http://www.reason.com/staff info@reason.com (Reason Online) http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.reason.com/news/show/33152.html <p>Robert Barker, a program manager at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, says the portrayal of scientists in popular films is &quot;downright insulting.&quot; In light of the declining numbers of U.S. students pursuing science and engineering degrees, he also thinks it's a national security concern.</p> <p>So the Pentagon is spending $300,000 over three years to send mid-career scientists, researchers, and engineers to a workshop at the television and screenwriting school run by the American Film Institute. Their mission: to portray their field--and themselves--as cool. The hope: that working scientists will be inspired to produce screenplays that, in the words of the institute's Joe Petricca, don't paint &quot;scientists as losers.&quot; </p> 33152@http://www.reason.com Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 ESTinfo@reason.com (Ben Falk)