Some, like Jones Professor of Classical GreekLiterature Gregory Nagy, say scientists are notnerds in the least.
Nagy, who has worked with Baird Professor ofScience Edward O. Wilson, says his colleaguetypifies the funny, well-rounded scientist.
"He has one of the best ears for good Englishstyle and he has a good sense of humor, too," Nagysays.
Students agree.
"[Wilson] is one of the most entertaininglecturers in the field," says Joel M. Rainey '94."He is self-deprecating in a funny way."
But others say they can't find the humor inscientists, calling them too intense to be funny.
"I don't know anything about science or theconnection between humor and science, says,Stanley J. Hoffman, Dillon professor of thecivilization of France, "but all I can tell you isthat I've met lots of scientists in my life whodidn't have any sense of humor at all."
Dennis Frailey, however, says such attitudesshow a lack of understanding of scientists.
"People who don't understand others generallyascribe to them characteristics that are deemednegative," he says.
"In some sense, people are jealous. But inanother sense, maybe people just can't relate,"Frailey says.
But whether their jokes fall on deaf ears ornot, one thing's for sure. The Einsteins andFrankensteins of scientific institutions willcontinue to preserve their unique traditions ofhumor.
"It seems to me... that the most harmfulattitude is to take everything seriously," saysJIR editor Abrahams. "If you're going to dosomething hard, why not enjoy it?"