Science, Nerds and Star Wars

What do all three have in common? Obviously enough. Many movies, series, cartoons and other cultural products, mostly American, show the stereotype of the nerd, a young man (who is almost always a man, although there are exceptions), very intelligent, with few or no sporting skills, introverted, . Poorly dressed, with vision problems that force him to wear glasses, a lover of science and, of course, Star Wars.

The young man in question, who will sometimes be a remarkable scientist or student with an inclination towards some branch of the exact sciences. Other people will see you as an eccentric and you will be called a “nerd” or a “geek” derogatorily. Their love of reading comics and collecting figures of their favorite characters will be nurtured. Your great imagination will cause people to ostracize and reject you.
This stereotype clearly falls short of reality, which is always more complex, but most of us know someone who identifies with one or more of these characteristics or is a nerd, freak or geek. is recognized as such. It could be us or even us.
Over time these groups have been justified. Nerd culture has grown in popularity, and what was once laughed at is now celebrated. Geek Pride Day is celebrated on May 25, since the first Star Wars film was released on this date, and the famous Star Wars Day is celebrated every May 4th.
Now, although part of this stereotype is devoting themselves to science or technology, in reality Star Wars fans and geeks in general exist in many shapes and colors, and they are not just scientists. And, on the other hand, not all scientists are fans of Star Wars.
Still, the connection between nerds and science is undeniable. The universe, where creatures from strange planets, spaceships, robots, make us open our minds to new possibilities and question our own realities in this famous saga.
These fantasy worlds have inspired young enthusiasts to delve into astronomy, physics, mechanics, mathematics, and even sociology, anthropology, or many other sciences.
The questions raised by watching these distant tales of galaxies were the seeds of many scientific projects that help us learn more about our world today, and whose applications make it possible to improve our reality. Even the making of the movies itself brought great technological advances to the film and special effects industry.
It is no coincidence that many science lovers are drawn to this fantastic universe. Nor is it that many Star Wars lovers end up as scientists or someplace very close to science or technology. Even less that a science museum like Caracol celebrates Star Wars Day.
There are many of us within the museum who, in addition to being committed to the mission of spreading science, love this saga, which is why we wanted to combine the two. This is how Star Wars Fest: May 4th Be With You Arrives, which will take place on Sunday, May 14th. If you want to know more, you can consult our social networks.
May the Fourth be with you and the Force be with you.

*Caracol Communications Coordinator