest of governmental or corporate intersts.

Science and celebrity status

With every new scientific discovery various people have long been known for their contributions to knowledge, medicine and methods of transportation. Although this phenomenon has undergone a recent upsurgence (coincidental with the rise of celebrity culture) it is by no means new and the list of scientific celebrities is long.

Examples of celebrity status

Many other people have become known to the public as a result of media promotion. Heads of state, heads of governmental units and religious leaders have long enjoyed this attention in representing interests other than their own.

Self-serving examples

Entertainers have long thrived upon promotion of their own acts and celebrity chefs, celebrity gardeners and celebrity interior designers have also been added to this list.

Media celebrities

Some media presenters such as Richard Attenborough and Patrick Moore have scientific qualifications, however they are primarily known for their own presentations of scientific topics rather than their contributions to the advance of scientific knowledge. For a list of persons who have made major discoveries in the field of science see articles for specific areas of scientific knowledge and discovery.

See also

• Marie Curie
• Carl Sagan
• William Buckland
• Richard Dawkins
• Susan Greenfield
• Stephen Hawking
• Martin Rees